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Toys for a 7-month-old Baby
Your baby is becoming independent, from crawling around to recognising and picking up his favourite toy. He is learning the concept of controlling the environment whilst having fun with it.
As your baby starts to creep and crawl, encourage these movements by placing toys a little further away from his reach. This way you can tap into his curious mind, challenge him, and keep him active by being playful. While developing his own unique personality, here are some baby toys for 7-month-olds to help with his cognitive growth.
Shape Sorter Toys
The shape sorter toys are designed to help develop your baby’s fine motor skills. Not only is your baby familiarizing himself with different shapes, but memorizing them by correctly fitting each three-dimensional shape into its corresponding hole.
1. Skill Development
It boosts his self-esteem upon getting the right block into the right hole.
If your baby tries to insert a square block into a triangle-shaped hole, he may start to brainstorm a solution, thereby using problem-solving skills.
Your baby is exposed to blocks with a different number of sides, thus making them different shapes. This helps your little one develop hand-eye coordination.
2. Recommended Toys
Building blocks
Shape toys with colours to match
Soft fabric blocks
Action / Reaction Toys
Babies at seven months reach a new level of discovery, wonderment and creativity. They are drawn to different sounds and respond accordingly. Your baby will be fascinated with toys that make sounds, produce lights or move upon pressing different coloured buttons.
1. Skill Development
These toys help in the cognitive development of your baby.
It also refines motor development if the toy moves slowly, thereby helping your baby to crawl.
2. Recommended Toys
Building blocks
Toys that produce lights and sounds by pushing buttons
Squeaky toys
Soft Stuffed Toys
These toys, in particular, can be your baby’s favourites since they can be cuddled with. Babies can explore such toys in a very safe way. These toys don’t cause any damage when chewed, squeezed or thrown around.
1. Skill Development
These toys will help your baby get a better sense of grasping the toy.
With many soft toys to choose from, your baby can recognize different soft toys based on its texture, shape and weight.
Your baby might want to play with a particular soft toy, carry it around or may even want to sleep with it. This is a sign of attachment in the baby, thereby showing his increasing socioemotional development.
Soft toys can be your baby’s best friend and comfort in times when he feels tired or is placed in a situation where he has to cope with change. Your baby feels a sense of love with regard to his soft toys.
2. Recommended Toys
Stuffed Animals
Soft puppets
Soft Books
Colourful Dolls
Noise and Flashy Toys
Your little one will be attracted to this toy as it moves, emits light and makes sounds. It’s a fun way to introduce music and dance to your baby.
1. Skill Development
Enhances motor skills as your baby will respond to the music by jumping.
These toys have a lot of buttons which will teach your little one about different sounds upon pressing respective buttons.
2. Recommended Toys
Toys that have many buttons, which, upon pushing, emits colourful lights and sounds.
Toys that rattle or have bells.
Squeaky toys.
Building Blocks
These toys help your baby stay active and creative.
1. Skill Development
Enhances creativity and cognitive skills while building different structures.
Develops motor skills like picking, placing etc.
2. Recommended Toys
Blocks with projections, for assembling and building structures
Wooden blocks with numbers and alphabets on them
Squeaky blocks
Push Toys
These toys not only will have your baby entertained but also help in his physical development.
1. Skill Development
Enhances motor skills
Enhances hand-eye coordination
Helps your baby to walk
2. Recommended Toys
Baby walkers
Toys with wheels like cars, wagons etc.
Toys that can roll easily like balls
Moving and Rolling Toys
Apart from exercising your baby’s brain, exercising his body is equally important as well.
1. Skill Development
Enhances motor skills
Hand-eye coordination
Enhances flexibility and speed
2. Recommended Toys
Baby Walkers
Balls with bells
Walker wagons
Role Playing Toys
These kinds of toys help your baby understand different actions or roles while imitating them.
1. Skill Development
A better understanding of the environment and how grown-ups operate.
Enhances communication
2. Recommended Toys
A cricket bat and ball
Having a pretend conversation on a toy phone
Toy doctor set
Bath Toys
Sometimes babies don't really enjoy bath time. However, this can become a fun activity by putting in a few rubber toys in the tub.
1. Skill Development
Your baby can learn how toys float on water.
Exposure to heavy toys sinking in water.
