Growing up is hard work for a baby! Every week will show a new skill he is trying to master, a new developmental phase he is going through, and a new issue he is dealing with. At 40 weeks, your baby will be preoccupied with the increasing number of teeth ready to blossom underneath his gums, and his drive to move around will increase day by day. He will also be more prone to mood swings and disturbed sleep, so this is time for proper care and nurturing.
At 40 weeks, your baby will be just about developing his personality. He may be quite social, smiling at everyone and he also may be shy, hiding his face when someone new comes along and tries to engage with him. Babies will start to assess situations before accepting someone new in their life when they are 10 months old. This can also result in quick and drastic switches of moods. They will gesture to get your attention and may even wave goodbye when you indicate that you are leaving the house. This is the age when your baby may even be able to stand alone on his own.
Below are a few milestones you can see in the development of your 40-week-old baby:
Water bottles become highly attractive for babies at 40 weeks old – because of the water in them, and because of the way they roll around. Your baby will watch you drink and try to imitate you. If he spends a lot of time around other babies, you might have to constantly retrieve sippy cups that do not belong to him from his hands. 40 weeks is a good age to introduce drinking from a cup in your baby’s life. While he will get most of his hydration from breastfeeding, using his interest in water bottles to teach him to drink from a cup will be highly useful in preparing your baby for weaning. It is always better to let your baby drink water or milk from a cup. Juice is high in sugar and can cause dental problems or obesity, so help your baby get into the habit of drinking only water and milk from his cup even after weaning. Encourage your baby to drink a cup of water with each meal, to also let him know that water can quench thirst. Keep a sippy cup around your baby all day so he can drink water whenever he wants.
Your 40-week-old baby will experience sleep disruption at this stage due to a lot of different and simultaneous developments. His four top teeth will grow underneath his gums and will cause him discomfort. Along with the mental and mobility development he will experience, this pain will be enough to disrupt his sleep and keep him awake at night. Since he will not be able to sleep well at night, you will see your baby be grumpier and clingy during the day. Eating solid food or sucking from the breast might start to hurt, courtesy his swollen gums, leading to more frustration. Once his teeth erupt in his mouth, only then will he experience some relief. Till then, your baby might need you to feed, hold or carry him until he can forget the discomfort and go to sleep. Babies usually cling most to their mothers during this stage and refuse to go to anyone else. So be patient and do what you can to help your baby get through this painful teething stage.
Here are a few ways you can take care of your 40-week-old baby:
There will be a physical exam when your baby is 40 weeks old which will be done by the doctor based on the individual needs of the baby.
The doctor can do a blood test to determine levels of iron, haemoglobin and lead in your baby’s blood so that you can rule out any possible presence anaemia in your baby.
The doctor will give your baby a shot of the measles vaccine and the fifth dose of oral Polio drops if your baby has been getting the dosage regularly.
Here are a few games you can play with your 40-week-old baby:
This game can help your baby get over any separation anxiety. Hiding your face and showing it again helps them know you are physically present even if they can’t see you.
Play a game of clapping your hands and encourage your baby to as well. This can help them coordinate his hand movements.
Play a game where you ask your baby to point out where his eyes, nose and mouth are. This can help him learn the names of different body parts.
As your baby will be able to walk now, you can further encourage his mobility by dancing and singing alongside him.
Here are times you need to consult your doctor regarding your 40-week-old infant’s development:
40 weeks is a challenging age for your baby, so it is important as a parent to never compare your baby with another, even if the other baby shows different developments at 40 weeks of age. Don’t let self-doubt creep in. Every baby is different.