There is so much to be excited about as your baby begins to become more active and reach their milestones. It is important that you keep them engaged through play and other 10 month old baby activities.
Your baby will also be just two months away from their very first birthday! A lot of exciting developmental milestones will be scheduled to take place from this month onwards, and soon enough your baby will be talking and walking.
For now, cherish all the remaining moments you have with your baby before they become a toddler.
A Quick Look at Your Baby’s First Year Milestones
How Your Baby is Growing
Compared to the initial months of your baby’s life, your baby’s growth at 10 months will start to slow down. Your doctor should have plotted your baby’s growth on a growth chart, which will be able to show you how your baby has been developing.
It is important to refer to this birth chart to determine any changes in the growth rate of your baby.
It’s important to look out for the following patterns in your child’s growth chart:
- A change in the growth pattern of your baby’s weight or height. Usually, a baby’s growth follows a steady pattern, so if there is suddenly a drop this may indicate a problem.
- If a baby’s height isnot growing at the same rate as their weight, this may also signal an issue with their development.
At this age, your baby should be gaining about 13 ounces each month. By the time they turn a year old, they should have tripled their birth weight.
Baby girls and baby boys may also differ in length. Most 10-month old baby boys should be around 28.9 inches long while baby girls maybe 28.1 inches long.
Developmental Milestones
Your 10-month old baby will be very curious about the things and activities around them. Allowing them to play and explore is crucial in encouraging the development of their different senses. Physical and mental milestones you can look forward to this month are the following:
Physical Development and Movements
- Your baby will be able to stand up from a seated position if they have something to pull on. They may also be able to “cruise” along furniture, meaning move when they are holding on to the edge of a sofa or a bed.
- They may try to take a few steps without support.
- Your baby might start to show if they are right-handed or left-handed.
- They may be able to grasp finger foods and feed themselves.
Language and Communication
- Your baby might be able to understand a few words or questions. If you ask where their daddy or other family member is, they may turn in that direction.
- Your baby will be able to understand if you are saying or calling their name.
- Your baby will be able to say certain syllables like “ga”, “ba”, or “ma”. They may even say “Mama” and link that word to you.
- They can now follow one-step command without gesture.
Cognitive Development
- By now, your baby will be able to understand the concept of object permanence. This concept refers to being able to understand that things exist even if they are not within your line of sight. If your baby used to cry whenever you left the room, now they may be able to understand that you are still there even when they cannot see you.
- Your baby will be able to see things when they are far.
- Your baby might begin to prefer some foods over others.
- Your baby will like to imitate other people’s gestures or sounds.
Feeding & Nutrition
During your baby’s 10 month, their main source of nutrition should still be breast milk or formula milk. However, soft solid foods should now be part of their diet.
It is important to incorporate as much fruits and veggies in their diet. It is also important to start introducing new foods to their diet like meat, dairy, or whole grain.
At this stage, some babies may refuse foods that you introduce to them. However, it is important to keep trying because it may take several attempts to get your baby to like new food.
Make sure to cut up bigger sized foods into small pieces for your baby to grasp and nibble on. Also, cook or steam veggies so that they will be soft enough for your baby to chew.
