Medically Reviewed by: Susan Hogan RN, RM, MSc
Your 7-month-old baby is now in the second half of their first year - isn't time flying? Once your little one hits six months old, their development will ramp up a notch and you will start to notice them changing weekly (even daily!). It's crazy to watch your child work their way through different baby milestones and think that just a few months ago they were your tiny newborn. But although they may not be as small as they once were, as your baby grows, so does their world and it's full of lots of exciting experiences and encounters. There will be loads of fun to be had this month as your baby starts to discover food as they embark on weaning and they might even sprout their first little tooth. Get ready for teething and make sure you have lots of teething toys to hand. Here's what you and your 7-month-old baby can look forward to this month...
Development milestones for 7-month-old baby
Movement Your baby your 7-month-old baby is now really developing both physically and developmentally. You and your family will notice that your baby is getting bigger and more mobile. Midwife and co-founder of The Baby Academy, Susan Hogan, says, "Your baby may begin to sit up on their own at around 7 months, which is a great milestone but all babies are different and some may just be happy sitting and observing. They may also be trying to crawl, roll over, or even try to stand while holding onto something."
Language Your 7-month-old is starting to try to talk and are becoming more expressive. "They may make babbling sounds, say "mama" or "dada", or even start gesturing to get their point across. It's important to talk to your baby and respond to their sounds to encourage their language development. You can also play with them, sing to them, and read to them to help them develop their communication skills," says Susan.
Physical development You will notice that your 7-month-old baby is now really developing both physically and developmentally-people will notice that your baby is getting bigger and more mobile. "Your baby may begin to sit up on their own at around 7 months, which is a great milestone but all babies are different and some may just be happy sitting and observing. They may also be trying to crawl, roll over, or even try to stand while holding onto something," Susan explains.
"They are also becoming more coordinated with their hands-you will notice that they can pick up and play with toys more effectively. As a midwife, I always recommend that parents provide a safe and stimulating environment for their baby to play and explore in."
Your 7-month-old will also be doing a lot of growing, making their way up the growth charts and will gain about 1 to 1 ¼ pounds in weight this month.
Brain development Your 7-month-old is much more aware of the world around them than in previous months and will constantly be looking around and may becoming distracted easily. It's important for them to having wind down time as they process the world around them, especially during feeding and before bedtime. Those developing brains can get overwhelmed and quiet time is so important.
Sleep Babies this age are sleeping for about 14 hours each day. 11-12 of those hours will be at night and most will sleep right through. Some babies will still be waking up during the night for a feed and some may be able to last until morning. It all depends on your little one! Most babies at 7 months old will be taking three naps a day but may be looking to drop the third if they are becoming overtired at bedtime.
Teeth You 7-month-old baby might be in the first stages of teething and may have a couple of teeth, but they may not have any. This stage of teething can be painful and confusing for your baby, so make sure you provide lots of cuddles and teething toys. You can check out the best teething remedies and looking for the signs and symptoms in our handy guide.
Sensory and cognitive development for 7 month old baby
Clapping Your little one may begin to start clapping this month, an excitement and adorable milestone. This is a great sign that they are developing their hand-eye coordination and fine-motor skills. If they have mastered it, keep trying as they love repetition and copying what you do.
Vision At 7 months, your baby's vision has come a long way since the newborn days. They can judge distances more accurately, they can focus better and their colour vision is nearly fully developed. They they can recognise familiar faces across a room and may start showing preferences and smile at loved ones. This is the time to start introduction colourful books and toys.
Hearing Another thing that has come on leaps and bounds is your little one's hearing, they can clearly hear and respond to sounds and will react to familiar voices. They also will start to recognise their own name and understanding the meaning of some phrases.
Sleep patterns and routine for 7 month old baby
At 7-months your baby needs around 14 hours of sleep over 24 hours hours. This is usually made up of 2.5 to 3 hours of daytime naps and 11-12 hours of sleep at night-time. However, every baby is different and their needs can vary too. These figures are just averages and should be used a general guide. You do whatever you need to suit you and your baby!
"Sleep patterns can really vary at this age (and any age really!), but on average a 7-month-old baby will have 2-3 naps during the day and have around 2-4 waking’s during the night," says midwife and co-founder of The Baby Academy, Susan Hogan. "It's always a good idea to establish a bedtime routine to help your baby settle at night. This could include a bath, feeding them in the same chair/same room, a lullaby or a story, a cuddle and a kiss goodnight (I always felt the kiss goodnight signalled to my children that this was the end of the routine… time for bed, Mummy is leaving the room now)." A consistent routine can make a big difference in helping your baby feel secure which in turn may be helpful in getting a good night's sleep.
In general for babies aged 6-8 months, wake windows (the amount of time between naps or bedtime) will be between 2-3 hours. Wake windows can get longer as the day progresses but your baby's first nap of the day should be taken within 2 hours of them waking up. The longest period of time they should be awake is just before bedtime.
You can read more on your 7 month old's sleep schedule and routine in our detailed sleep expert guide.
How to deal with 7 month old baby sleep regression?
Although there is no evidence to suggest that babies go through a sleep regression at 7-months-old parents may report sleep issues at this age.