2. Recommended Toys
Rubber Ducks
Toy ships or boats
Sea creatures figurines like dolphins, whales etc. (Age appropriate ones only)
Books and Puzzles
Books and puzzles are learning tools that can enhance your baby’s cognitive development.
1. Skill Development
Problem-solving
Hand-eye coordination
Memory development
Fine motor development
2. Recommended Toys
Puzzles with very large pieces
Building blocks
Books which have little buttons that produce different sounds, depending on the topic
Household Items
Babies often enjoy and prefer playing with day-to-day items lying around the house. Anything they find is treated as a toy.
1. Skill Development
Improves motor skills - like crawling towards an item.
Your baby will learn the names of different items as he plays with it.
2. Recommended Toys
Baby wipes container - Place a scarf into the container, allowing the baby to pull it out.
Basket - Direct your baby into putting toys into the basket. This will help his hand-eye coordination.
Place bowls of different sizes with toys in them to help your baby learn to grasp, transfer toys into another bowl, etc.
Balls
This is a simple yet dynamic toy, with its multiple actions that range from rolling to bouncing, and being something that's easy for throwing and kicking. These benefits can help your baby develop essential skills from a very young age.
1. Skill Development
It enhances his motor skills while crawling for the ball.
Your baby can develop hand-eye coordination through the ball bouncing, rolling etc.
2. Recommended Toys
Softballs that rattle / light up
Light big rubber balls
Hollow plastic balls
Toys to Handle and Manipulate
Such toys bring about a spark in your baby’s creative mind and build up his communication and imagination through play. These are bright, colourful and have different textures.
Skill Development
Enhances cognitive skills since your little one will learn about different shapes and colours.
Ability to have control over toys like brushing a toy doll’s hair.
Recommended Toys
Puzzles with giant colourful pieces
A toy tea set
Colourful ring toy
What Do Age Recommendation Labels on the Toys Mean?
Purchasing toys for children can be particularly challenging for parents. There are so many to choose from but are those toys suitable, safe and appropriate for your little one? Age labelling of toys is a guided method to help you make a wise choice based on your baby’s developmental needs. These are some pointers reflecting on the importance of age labels on toys:
Reflecting how safe the toy is for your baby
These toys go through testing, ensuring that they have not been made using any toxic material
Ensuring that the toys are unbreakable to a high degree
No choking hazards
Excellent knowledge of child development
Finding out the popularity of the type of toy for a certain age group
Based on age groups, some prove to be educational toys for 7-month-old baby.
Safety Tips for Babies
Make sure you choose an age-appropriate toy for your little one based on his development and interest.
It’s always better to buy toys that are easy to clean since babies have the habit of putting anything they find into their mouth.
Any plastic wrapper around the toy must be discarded as there could be a risk of suffocation.
The toys must be inspected for sharp edges. Stuffed animals can be made of metal wires.
Any toy which is broken must be discarded immediately to prevent injuries.
If your baby is under age 1, choose toys that are light, soft, and colourful and made from non-toxic materials.
Your older child must be taught to keep his toys away from his younger siblings, especially if those toys are made from smaller parts.
Do not leave them alone with toys during bath time as they could drown if left unsupervised.
How to Help Your Baby Learn While Playing?
Your baby will start communicating with you through gestures like nodding, pointing and waving. At this age, babies learn as they crawl. Exploration is key. Apart from crawling, they are capable of sitting straight on their own and try to get to the standing position by holding on to furniture. To help enhance the learning experience for your baby, here’s what you need to do.
Read books to your baby which are colourful and with interesting illustrations. Point to the objects in the book that your baby sees on a daily basis in the real world.
Teach your little one action songs like “Itsy Bitsy Spider” or “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”.
Allow your baby to grab and explore household items within reach.
Take your little one for a walk in the park and point to different objects to help him connect words and the image.
Communicate with your baby by responding to his sounds.
Offer your little an assortment of foods that have different textures.
How to Choose the Best Toys for Your 7-month-old Baby
At seven months, your baby isn’t content to lie in one place. He wants to move around and explore for himself. Early childhood development revolves around exploration and experimentation. There is a lot more to think about while choosing the right kind of toy for your little one as in influences early developments. Here are a few picks for your baby to play with:
Toys that serve as teethers are perfect since your baby is due for his first tooth.
Toys that engage your baby in a high chair while you are finishing up chores.
