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Your baby's forty-eight weeks after birth
Your 48-week-old baby is almost one year old and is now about to take its first steps with the completion of the 48th week. Perhaps, you can expect your baby’s brain to develop rapidly, and to decode complex processes and language much easily when focused. This week, communication is a high priority.
On the other hand, when you hear closely, you might notice the ramblings through gibberish but are spoken in a particular pattern of a conversation. This can be understood by noticing the tone and intonation of the sentence as if they are asking a question or answering some question. Therefore, you will notice how the little toddler has been observing and grasping the basic concept of conversing while you had a conversation and with only a matter of time they will learn to string the words together. To know more of what you can expect of your baby at this age, read one!
Your 48-week-old baby's development and physical growth
Let us now understand what happens with the little one in their forty-eight-week after birth in terms of the baby’s development during this week.
Your baby’s weight:
- Expect your baby to weigh anything from around 19.12 lbs to 21.04 lbs. However, if you observe the baby grow less or more, make sure to consult the doctor for help
Your baby’s sleep:
- Your 48-week-old baby will now grow teeth by the age of 13 months that might be currently moving under the gums and ready for eruption. This will perhaps be the cause of the little one’s disturbed sleep and discomfort that will keep your baby up at night.
- There might also be swollen gums, especially on the roof of the baby’s mouth, making it harder to fall asleep. Therefore, your baby will now need extra love and attention, you might need to breastfeed the baby, pat and rock them for other relaxing techniques to soothe them to sleep, try giving them a teether.
- Nonetheless, if the baby’s teething pain becomes unbearable, you must consult your pediatrician to help aid and cause the relief to the pain.
Your baby’s diet
- At this age, parents can now start introducing baby bowls, plates, spoons, and other cutlery to the 48-week-old baby’s mealtimes. This is the best week to do so as the baby is developing motor skills and will allow him to direct his hand to a plate, grasp a small piece of food while bringing it to their mouth.
- Also, to prevent your baby from throwing anything from their high chair, purchase cutlery that sections to these chairs ( most high chairs have it inbuilt).
- Using forks and spoons helps build hand-eye coordination and dexterity in your baby.
Your 48-week-old baby's health
A 48-week old baby or eleven months old is acquiring major milestones and visiting the doctor for a check-up counts as one. Here’s what you can expect from the visit to the baby’s doctor:
- Tests
In case your baby is showing symptoms of anemia, be prepared for your door to schedule a blood test in order to check the levels of hemoglobin and iron in the baby’s blood.
- Routine check-up
Expect your doctor to measure your baby’s height and weight as a part of a routine check-up to track the development.
- Vaccinations
The toddler might need the final dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine and the third dose of the IPV (polio) vaccine this week. And, as per the doctor’s recommendation, your baby may also need a shot of the influenza vaccine.
Postpartum baby tips: Week 48 after birth
A baby at 48 weeks is acquiring different milestones and seems to transition from a little baby to a full grown-full size toddler. Here are a few things that you can expect from the child this week:
Your growing baby
- Expect your baby to be a chatting storm this week while they babble a few words in a conversational tone. Babies will try to attract their mama’s and dada’s into a conversation and you must try to cooperate and boost them by cross-questioning or answering. This will help them boost their confidence and indulge in learning new words and developing their speaking skills.
- This week, there are chances that the baby is taking a step or two by themselves, however, if your baby doesn’t it’s completely ok as every child develops as per their pace. Nonetheless, if you are tense, you can consult the baby’s pediatrician.
Your 48-week old baby's developmental milestones
- Expect them to be able to stand on their own while they are balanced, even if it is for a shorter period of time
- They will be able to drink juice or water from their favorite sippy cup with their meals at lunch or dinner
- Your baby can now say a word or two along with the ‘mama’ or ‘papa’
- They can now roll back a ball in your direction when you’re sitting across them
- Expect your baby to be able to respond even while babbling or via gestures
- Can now be able to at least initiate walking on their own
- They will be able to convey what they need by pointing or gesturing as compared to the earlier crying
- They can now pick up small toys or food pieces by using their thumb and index finger while feeding
- Most babies also use hands to gesture a flying kiss or wave bye-bye
The need for games for your baby in order to build motor skills
- Peekaboo
Play peek-a-boo with your little one as your play hide and seek while hiding behind doors or an object that will be easy for the baby. This helps the baby to learn to participate, build their observation skills, and get them to laugh.
- Race
Depending on whether the baby is walking or crawling, race against them across a room while mimicking them. This game helps develop their motor skills and learn the concept of distance and speed.
- Reading a book
Reading books to your baby with bright pictures and naming them helps them encourage and name things while pointing at the book.
The parents after childbirth of a 48-week old baby: What to expect in their forty-eight-week after giving birth?
Here are a few tips for our parents to help them simplify their journey with their 48th-week old baby:
Preparing your baby's first birthday party
While your baby is close to celebrating their first birthday, it is often noticed that parents tend to be more excited as compared to the baby and stress out over a big celebration. Perhaps, while you are at it, remember to not go all out as there are chances that your baby wouldn’t even remember it. You can then simply prepare a cute invite for the grandparents, cousins, and close friends with a little attractive and frosty cake.
On the other hand, if you really wish to have a big celebration there is no need to shy away from it. But, in order to minimize the stress, remember to plan ahead, decide on the theme, the menu, and send invites for a shorter gathering.
Understanding the care tips for your 48-week old baby
- You must in this week ensure that your baby is in a safe and childproofed environment to practice their motor skills. But make sure to never leave the baby alone or unattended
- Encourage the toddler to walk by standing in front and holding their hands for support
- Use the words ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ more often for the baby to imbibe the usage
- Use the word ‘NO’ only when required as reusing it every now-and-then loses its importance
- Help the baby hold their spoon and self-feed until they learn to do it by themselves
Understanding your baby's health and the urgent need of a doctor
Listed below are a few instances where parents must consult a doctor regarding their 48-week old baby during this week:
- In case the toddler has a low-grade fever and has tiny itchy red spots all over their body, developing into brown crusts. You must contact your doctor immediately as it could be a sign of chickenpox.
- The little one has an allergic reaction with a runny nose, watery eyes, and fever.
To Conclude
A baby 48 weeks old is now almost ready to step into their completion of the first year, perhaps, as big as it sounds, it is important to notice that preparing for a party over-budget or requiring you to work over your limit is not that worth it. Instead, you could prepare for a celebration that works best for both, you and your baby.
Nonetheless, Parenthood Bliss wishes you all the very best for the upcoming year. Cheers!
