30 Week Old Baby Development

Learn everything you need to know about your 30 week old baby. Track important developments and milestones such as talking, walking, growth, memory & more.

By Parents Editors

Published on June 12, 2017

Southeast Asian baby boy getting dressed

Your Growing Baby

Milestones & More!

Around 30 weeks, you'll notice that your baby has the memory and cognitive ability to figure out what's going to happen next. If he hears the keys jingling in the lock at 6 p.m., he kicks his legs in anticipation of your arrival home from work. When he hears you pop the lid off a baby food jar, he claps and squeals because he knows it's lunchtime. Your baby relies on sensory input—sounds, smells, sights—to figure out what's going on, in part because he's such a keen observer of his surroundings, and in part because he loves repetition and routine so much that he's quick to pick up on it. Be prepared, though, for a minor meltdown if he gets it wrong. When it wasn't a baby food jar he heard but simply you washing the dishes, he might wail for his missed meal.

Your baby's fine motor skills continue to grow more sophisticated. He's comfortable banging, shaking, dropping, and throwing his toys. You might notice that your baby's getting better at feeding himself by picking up food using his thumb and fingers (instead of just holding stuff in his whole palm). His grip will become even more precise as he nears 12 months, when babies often master the pincer grasp—between thumb and pointer finger—to pick up teeny-tiny things such as Cheerios.

As those hand skills develop, you might wonder whether your baby will be right-handed or left-handed. Although some babies start to show a preference for one side as early as 3 months of age, most use both hands equally throughout the first year—so don't be surprised if your guy sucks his left thumb one day, then uses his right hand to roll a ball the next. (Statistically, more than 70 percent of people are right-handed, so chances are fairly good your baby will be too.)

Games to Boost Cognitive Development
Milestone Boosting Toys
Encouraging Fine Motor Skill Development

Health and Safety Info

Diaper Rash Dilemmas

Keep an eye out for diaper rash these days. Babies can develop it any time, but it tends to be more common between 7 and 10 months of age. Why? Your baby's expanding palate might change the consistency of his poop, irritating his bottom and triggering that red, splotchy-looking skin. Plus, sitting up and crawling in a soggy diaper can chafe. While a rash might make baby uncomfortable and fussy, especially during diaper changes, it's usually harmless and should clear up on its own in a few days. To make sure it does, change his diaper more frequently, rinsing his bottom with water and a moist, clean washcloth at every change. If you use wipes, make sure they're fragrance- and alcohol-free. Gently pat Baby dry with a clean towel, then apply a soothing ointment or cream such as A+D or Desitin; it heals sore sports and acts as a barrier between your baby's skin and the contents of his diaper.

Must-Knows

Growing Interest

You might notice something different about diaper duty now: With his newly agile hands, your baby might discover—and develop a keen interest in—his genitals. While that might start as your baby's reflexive desire to grab onto anything within reach, it might soon become purposeful. Just as with grown-ups, these areas are sensitive on babies, and touching them feels good. So it's perfectly normal if baby fiddles around when he's naked on the changing table or in the bath. Don't pull his hand away or make him feel bad for wanting to explore "down there." The bigger a deal you make it, the more he'll just want to play. And shed any worries you have about being embarrassed in public. Other moms know that this is totally normal and nothing to be ashamed of.

When your child is closer to age 3, you can explain about private parts and tell your toddler that while it's OK for him to touch them, it shouldn't be done in public. More important, you can also talk about why it's not acceptable for anyone else to touch them, and that he should tell you immediately if someone does.