Your baby is 27 weeks and is growing fast. Their feeding and demands only get higher as you find them waking up several times in the night crying from hunger. If you’re wondering what your baby at 27 weeks should be doing then continue reading, here’s everything you need to know:
This phase is quite a busy time for your baby; they are developing, physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively. You would notice that they are increasingly becoming aware of what they want and even show a little anger in their shrieks when things don’t go their way. You would also see that their bodies are working all day and night on mobility skills.
Babies grow at different rates and not all reach their development milestones at the same time, and quite often they show up when you are least expecting. By 27 weeks some babies are just sitting, some maybe crawling and some just seem to cruise. Since reaching milestones occur on a broad time frame, try not to worry if your baby is a late bloomer. However, consult their paediatrician if you notice any problems. Here are general pointers on what you can expect:
You can now introduce solid foods to your baby without hestitation. The belief in the past was that delaying the commonly allergenic foods lowered their risk of allergies. New research says that it is just the opposite. Introducing as many different types of foods early as they begin on solids is a good way to boost their immunity. Common allergenic foods such as eggs, nuts, wheat, soy, dairy, seafood etc. should all be introduced in small quantities as soon as the solid foods begin. They can be introduced to nuts safely through nut butter, however, avoid honey, fast food, sweet desserts and junk.
Introduce your baby to different types of spices, herbs and foods commonly used in your family and rather than making separate meals for them, see what you can adapt from your own to suit the baby’s needs.
A 27-week old baby sleep should be around 14-15 hours a day. Babies fuss during sleep time if they are emotionally drained or fatigued and ache from a whole day’s play time. Their sensory inputs throughout the day can also be overwhelming, and they can get cranky by the end of the day requiring reassurance and comfort to settle down. By watching them throughout the day, you can quickly learn when it is that they have had too much activity and stepped in to help them relax. It’s also seen in research that a 30-minute nap after any new task helps them remember and apply it the next time.
Physical tests include:
Your baby’s vaccinations include DTaP, polio, hepatitis B, pneumococcal and Hib which are given combined in two or three shots. They would also receive a rotavirus vaccine which is given orally.
Here are two fun games you can try with your baby:
This game develops their fine motor skills and helps in building the sense of object permanence. You’ll need a clean towel, some finger foods and some opaque cup for this activity. The game starts with showing your baby the snack and covering it up with the towel. Let the baby lift off the veil to discover the snack is still there even though they couldn’t see it a moment ago.
You can try the same game with a little bit of a magician’s touch. Cover the snack with one of the opaque cups and place two other cups next to it. Shuffle the cups around and let them find their snack underneath by lifting the cups.
Babies love games that have a surprise ending, especially one that involves movement. This game develops gross motor skills and builds a sense of cause and effect. On a soft rug indoors or outdoors or on your lawn, lay down on your back with your knees raised. Your baby sits on your belly facing you while leaning back on your knees. Steady them with your hands and sway from one side to another while reciting a nursery rhyme such as Humpty Dumpty. Every time the word “fall” comes in the rhyme, sway to one side and come back up. If needed use some cushions on the side for safety.
You notice any of the following:
Each baby develops at its own pace and reaches milestones on their own eventually. Wait for it patiently in case yours is yet to get there. In the meantime, enjoy the parenting journey.