Your 5-month-old: Growing Stronger!

And baby might be wary of strangers.

By the end of this month, your 5-month-old baby will probably be able to sit up with some support and be able to pass toys from one hand to the other. Depending on how long your friends and family visit you, your baby might start displaying a wariness of strangers.

Getting a Leg up in Month 5

Here, a few steps you can take to help your baby develop -- and prepare to walk!

Every baby develops at a different pace. This is normal. But in general, by the end of the fifth month, your baby will likely be able to:

• Sit with support.
• Transfer objects from one hand to another.
• Make two-syllable sounds, such as “ah-goo.”
• Give “raspberries,” or make a razzing sound with his lips.

Here’s how you can help your 5-month-old baby’s brain and body develop:

• Encourage your baby to raise his head and push up on his arms to watch what’s happening in the world around him.
• Hold your baby upright under the arms. Slowly lower your baby until his feet touch the table, the bed or your lap to help baby get prepared for what standing will feel like.
  
• Help your baby sit up alone. You can start by sitting on the couch or a chair and propping your baby up in the corner, which can prevent baby from falling over.
• Try to get your baby to follow faces or bright objects with his eyes.
• Help your baby pick up small toys, such as 1-inch blocks. (Keep small objects that can cause choking out of your baby’s reach and mouth.)

What Building-block Nutrients Does Baby Need?

Discover what role various nutrients play in your 5-month-old baby’s development.

Whether you choose to breastfeed or use baby formula, your baby needs protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals in order to develop strong bones, healthy muscles and a strong body.

Here are some important nutrients your baby needs for optimal growth:

•  Vitamin C helps form collagen, a protein that gives structure to bones, cartilage, muscle, blood vessels and other connective tissue. It helps maintain capillaries, bones and teeth. In addition, vitamin C is essential for healing wounds and helping the body resist infection, and it aids in iron absorption.
  
• Calcium plays an important role in bone and tooth development, blood clotting, and maintenance of healthy nerves and muscles.
• Iron is necessary for proper growth and formation of healthy blood cells. Iron is part of hemoglobin, a protein that is involved in carrying and storing oxygen.
• Proteins help develop, maintain and repair new tissues throughout the body, including muscles.

How Is Your 5-month-old Sleeping?

Handle your baby’s nocturnal needs.

• Your baby could start waking up more during the night to feed and might not yet sleep longer than five to six hours at a time. Baby might still sleep about 12-15 hours total every day.
• Baby might start sitting up -- and wake up in the process, which might cause him to cry. Always check on your baby to make sure he’s OK. But if you’re sure he doesn’t have a physical need, try to let your baby try to get back to sleep on his own instead of immediately trying to provide comfort.
• You and your partner should decide together if you’re comfortable with this type of baby sleep “training.” Many parents call it the “cry it out” method.