Fathers and Babies Need Time Together

Being the father of a sevenmonth-
old baby is great. The
fun is just starting. At this age,
your baby is much more active.
He enjoys playing. He wants to
move around on his own. He
wants to explore everything.

Make sure your house is “baby-proof.” Your baby will put anything into his
mouth. He will poke his fingers into everything. Be sure that unused
electrical outlets have covers. Put medicines and cleaning products out of
your baby’s reach.

Crawl around the floor of your house. Look for dangerous things, such as
electrical cords and sharp objects. That way, you can see the room and the
objects in the room the same way your baby sees them.

After your house is safe, get down on the floor with your baby. Fathers and
babies need time together. Put a toy just out of his reach and coax him to
push himself toward it. Don’t push too hard if he’s not ready.

Here are some other games to play with him:

• Roll a soft ball to him and let him pick it up.
• Play peek-a-boo.
• Play clapping games with him.
• Smile and clap when he does what he is trying to do.
• Hug and comfort him when he gets upset because he can’t do things.

Plan a time to be with your baby. This can be during a feeding time, when
he gets a bath, at bedtime or any time that works for you. He will love it.

You’re his daddy. It’s okay for you to do things differently from the way your
baby’s mother does things.

Know your baby’s caregiver

Take time to talk with your baby’s caregiver. Be clear about the care you
want for your baby. Talk about what you want the caregiver to do. Talk
about your baby’s habits. Talk about his likes and dislikes.

At this age, a baby starts to feel afraid of strangers. Be sure to let your baby
get used to his caregiver before you leave them alone together.

This content has been provided freely by CMC. Click Healthy Start, Grow Smart—Your-Seven-Month-Old for your free download. Click GreatDad Free Ebook to download the entire Health Start, Grow Smart series.

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