7 months
Seven months: sitting steady
A steadier sitter, a busier explorer and a baby who is starting to understand "no".
Many seven-month-olds sit without support, freeing both hands for exploring. Food is becoming more varied, and your baby is beginning to understand your tone of voice.
Growth
Weight
7.2–9.8 kg
Length
67–73 cm
Typical range; your paediatrician tracks your baby on a growth chart. Weight gain of around 300–450 g a month is normal now, and a baby who follows their own curve is doing well.
What your baby is learning
- Many babies sit unsupported for a while and lean forward to grab a toy without toppling over.
- The rake grasp appears: your baby sweeps small objects towards the palm with the whole hand and can hold a toy in each hand.
- Everything still goes in the mouth; this is how babies learn about texture and shape, so keep small objects well away.
- Your baby begins to respond to "no" and to their own name, pausing or looking at you, and uses different sounds for different moods.
- On the tummy, many babies pivot in a circle, push up high on their arms and may begin rocking on hands and knees.
Feeding
- Move from smooth purées towards thicker, lumpier mashed food; two meals a day is typical now, alongside breastfeeding or formula.
- Keep adding variety: meat, liver or lentils for iron, porridge, pumpkin, carrot, courgette, apple and pear. Locally grown vegetables cooked at home are ideal.
- Introduce common allergens early rather than late unless your doctor advises otherwise: well-cooked egg, a thin smear of peanut paste, fish. Offer a small amount in the morning and watch for a reaction.
- Still no honey, salt, sugar, tea or juice. Cow's milk is not a drink for babies under one year, though a little can be used in cooking.
Sleep
About 12–15 hours in total with two or three naps. Many babies now sleep longer stretches at night, but waking to feed is still normal. Keep the back-sleeping rule; a dark, cool, quiet room helps everyone.
Check-ups and vaccines
- Monthly check-up at the polyclinic or a visit from your patronage nurse: weight, length and a chat about food and sleep. No vaccines are due this month.
- Teething can cause drooling, red cheeks and fussiness, but not high fever or diarrhoea; if those appear, treat them as illness, not teething. A chilled (not frozen) teething ring helps.
- If anyone at home smokes, keep smoke out of the house entirely: it raises the risk of chest and ear infections in babies.
Play and everyday tips
- Fill-and-empty games with cups, spoons and a bowl at the dastarkhan keep little hands busy while you eat.
- Name everything you do: "Now we wash hands, now we put on socks". Repetition in your home language is how words are learned.
- Sing lullabies and clapping songs; finger games with rhythm help language and coordination.
- Use a firm high chair with straps at mealtimes, and never leave your baby alone on a bed or sofa, even for a moment.
Call the doctor or 103 if
- Fever of 39 °C or higher, or any fever lasting more than three days.
- Diarrhoea with blood, or vomiting and diarrhoea with fewer wet nappies, a dry mouth and sunken eyes.
- Breathing difficulty, a non-blanching rash, a seizure, or a baby who is floppy and hard to wake.
- Developmental: not rolling at all, not reaching for objects, not babbling, or seeming not to hear sounds. Book a visit with your paediatrician.
- For any urgent sign, do not wait: call 103 or go to the polyclinic/hospital.
Trust your instinct. If your baby seems unwell to you, call 103 or go to the polyclinic.
Monthly updates in Telegram
Tell the bot your baby's birth date and it will send a development digest every month, with the vaccines due next.
- ✓A short digest every new week
- ✓Countdown to your due date
- ✓Reminders about upcoming checkups
- ✓Kick counter and contraction timer