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Baby now has three meals a day, plus morning and afternoon tea with a drink from a cup. They also need three milk feeds a day, after meals. Give them finger food at each meal, and a spoon to try feeding themselves.
A typical day – around 10 months
- 7.00am Wake, breakfast
- 8am Breast or bottle feed (180 – 240 mL)
- 8.30am Get dressed for the day
- 9 – 9.30am Play
- 9.30 – 11.00am Sleep
- 11am Morning tea and cup of water or diluted juice
- 11.30pm Shopping or play group
- 12.30pm Lunch
- 1 – 2pm Play
- 2 – 3.30pm Sleep
- 3.30pm Afternoon tea and cup of water or diluted juice
- 4pm Walk to the park
- 5pm Dinner
- 6pm Bath, pajamas, play with Dad
- 7.30pm Settle to bed
- 8pm – 7am Sleep (approx. 11 hours).
Sleeping
Baby is now sleeping about 11 hours at night, with two sleeps during the day (one or two hours each). Remember to approach sleep time in a quiet, soothing way (and playtime in an exciting way), so you cue them into knowing what’s expected. Giving these verbal and physical messages helps your child learn.
- Your baby may now be more active in sleep. If they wake and cry out, wait to see if they resettle – if not, try to resettle them quickly in the cot.
Playtime
Playtimes are now very busy – baby will be crawling, pulling to standing and cruising around the furniture. It may be a few more months before they actually walk independently, so don’t rush them. (Use soft soled shoes until they’re walking.) Their fine motor skills are now well developed – they can pick up and manipulate small objects.
Play ideas:
- An activity board, with buttons to push and interesting sounds.
- Give them a stable push along toy so they can use their legs and gain some independence.
- Go along to a playgroup, as baby now likes being out and about and socialising.
- Cut a slit in the lid of a plastic ice-cream container and give baby plastic pegs to deposit in it.
- Stock a low kitchen cupboard or drawer with safe utensils so they can help themselves.
- Buy baby his first books, if you haven’t already (stiff cardboard or plastic ones are best at first).
- Read to baby every day. Point to the pictures and describe them.
Baby-proofing the house:
- Remove all breakables and sharp objects from baby’s reach.
- Secure bookcases and curtain rods firmly to the wall.
- Put detergents and chemicals in a high cupboard.
- Buy childproof fasteners for cupboards, safety gates for stairs.
- Use socket protectors or install safety power points.
- Have an electrician install an earth leakage detector.
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