Floating, squirting and squeaky bath toys make bath time fun for little ones. It develops his motor skills as they try to grasp these toys.
Toys that are mentally challenging but not frustrating to your little one.
Toys must be purchased from a reliable company and should be long-lasting and age-appropriate.
It is essential to encourage your baby to learn, stay creative and feed his curiosity. He is at an are at an age where they want to physically explore his surroundings. These fun ways of engaging with your baby contribute to long-term benefits of mental and physical development.
Also Read: 10 Best Homemade Toys for Kids
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Vitamins Intake during Pregnancy
The responsibility of a mother starts before even trying to get pregnant. Jeannette Lager, Gynaecologist and assistant professor at San Francisco, California suggests three steps to be taken before getting pregnant. The first is to start prenatal vitamins, the second to schedule a preconception visit, and the last to consider a genetic carrier screening.
Taking prenatal vitamins is necessary as we do not get enough nutrition from all the food we eat. Even when consuming a wide variety of foods including dairy products, meat, fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes there might be a nutritional gap that needs to be filled by supplements. Not all food items have the required supplements. The pollution, chemicals used in farming, and improper storage of food reduce the vital nutrients we need.
What Are Prenatal Vitamins?
Prenatal vitamins are specific crucial nutrients that are recommended to be taken in the form of supplements preferably even before trying to conceive. They ensure that the right amount of vitamins are present in the body during pregnancy. Taking prenatal vitamins is especially crucial for women with dietary restrictions, health issues or pregnancy complications. This is something that should not be avoided to ensure the proper health of the mother and baby.
Prenatal vitamins are recommended for pregnant women who:
Are vegetarian or vegan
Suffer from lactose or any other intolerance
Smoke
Have a blood disorder
Have an eating disorder
Suffer from some chronic disease
Had gastric bypass surgery
Expecting twins or multiples
When Should You Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins?
Consuming prenatal vitamins can be started before trying to conceive. This will ensure the presence of the best vitamins for a healthy pregnancy in the body right from the start. Also, the baby’s neural tube which develops into the brain and spinal cord forms during the first few months of pregnancy; that is even before one knows that they are pregnant. Taking folic acid among other prenatal vitamins ensures that the baby is protected against neural tube defects. Also, prenatal vitamins contain iron, iodine and calcium too, which provide adequate production of blood and strong bones for both the mother and the baby.
Prenatal Supplement for Pregnant Women
It is best to take prenatal vitamins through the entire pregnancy as they will provide consistent nourishment to the developing baby. For some, the doctor might suggest continuing vitamins after the birth too, especially during breastfeeding. Doctors strongly recommend continuing prenatal supplements in the first trimester, to ensure proper health for mothers and babies.
What is Included in Prenatal Vitamins?
Two of the essential nutrients in prenatal vitamins are folic acid and iron. Calcium, essential fatty acids and vitamin D are some of the other vitamins included. These give the body a complete vitamin-supply which is crucial at this time. Folic acid is the synthetic form of vitamin B9; it is also known as folate and prevents neural tube defects (NTDs). Iron helps to make extra blood, which is essential for mothers and babies in the developing stage. This also helps to supply oxygen to the lungs and to the rest of body. Calcium, on the other hand, supports the development of strong bones and teeth for the baby. It is also vital for the growth of a healthy heart, muscles and nerves.
Difference Between Prenatal Vitamins and Other Vitamins
Usually, women do take multi-vitamins on a regular basis, so one might wonder if there is indeed a need to take up prenatal vitamins especially during pregnancy. Well, there is, as prenatal vitamins contain more folic acid and iron than the typical daily capsules. Folic acid supports proper development of the neural tube. The neural tube forms the spinal cord and brain. Iron, on the other hand, promotes overall growth and development of the baby. At the same time, it augments the growth of healthy red blood cells preventing anaemia in the newborn.
Daily Recommended Prenatal Vitamins With Dosage
Here is a list of essential prenatal nutrients that needs to be taken daily along with the source.
Name of the nutrient
Recommended Daily Amount
Why is it needed?
