Your baby is all personality this month, and y'all're reaping the rewards, taking in all those giggles and adorable tricks that you probably tin can't get plenty of.

Past now, your baby should be settled in to a slumber and feeding schedule and calming bedtime routine, plus there are plenty of fun firsts you have to await forward to. And the brand new globe of solid foods is but around the corner!

Here'due south what else yous can expect this month.

Your 5-month-erstwhile infant's evolution

At a Glance

Sleeping basics

Most babies this age sleep 10 to 12 hours at night and, even though it'south usually not necessary at this point, wake up for a feeding or two. They also nap for iii to five hours a mean solar day, spaced betwixt two or three naps.

Feeding nuts

Breastfed babies should get 24 to 36 ounces of chest milk a twenty-four hours spread out over about 5 or vi feeds. Formula-fed babies should have 24 to 36 ounces of formula in nigh 5 feeds.

Did you know?

Your baby will love playing games like peek-a-boo and hide-and-seek as she begins to grasp the concept of object permanence.

These days, your baby volition love putting the "boo!" in "peek-a-boo!" These kinds of hibernate-and-seek games beginning to become giggle-producing favorites equally your baby begins to grasp the concept of object permanence.

More signs of baby'south burgeoning intelligence: She can discern tiny items and lots of colors now, likewise as track moving objects.

Your little one is also gaining manual dexterity and may at present be able to pass a toy from one hand to the other or rake a minor object and then choice it up. She's a big babbler likewise, so encourage babe's chatter by talking up a storm yourself.

Your baby'south hearing and vision are almost completely developed by now. And that name you so thoughtfully chose and take been lovingly saying for months? She just might recognize it at present and turn toward you when you lot say it.

Your niggling explorer is eagerly taking in everything she sees — assisted past new motor skills, such as confident head control and strong push button-ups — and trying to make sense of the world.

Your five-month-old infant's growth

Your babe continues to abound past leaps and premises, and somewhere betwixt four and vi months your baby will be ready to take on a brand new feeding frontier: solids.

Remember, though, that while these get-go feedings are an exciting first step to a lifetime of eating, they're less about nutrients and more about gaining feel.

Breast milk or formula will continue to provide much of your baby's nutritional requirements until the cease of the showtime twelvemonth.

So that ways that you'll exist starting small now, serving upward about 1 tablespoon of pureed baby foods or baby cereal (mixed with a small-scale amount of breast milk or formula) twice a solar day.

As your infant gets used to solids and expresses an eagerness for more, you tin can expect the amount infant takes to increase gradually up to iv tablespoons per meal.

Babe cereal (whole grain oat, whole grain barley or dark-brown rice) is a common first nutrient — and a good source of iron for breastfed babies — but you lot can besides choose to feed your little eater soft vegetables (similar sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, peas and green beans) and fruits (including pureed ripe avocado, finely mashed bananas, or baby absurdity, peaches or pears).

It's a good idea to introduce one new food every three to five days to see if whatever allergies or other reactions appear. And talk to your physician virtually the right time and place to give your baby solids. Most recommend waiting until she turns 6 months sometime.

Your 5-calendar month-one-time baby's health

Babe isn't due for a well visit for some other month, just there'due south still enough going on with your piddling i'south wellness.

Are Teething Gels Safe?

To assistance ease teething pain, you can requite your little i something to chew on, similar a teething ring or toy, or something common cold, like a partially-frozen wet washcloth (frozen teething items are too hard for babies' tender mouths). Simply don't employ benzocaine-based teething gels or those labeled homeopathic to numb the pain. Read More

Could baby have allergies?

It's possible (though rare) for babies to develop allergies to irritants such as pollen, mold, pet dander and dust mites. Allergy symptoms in babies tend to resemble those of cold symptoms, and include runny noses, sneezing, coughing, watery eyes and congestion. Read More

Hand, pes and mouth disease

Contrary to its dire-sounding proper name, hand, foot and oral fissure affliction (HFMD) is very common in babies and children under the age of five and tends to exist a fairly mild infection. The telltale sign is a painful, bumpy, cerise rash or blisters that appear on — you guessed information technology — the hands, soles of the feet and within of the oral fissure. Read More

Vaping effectually babies

Vaping — i.e. inhaling the vapor from e-cigarettes such as JUULs and vape pods — exposes your baby to toxic chemicals similar smoking does, and so do your all-time to avoid it at all costs. Read More

Protecting babies in the oestrus

If the temperature is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, your infant shouldn't play outside for whatsoever prolonged period of time. When the heat index is below 90 degrees, you should withal limit sun exposure as much every bit possible betwixt the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.thousand. and be sure to bring sunscreen and plenty of h2o if you do demand to go out in the sun with her. Read More

Postpartum & new baby tips

Baby's dark routine

A lifetime of proficient sleep for your baby volition depend on your little one learning how to fall comatose unassisted.

And that means it'south important to give baby the tools she needs to fall asleep (and back to slumber) solo.

That includes establishing a bedtime routine (one that doesn't include nodding off at the breast or bottle), and embarking on a sleep preparation (or sleep teaching) mission.

It also involves learning and responding to slumber cues (centre rubbing or crankiness, for instance), putting infant down to sleep while she's still awake, leaving infant's room and being prepared for some tears.

