41-Week-Old Baby
Week 41 is all about communication. Baby is babbling away (and possibly even saying their first word!), understanding more and more of what you’re saying and learning hand gestures like waving. Here’s a closer look at what you can expect in 41-week-old baby development.
Growth
At 41 weeks, the average weight for baby is 18.4 pounds for girls and 19.9 pounds for boys. The average length is 27.9 inches for girls and 28.5 inches for boys. Since they were a newborn, baby might have shifted where they are on the growth curve: Maybe you had a big 2-month-old but now have an average 9-month-old, for example. This is completely normal, as long as they’re growing at a steady pace. Rest assured that your pediatrician has been following your child’s unique growth curve at every wellness visit. If you have any concerns about baby’s growth, be sure to check in with your pediatrician.
Emerging skills
Baby’s communication is steadily evolving, with baby making lots of sounds including babbling, laughing, squealing and generally doing their best to imitate you. Baby’s also smiling or laughing when you play peekaboo, and showing a variety of facial expressions. (There’s no mistaking when baby’s cranky!) They may be crawling and quite possibly cruising—so watch out, world; baby’s officially on the move!
Feeding
Baby’s discovery of solid foods continues with new textures and flavors. But while experimentation is wonderful, it’s still best to make sure their calories come from nutritious sources like fruit, vegetables and iron-fortified cereals. Breast milk or formula are still in the starring role. If you’re breastfeeding, don’t let the “distracted dining” at this age discourage you: You might just have to move to a dedicated, quieter place with fewer distractions. Formula-fed babies will drink around five bottles and a maximum of 32 ounces per day. As long as baby is full and happy, that’s all that matters.
Sleep
Baby's sleep needs have stayed pretty steady recently. Baby needs around 12 to 16 hours of sleep per 24-hour period, including nine to 12 hours at night. Keeping sleep times and baby’s bedtime routine consistent will go a long way toward smoothing out any bumps in the road.
Should my baby be sleeping through the night at this age?
If baby isn’t sleeping through the night yet, you’re not alone. Research says that up to 37.6 percent of babies don’t sleep six consecutive hours at 6 months, and up to 27.9 percent don’t do so at one year of age. It helps to improve your own sleep hygiene, which includes a consistent sleep schedule and unplugging from electronics at night.
Does baby need a plane ticket?
Infants under 2 years old traveling in the US don’t need a plane ticket if sitting on their adult’s lap during the flight. But the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends that babies be safely restrained in their own (FAA-approved) infant car seat, since unexpected turbulence could present a safety issue.
Babbling
At this age, baby might go from babbling strings of consonants like “bababa” or “dadada” to forming recognizable syllables like “ba” and “da.” By seeing how excited you get when they say “mama” or “dada”, they’ll soon start to connect the words with their meanings. But even before they say their first words, babies will show they understand you by, say, looking when you say “Where’s daddy?” Interact with baby often to promote communication. For example, ask baby to point to familiar objects and ask, “Where’s the ball?” Label everything: Touch baby’s toe and say “toe,” for example.
Naps
Around 9 months old, most babies consolidate their daytime sleep to two naps a day (if they haven't already) and should be getting 2 to 3.5 hours of daytime shuteye. In the next several weeks, baby may start to resist their afternoon nap if they take a whopper of a nap in the morning—but don't take that as a sign they're ready to drop down to a single daily snooze. (That usually doesn't happen until kids are 15 to 18 months old.) Afternoon naps are key to helping baby make it to bedtime. Instead, make the morning nap shorter so they're ready to rest in the afternoon and have a good night's sleep.
- Call a friend. It’s easy to get a bit lost in your new parent identity. Connecting with friends can help. You may need to schedule the call into your day and theirs—but it’s so worth it.
- Pamper yourself. You’ve been working hard doing what feels like…everything. You deserve to do something nice for yourself! Pampering looks different for everyone. Some ideas: Take yourself out to eat, get a pedicure or a long massage, or even just take a bubble bath. It doesn’t have to be extravagant—anything to make you feel like the rockstar parent you are.
- Push toys. A push toy is a great pick right now, particularly if it offers lots of activities for babies whether they’re crawling, pulling to stand or starting to walk. Pick out an option with a steady bar for baby to hold on to and that won’t tip while being used. Be aware that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has called for a ban on wheeled walkers that babies sit in due to the high number of injuries—so make sure to choose a safe, sturdy alternative.
Baby’s loving banging things like pots and pans together these days. Take advantage of it and have a jam session! No drum set? No problem. Use pots and pans, wooden spoons and whatever else you can find. Encourage baby to mimic you for a fun bonding and sensory activity.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
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