Your Baby Week 31
At this point, your baby might be able to sit without support, bear some weight on their legs, express unhappiness when you take their toys away, and turn in the direction of voices in the room. He may even be able to clap his hands and wave goodbye.
As your baby gets older and is interacting with your family members more and more each week, you may be concerned about other people spoiling your infant; giving him sugar-filled snacks and wanting to play with him through naptime. It may be a good time to set up some guidelines with any overly eager relatives but it's important to keep everything in perspective. Though you may have a strict routine that you would like to adhere to, it may not always be possible and occasional interruptions are not the end of the world.
It's good to keep in mind how often these interruptions will be occurring. If it is a family member that lives far away and is visiting only once a year, you may want to let your little one enjoy the special treatment. However, if this attention and rule-breaking seems like something that will continue on a regular basis and send your little one mixed signals about acceptable behavior in your own home, then you may want to consider laying down the law.
The good news is that children can easily learn that certain rules apply to different locations. For example, they may be able to watch more TV at grandma and grandpa's house and have more sugary treats and snacks than you would allow. In your own home, however, you can decide which rules are unbreakable. Speaking with generous relatives about what rules you are willing to bend when they come over and which you would like to adhere to may give them an avenue to channel their attention and affection in a way that is more acceptable to you.
Babies and Snacking
As your baby grows, it may seem like they always want to snack. Though you might be hesitant to let them snack throughout the day, it's important to remember that they are growing and three meals a day may not be enough to keep them satisfied. Remember, their little bellies can only hold so much food at every feeding, so in between meals, it's natural that they may begin to get hungry. Just make sure the snacks are healthy and don't fall too close to mealtime. Snacks that are given too close to mealtime really can affect your baby's appetite and ultimately throw them off of their feeding schedule. Below you will find some healthy snack ideas for your growing infant:
- Small pieces of banana
- Small pieces of ripe peeled and pitted fruit, such as pears or cantaloupe
- Small cubes of tofu
- Small pieces of well cooked vegetables, like sweet potato or carrots
- Very small pieces of cheese
