47-Week-Old Baby
As baby gets closer to turning one, it might seem like every major milestone is coming up: eating more solids, their first word and maybe even their first step. Try not to stress or rush things; every baby’s timeline is different. Enjoy the ride, and read on for a closer look at what you can expect in 47-week-old baby development.
Growth
At 47 weeks, the average weight for baby is 19.2 pounds for girls and 20.6 pounds for boys. The average length is 28.5 inches for girls and 29.2 inches for boys. As baby becomes more active, they could start gaining less weight. Don’t worry: As long as they’re tracking along their growth curve, this is normal.
Emerging skills
Baby’s busy moving around, likely practicing walking while holding on to furniture. Baby’s hand-eye coordination is improving, and they’re having tons of fun banging together pots and pans, or placing blocks in a container and then taking them out. Baby can respond to simple verbal requests and is likely starting to understand the word “no.”
Feeding
If you’re breastfeeding, you can continue to nurse five or so times a day, although this can vary widely based on baby’s needs. Bottle-fed babies will generally drink around four or five bottles a day for no more than 32 ounces total in 24 hours—although again, every baby is different. Plus, baby’s exploring a variety of solid foods. Continue to steer clear of added sugar and excess salt. Also be aware that baby shouldn’t have fish that’s high in mercury, such as king mackerel, marlin, shark and swordfish, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Sleep
Your 47-week-old should be getting around 12 to 16 hours of sleep every 24-hour period, with nine to 12 of those hours at night and the rest spread out between a morning and afternoon nap. If baby’s using a pacifier, you can offer it at bedtime but no need to replace it if it falls out while they’re sleeping.
Can baby have a little juice?
The CDC doesn’t recommend any fruit or vegetable juice before one year of age. Even after baby turns one, juice isn’t necessary—but you can give 4 ounces or less of 100 percent juice with no added sugar once a day if you’d like.
Baby isn’t saying “mama” or “dada” yet. Should I worry?
If baby’s babbling, making a variety of sounds and showing signs they understand you, they’re on the right track. Keep talking to and interacting with baby, narrate what you’re doing and build on what baby tries to say. They’ll get there!
Holding boundaries
At this age, baby doesn’t understand that they shouldn’t, say, pick up dirt and eat it. It’s age-appropriate for them to explore, but it’s also up to you to gently set boundaries. Model “wanted behaviors” and redirect baby by giving them a toy or moving them to a safer space. Save “no” for when they’re getting into something dangerous—baby might not always listen (this is where redirecting or moving them comes in), but they’ll soon start to pause or stop when you say it. Don’t spank, yell or give long explanations.
Crawling
Are you patiently waiting for those first big moves? Babies typically start crawling between 7 and 10 months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). But some babies skip this step completely and go straight to standing, cruising and trying to walk—this is totally normal. Others might need some assistance. You can promote movement by placing a favorite toy just out of reach and praising baby when they move toward it. Check in with your pediatrician if baby’s consistently dragging one side of the body while crawling, or if you have any other concerns.
- Practice gratitude. Take a few minutes each day to think of three things you’re grateful for. This practice is excellent for boosting your mood or reframing your thoughts on bad days. You can write them down if that helps.
- Listen to a podcast (that’s about something other than parenting). It can boost your mental health to engage in interests outside of parenting. So bring back your love for true crime or pop culture!
- Baby proofing products. As baby becomes more upright, you might want to do a new round of baby proofing. For baby’s safety, it’s smart to cover sharp table edges, install window guards, secure heavy furniture, install baby gates, cover outlets and move plants, among other things. Here are some key baby proofing items.
Point to interesting things you see, such as a truck or a dog, and name them. This will help baby pay attention to what you’re showing them through pointing and help their language development. It will also encourage baby to learn how to point on their own.
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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