31 Week Old Baby Development
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Learn everything you need to know about your 31 week old baby. Track important developments and milestones such as talking, walking, growth, memory & more.
Your Growing Baby
Play, Baby, Play
Your bubbly baby isn't just more physical now; he's also more fun. Each day you'll see a bit more of his personality peeking through, especially because so many of his new activities are hilarious to him. If you sing, he might giggle and try to bounce in time. Drop something and he'll crack up. Imitate his babbles and squeals and he'll really turn up the volume. Even better, between 7 and 8 months he'll show signs of having his own sense of humor, teasing you by proffering a toy, then taking it back again -- and giggling at your open-mouthed dismay.
He's also becoming more social. He recognizes all his family members and loved ones and tries to entice you into playing with him by flashing a smile or even lifting his arms at your appearance. Though a heightened sense of separation anxiety means he might not be fond of strangers right now, he'll usually make an exception for other babies and children, who fascinate him. Search for videos of laughing babies on You Tube (youtube.com) and watch your little one's wide-eyed response. Or place him in front of a mirror. He might smile at his reflection, chat with it, or reach out and touch it. In a few more months he'll learn that the face staring back is actually his, but for now he just enjoys making a new friend.
Healthy & Safety Info
Baby CPR Tips
As your baby tries out different finger foods, he may choke if food (or something else) gets stuck in his trachea instead of passing down his esophagus. As long as your baby's coughing, breathing, or crying, it's a good sign that he'll cough up the object and recover on his own. But if your baby isn't coughing, can't make noise, or is turning blue, you'll need to call 911 and begin infant CPR. If you haven't been trained in infant/child CPR already, sign up for a class now with a local hospital, fire department, or Red Cross chapter. Or watch our infant CPR video at Parents.tv. Formal training will make you confident you can handle a choking emergency, but here's a refresher on the basics:
- Have someone call 911. If you're alone, don't leave your baby to make the call -- try these next steps first, then call if you need to.
- Rest Baby on your forearm over your thigh, with his head toward your knee so it's lower than the rest of his body. Use the heel of your other hand to give five firm hits between his shoulders. This often dislodges the object. If you can spot it in his mouth or throat now, use your little finger to scoop it out.
- If your baby's still choking, flip him over so he's faceup on your other knee. Use your index and middle fingers to give five quick chest thrusts between his nipples, pushing in a half-inch to an inch deep. If this does not dislodge the object, switch back to the previous step on the other knee, and repeat until help arrives or your baby becomes unresponsive.
- If your baby's not breathing, attempt infant CPR. Open your baby's airway by tilting his head back slightly and lifting his chin. Place your mouth over his nose and mouth and give two slow breaths. Alternate breaths with back thrusts until normal breathing resumes or help arrives. If your baby's chest isn't rising, the object is still blocking her throat. Now's the time to call 911 if you haven't already.
Must-Knows
Your Relationship After Baby
Your sex life might be better than ever (if so, congratulations!). But if it's so-so or nonexistent, you've got plenty of company. It's hard to get in the mood when you're tired and have a to-do list a mile long. It's especially tough if you and your partner haven't spent a lot of alone time together lately, or if your conversations revolve almost entirely around your baby. To boost your sex drive, focus first on enhancing your connection with your spouse, something you can do even without a babysitter at your disposal. Some ideas for strengthening your bond at home:
- Carve out alone time. After you put your little one down for the night, order take-out for a late dinner a deux at home. Add some wine and the passion just might follow.
- Stop multitasking. When your partner tells you about his day, are you playing with the baby, folding the laundry, and watching TV at the same time? You might be the queen of multitasking, but dropping your other distractions for five minutes and looking your spouse in the eye while he talks is a smart way to show you're still interested in his life. Hopefully he'll return the favor.
- Surprise each other. Leave chocolates on his pillow, tuck a love note into his briefcase, or send a sexy text message. Something totally unexpected will turn you both on.
Marital satisfaction tends to dip in the first few months after a baby arrives on the scene, but now that you've got the hang of things with your little one, it'll be easier to rekindle the fire in your relationship.
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