Pacifiers or thumb sucking
5th month, 2nd week
Babies suckle at the breast to calm down, so many babies rely on
pacifiers or thumbs when not breastfeeding or bottle feeding. Some parents
oppose pacifiers for fear that their children will need braces or that the
habit will be difficult to break. If your child is used to a pacifier, try to
phase out the pacifier after six months.
Here's what you need to know:
- Sucking on a pacifier while sleeping can reduce your baby's risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
- Neither is perfect: nipples can increase the risk of ear infections, but thumb sucking can add germs to your baby's mouth.
- Thumbs require less care because children can find them in the dark. Some babies cry in the middle of the night when the nipple falls off.
- If your child gets rid of this habit before he has permanent teeth, his smile will be fine.
- Try to keep the pacifier in the crib and limit its use to daytime sleep and nighttime. During the day, children should explore their developing voice and babble more.
Your baby's development this week
Perhaps your clumsy toddler is about to learn a new skill: roll over.
Many babies who are on their tummy will roll over onto their back for the first
time this month. Some roll over a little later, and some roll over from their
back to their stomach first.
Here's what else to expect from your little mover:
- Once they roll in one direction, babies quickly learn to roll in both directions.
- When your baby kicks their legs, "swims" with their arms, or rocks back and forth during tummy time, they are preparing themselves to crawl.
- Your child can use their hands to bring objects to their mouth. They might even grab an ankle and taste their own toes!
5th month, 2nd week tips
- Never put a pacifier on a string or rope around a child's neck. This is a choking hazard.
- If your child uses a pacifier and has had several ear infections, wean it off gradually to avoid further ear problems.
- When your baby starts eating solid foods, he is more likely to get diaper rash. Help prevent this by changing her diaper frequently.
- Help your child avoid scratches by trimming his nails weekly. If he resists, wait until he is asleep to trim his pinky fingers and toenails.
- To save money, accept baby clothes from friends and tell people what you need when they want to give a baby a present.
- Check out the social life of new parents by dining at family restaurants, playing with friends, or hosting a dinner and movie night at home.
Your baby will soon be mobile! For safety reasons, place the crib
mattress on the lowest level. Protect your home from children: install child
locks on all cabinets, remove dangling cords, and use plug guards in electrical
outlets. Also, keep your bathroom and bedroom doors closed and be sure to lock all
cleaning supplies.