Sitting upwardly

It varies from babe to infant, merely about little ones will be able to sit down upward with assistance between three and 5 months old, either past propping themselves up on their easily, or with a little support from you or a seat.

Past the fourth dimension she'southward vi months old, your baby volition probably accept developed the neck, upper body and back muscles to be able to sit down without support.

As soon as your baby has mastered lifting and belongings that cute head up, yous can help your piffling 1 larn to sit down up. Prop your baby upwardly in a seated position in an babe seat, a stroller or your lap.

Sitting up with support in the stroller while you have a neighborhood walk is an specially good way to encourage this milestone.

Every bit you walk, betoken out all the new things she can see from an upright, sitting position, like dogs, cars and other babies in strollers.

Stick to a vaccine schedule

Make sure your baby has appointments scheduled for all upcoming vaccinations.

Vaccines protect kids from more diseases than ever earlier — xiv past the historic period of two. And past keeping your child's immunizations upward-to-date, you'll be helping to proceed this amazing wellness care track record going strong.

Talk to your pediatrician about what shots are needed and when.

Household objects every bit toys

No need to visit the toy store! When your infant can sit down up, she'll honey a drawer to explore (or a chiffonier or shelf— just make certain the contents are infant-safe).

Keep your plasticware and some lightweight pots and pans in a low closet in the kitchen and you'll accept a depression-tech way of keeping baby tickled while you're cooking or washing upward ("Wait at that actually prissy foursquare container and chapeau you've got there!")

Those plastic containers, along with a plastic cup and a set of measuring spoons, can travel to the tub for some bathtime water play, where they can go props for scientific experiments ("Permit's see how much water y'all tin can pour into this container!") or some pretend cooking.

And pots and lids practise double-duty by letting your baby make music — in that location's nothing similar the sound of bangs and clashes to bring out your child's inner composer. You lot can sing along likewise!

How much to pay a babysitter?

The all-time way to determine how much to pay a babysitter is to ask other moms in your area (attempt the members of your local What to Expect group, along with mom friends) what they think is reasonable.

Rounding off the current minimum wage in your state is probably a skilful starting betoken. Merely whatever the going rate happens to be, don't stray likewise far below it. You want to observe the all-time sitter you tin can, and offering competitive wages is office of the deal.

You can also cheque out babysitting sites (like Sittercity.com) for going rates from local sitters. Most of those sites permit postings simply from sitters 18 and older, but y'all'll still become a general idea of how much other families in your area pay.

And you may find a terrific eighteen- or 19-year-old, since many college students honey the hours and flexibility of babysitting.

Tips for smart snacking

  1. Mix it up. Keep boredom at bay past trying new combos or flavors. For example, snack on a whole wheat pretzel dipped in spicy mustard or a handful of blackberries mixed into lemon yogurt.
  2. Brand smart substitutions. Craving chocolate? Opt for a hot cocoa (an 8-ounce mug has 140 calories and 3 grams of fatty) over a chocolate bar (230 calories and 13 grams of fat). Some other smart-snacking ideas: Swap nonfat frozen yogurt or sorbet for ice cream, baked tortilla chips for Fritos, pretzels for spud chips.
  3. Read labels. That package may expect small, but check the serving size. If there are ii (or more) servings in at that place, you'll get double (or even triple) the corporeality of fat, calories and sugar if you consume the whole thing.

Fix for start feedings

Skip the silver spoon Aunt Martha sent; a pocket-sized plastic-coated model is much easier on tender gums. Count on having several on hand during feedings — ane for yous, one for your baby — to foster the sense of independence and avert power struggles (yes, those may happen, even at this tender age).

For you, choose a long handle for ultimate maneuverability, and for your infant, a short, curved handle is easier for tiny fingers to grip and volition assist forbid your baby from getting hurt.

Only before you're ready to start, put a bib on your little eater (yours is optional!).

A discussion to the wise: Get your baby into the bib habit right from the kickoff or she may resist it after. It can be fabricated of soft plastic, cotton or paper — every bit long as it's big enough to cover the chest and stomach, you're good to go.

From the What to Await editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, bookish research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Larn how nosotros go along our content accurate and up-to-engagement by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

  • What to Wait the First Year, 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff.
  • WhatToExpect.com, When Do Babies Get-go Teething? Nuts, Symptoms and Signs, Apr 2018.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Are Teething Gels Safe?, April 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, The Danger of Vaping Effectually Babies and Kids, October 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (Coxsackievirus) in Babies and Toddlers, November 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Protecting Immature Children From Farthermost Estrus, July 2019.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Seasonal Allergies in Babies and Toddlers, Oct 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, How Much Should My Baby Eat?, April 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Here'due south How Much Slumber Babies Need, June 2020.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics, Teething Pain, December 2018.
  • American University of Pediatrics, Getting Your Baby to Sleep, July 2018.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics, Bright Futures Parent Handout vi Month Visit.
  • Stanford Children's Wellness, Feeding Guide For The Get-go Year, 2020.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Important Milestones: Your Baby By Iv Months, June 2020.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Milestone Moments.
  • Mayo Dispensary, Infant and Toddler Health, June 2020.
  • Mayo Clinic, Helping Infant Slumber Through The Night, September 2020.
  • National Library of Medicine, Teething, Dec 2020.

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