Helping Your Baby Develop

• Talk to your baby a lot and respond to the sounds he makes.
• Look at picture books with your baby often, and name the pictures you see.
• Provide some quiet time when the radio and TV are not on.
• Buy puppets or make them from old mittens or socks by drawing faces with marking pens. Pretend the puppet is talking to your baby and encourage your baby to talk back to the puppet.
• Sing songs and read nursery rhymes to your baby often.
• Cut out pictures of things such as a ball and animals from magazines and paste them into a scrapbook. Look at this scrapbook with your baby and help her point to the pictures as you name them.

Developmental Milestones

All babies develop at different rates, but by the end of baby's tenth month, he will probably:

• Walk with you holding his hands
• Say "mama" and "dada" and know what they mean

More Separation Anxiety and Stranger Fear

Separation anxiety and fear of strangers may continue to be a concern. Your baby cries when you leave the room, when you introduce him to new people, or when you try leaving him with strangers.

Believe it or not, these fears are a sign of a healthy relationship with you. How should you cope? Here are some suggestions:

• Do your best to leave him with people he knows.
• Be sensitive to your baby's needs. Introduce him to new people and new situations gradually and carefully. Try not to leave him when he's tired, hungry, or sick.
• Practice separating by leaving him with someone in another room for short periods. Your baby will learn that he's okay when you're gone, and that you always come back.
• Leave quickly. His tears will stop when you're gone.

It's a Shoe-In

As soon as your baby is out and about, he'll need shoes to protect his tiny feet. Because their purpose is protection, not support, shoes should:

• Be soft and flexible
• Allow him to move his feet easily
• Have flat, non-skid soles
• Have soft, porous tops that allow the foot to breathe

Baby shoes need not be expensive. The shoe of choice? Sneakers, tied securely to prevent trips or falls. Remember: since your baby's feet will grow rapidly, the shoe size will have to keep pace.

Check for sizing monthly.

New Fears

About this time your baby may start to fear objects or situations that never seemed to bother him before. The darkness or the sound of thunder may frighten him. Surprises or loud noises (like the vacuum cleaner) may make him cry. Here are a few hints to help make this period easier for him and for you:

• Eliminate the source of fear as much as possible. For example, use a night light in his room at night.
• Try turning the fear into a positive learning experience. For instance, while holding his hand and saying comforting words, have your child touch the vacuum as it is running. Don't force it. That could frighten him even more.
• If that approach doesn't work, try to vacuum (or use the hair dryer, etc.) when he's not around.

Remember, even though they may seem irrational, your child's fears should be accepted and respected.