Sources
Calcium
1000 milligrams
Builds bones and teeth
Milk, yoghurt, cheese, dark leafy vegetables and sardines
Iron
27 milligrams
Helps red blood cells deliver oxygen and supports overall development
Split peas, spinach, broccoli, prunes, poultry, lean red meat
Folic Acid
600 micrograms
Prevents birth defects of the brain and spine
Orange, spinach, leafy vegetable, beans, bread, rice, kinds of pasta
Vitamin B12
2.6 micrograms
Maintains nervous system
Eggs, milk products, fish, poultry, shellfish, some rice and soy beverages
Vitamin B6
1.9 milligrams
Helps in consumption of protein, fat and carbohydrates as well as forms red blood cells
Beef, liver, pork, ham, whole-grain cereals and banana
Vitamin D
600 international unit
Builds healthy bones and teeth. Promotes healthy eyesight and skin
Egg yolks, cheese, beef liver, soy milk, orange juice
Vitamin C
85 milligrams
Absorbs iron and fosters the growth of gums, teeth and bones.
Brussel sprouts, bell pepper, papaya, pineapple
Vitamin A
770 micrograms
Forms healthy skin and eyesight. Helps with bone growth.
Sweet potato, green leafy vegetables, milk, fish
Please note that even though our food may contain all the nutrients in most cases, but it might not be possible to eat sufficient amount of all types of food daily. Hence, opting for supplements will fill the nutrition gap. At the same time, it is important to remember that it is only a supplement and not a substitute for the actual food. Following a good healthy diet is also necessary for good health.
FAQs
1. What is the Ideal Time to Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins?
Taking vitamins before trying to conceive is ideal and advisable. You are housing an extra person in your body, and so there are extra nutritional needs that should be met. However, some women may feel nauseous due to these pills, and for them, it is best to take them during meals. If that doesn’t help, it is best to check with your doctor.
2. How Can You Choose the Right Prenatal Supplements for You?
As there are no standards set, it is up to the doctor and the consultant to decide a safe and appropriate option. Doctors and gynaecologists have abundant experience in tackling these issues, which makes them the right people to recommend a supplement to you according to your health needs.
3. How Many Prenatal Vitamin Pills Can You Take in a Day?
In most cases, one tablet per day is taken. Doubling up of the dose at times can be unnecessary unless told by a medical practitioner. It is recommended not to take any other vitamins or mineral supplements while taking prenatal supplements unless advised by the doctor.
4. Are There Side Effects of Prenatal Vitamins?
Prenatal vitamins may cause constipation, nausea, diarrhoea, dark stools, low appetite, stomach upset and cramps. In any such cases, consult the doctor for the side effects and its remedy. It is important to take proactive measures so that any side effects can be immediately rectified. A doctor will be best able to guide you, should you notice any side-effects.
5. What if You Have Trouble Swallowing Vitamins During Pregnancy?
Ask your doctor to prescribe a smaller pill with a slick coating. Alternatively, there are chewable pills and powdered supplements that can be mixed with water for consumption. There are also smaller pills available that make taking your daily medication easy.
6. What if Vitamins Upset Your Stomach?
Supplements that upset your gastrointestinal tract can cause queasiness. To avoid this, try taking your pills with a meal or at bedtime. In other cases, iron supplements can cause constipation. Talk to the healthcare practitioner to switch the pill or try to ease constipation by drinking prune juice. Eating 2-3 servings of fruit a day or taking a psyllium fibre supplement helps too. Psyllium is sold in the form of powder pills and is known to be a laxative.
7. What if the Vitamins Make You Feel Nauseous?
Talk to the doctor to replace the current pill with a one that suits you better, but remember that switching from bouncing off one pill to the other is also not a good practice if it happens frequently. A change in supplements should not be done without consulting the doctor.
8. Should You Be Concerned About Other Nutrients as Well?
Some prenatal vitamins might not contain other essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids. For women who do not eat certain food items, consulting a doctor to fix the nutritional gap is important. You can get omega-3 fatty acids from Salmon and Tuna. Walnuts and Olive oil are also considered to be good sources.
9. How Long Should You Take Prenatal Vitamins?
Vitamins should be consumed throughout pregnancy. Calcium and Vitamin D are important prenatal supplements during the first trimester as the baby’s bones are growing rapidly and require strengthening. In some cases, the doctor may as well prescribe a vitamin pill even after birth. This is because the body needs to replenish the loss of nutrition. While breastfeeding, taking prenatal pills will ensure the baby gets the nutrients from the milk.
Refer to the chart above to understand the best vitamins for a healthy pregnancy, but before you decide to include any supplement to in your diet, do remember that it should be done under the guidance of your doctor.
Prenatal vitamins should be considered seriously and discussed with the health-care specialist before and after pregnancy. Talk to the doctor to make a wise choice keeping in mind your overall health and dietary intake.
Also Read: Pregnancy Diet Chart - A Simple Diet Plan for a Pregnant Woman Read more
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Explaining Reasons For Refusing Your Toddler's Demands
The most frequently asked question for every new parent is quite possibly how to get toddlers to listen to them. It's all a matter of patience, the right guidance and setting limits with toddlers, which should be done from the very beginning
Does your little one keep saying a big fat ‘NO’ to everything? Well, it’s a toddler’s job to be a little bratty! It’s that time in your child’s development when he begins to understand that he’s separate from you. He begins to realise that he can exert some control over his world. And, since he’s so little, the most powerful way he can do this is by defying you, his parent. Instead of yelling at him, you need to make him understand why he needs to listen to you.
Practicing Parenting without Yelling
The first important point that should be kept in mind is that some toddlers are by nature likelier to be brattier than others. Kids whose emotional reactions to situations are intense, as well as kids who are a lot more cautious and timid, are examples. They may turn out to be more difficult to handle than kids who are temperamentally easygoing and flexible.
The second point to remember is that you have to consciously refrain from yelling when getting your point across. Shouting only does harm and exacerbates both parties. Try to take the high road and let go of your frustration and anger when refusing your child’s demands. He doesn’t act out of malice, but just needs to learn how to listen to you.
How to Get a 3-year-old to Listen
If you refuse his demands point-blank without a good reason, you might demotivate your toddler, who simply wants to make things happen. Being able to do some things by himself also builds his confidence. Therefore, the idea is to find different ways to show your toddler that even he can be in control, but only under your supervision and guidance.
Your child might make it difficult to get into the car seat, or go to bed, or visit a new place. Even the time of day can affect his mood. Understand what he wants and get your kid to listen without yelling, all while setting limits. For example, if your toddler wants to eat a chocolate, calmly tell him that he will get only one piece and not the entire box. If he wants to watch television, set a limit of say an hour and let him know that he must switch off the television after that. In this manner, your toddler will understand the importance– and the reward– of obeying you.
The effort that you make to be clear and consistent with your toddler will pay off in the near future. Being firm without being unrelenting, and knowing when to be flexible will build your relationship and make both sides happy. Be patient when explaining why you’re refusing your toddlers demands. When he knows there’s a good reason behind it, he’s likelier to calm down and follow suit. Read more
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Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
8 hours ago
Q. #AskTheExpert hello dr.
baby planning kar rhi kuch tips btayiye conceive ho jaye
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
8 hours ago
A. it's a natural process ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
6 hours ago
Q. when baby is kick? I'm 13 weeks pregnant
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
6 hours ago
A. during first pregnancy you may feel the baby movements after 24 to 25 weeks of pregnancy and till then only mild flatters may be felt but which you may not be feeling if you are doing some work
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
6 hours ago
Q. I’m in my 31 week 1 day of pregnancy. What will be my delivery date??
As I have low lying placenta with grade 1 maturity.
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
5 hours ago
A. you had to correlate is ultrasound examination. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
6 hours ago
Q. My hemoglobin is 6.4 from 28 weeks of pregnancy. Now I’m 31 weeks pregnant. What should I do?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
5 hours ago
A. Haven’t when you having some kind of iron supplement because they’re very good during the time of pregnancy if you are not having one you need to start with and whatever tabs you take you should just take it with any good juice specially pomegranate juice that’s going to help in doubling the impact of the medicine that you’re taking secondly try and include more of Iron which diet like spinach broccoli beetroot pomegranate black rice sweet potato these things are exceptionally healthy for you to consume
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
5 hours ago
Q. This is my cbc report
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
5 hours ago
A. No there is nothing visible on my wall so I can really really cannot help you can you please repose the question once again providing all the necessary details as once I’m certain what are you talking about what’s mentioned in the report according to that I can provide you proper help on your question
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. #asktheexpert
now I'm 24 weeks. Sometimes I'm feeling pain in my thigh.
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
3 hours ago
A. For thegh query asked needs consultation with doctor for proper guidance so it is better that the doctor will guide you the correct way .
Onlfine consultation can also be taken and the expert will give you the proper answer .
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