Here are some of the reasons why your 7-month-old may be having trouble sleeping:
Getting rid of the third nap. Dropping naps can be tricky at any age but at 7 months some babies may be resisting their third nap of the day and then end up getting overtired at bedtime. If this happens, you can try bringing their bedtime forward by 30-60 minutes. When your baby begins to move towards two naps a day, they’re likely to have some two-nap days and some three-nap days until they’re ready to drop nap number three for good.
Hunger. Your 7 month old baby is incredibly aware of the world around them and can get distracted during feeds, this can sometimes end up in them feeling a little hungry at bedtime. Before feeding try to limit as many distractions as possible to help with this. Feeding during wind down times may help them sleep better with less frequent wakings.
Seperation anxiety. Now your baby is much more alert they're also more aware that at night-times you're not around, causing them to wake up. Don't ignore them, offer gentle comfort and this will help them self-settle.
Feeding and nutrition for 7 month old baby
At seven months old, your baby will still be primarily drinking milk, whether that be breastmilk or formula-and they usually drink around 600-700ml per day. "As for solid foods, you may have started introducing solid foods at around six months of age. You should find that at 7 months, milk is still your baby’s main source of nutrition. Although, you will notice that your baby should be getting comfortable with solid foods and may even be eating three small meals a day," Susan advises.
Many stick by the saying, "Food is for fun until one", so embrace the early weaning months whilst you can with lots of new tastes (and funny faces). Even though milk is still their main source of food, your baby will be gradually move towards eating 3 meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Get used to some fussiness, as sometimes they'll eat everything that is in front of them and sometimes they are just not fussed. Remember, it may take 10 tries or even more for your baby to get used to new foods, flavours and textures. Babies under 12 months do not need snacks so if your your baby is showing signs of hunger in between meals, offer extra milk instead. Don't forget to offer a variety of foods from the main five food groups to ensure a balanced diet for your little one, as recommended by the NHS.
Do not add any sugar or salt to their food at this age. If they have any teeth, make sure to get them used to brushing their teeth twice a day, you can buy small finger brushes to get them used to teeth brushing.
7-month-old baby growth
"When it comes to physical growth, every baby is different and all babies grow at a slightly different pace," Susan reassures. "However, according to the NHS, on average, a 7-month-old baby weighs around 12.5 kg and measures 68cm from head to toe. The most important thing to remember is that your baby is healthy and happy, not how much they weigh or measure."
Health and safety tips for 7-month old baby
Dehydration - As babies can't store a lot of fluid, it's easy for them to become dehydrated. This might be due to various reasons such as diarrhoea, sickness or low milk supply. Signs of dehydration include crying with no tears, fast breathing and a dry mouth or nappy for six or more hours.
Food allergies If your child is now eating solid food, it's wise to be aware of the signs of food allergies. Food allergies occur when your baby’s immune system has a bad reaction to what is usually a harmless food, and tries to fight it by producing an antibody called Immunoglobulin E (IgE). It’s the production of these antibodies that causes the distinct symptoms which include side effects like hives, itchy skin, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Choking When feeding, avoid giving them any potential choking hazard like whole grapes, nuts and popcorn. If you haven't already, now is still a good time to complete a child baby first aid course.
Introduce water - If your baby has started on solids, you can give them water as a drink. This can help them digest their food easier to ease constipation. Tap water for babies over six months doesn't need to be boiled and cooled before they drink it. You should only give them small amounts of water (no more than 4-6 ounces).
Practical parenting tips - looking after yourself
It's easy to forget about your own wellbeing when you have a baby and you're probably super tired, especially if your little one is still waking at night. If you can, try to nap or enjoy some alone time (have a bath, read a book that isn't about babies or watch your favourite TV show) and try and fill up your cup. Your 7-month-old baby is growing so fast and it can be quite overwhelming how much everything changes in a week.
Also, have fun! "Your baby is growing and changing every day and it's important to cherish these moments," reminds Susan. "Remember to take lots of photos, make lots of memories, play with them, and provide a safe and stimulating environment for them to explore and grow in."
Conclusion
Your 7-month-old baby will be sitting up, getting ready to crawl or even trying to stand. It is important to remember that each baby is different and these milestones don't have a time limit. They will be embarking on the exciting and messy weaning journey and trying loads of new tastes and textures. Get ready for those funny and adorable faces! They are very aware of everything around them and will start to form special bonds with familiar faces. They will get even more inquisitive by the day, creating a safe environment is crucial, you can start baby proofing or even look into getting a baby playpen to help create a space they can play without harming themselves.
FAQs 7-month-old baby milestones and development
How many teeth should a 7-month-old baby have?
It all depends, as every baby is different. Signs of teething typically happens between 4 to 8 months, so by 7 months your baby could have two or even more teeth. These will most likely be the top two teeth and bottom two teeth. So cute.
When do babies start sitting up?
They will tend to start sitting up with support at around 6 months old. By 7 months, your little one could be trying to sit by themselves but could be a little wobbly so never leave them unattended.
Are babies more clingy at 7 months?
Separation anxiety and fear of strangers is common in young children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, so 7 months can be a tricky time, especially as sleep regressions and teething can cause your baby to want more cuddles and reassurance from their main caregivers.
About the expert
This article contains expert advice from midwife and co-founder of The Baby Academy, Susan Hogan. Sue’s main mission in all of the work she does is "supporting new families, helping them to feel confident and in control during their pregnancy, their birth and as they grow as a family unit."
About the author
A journalist since 2015, Emily Gilbert is the Features & Reviews Editor for Mother&Baby and has written for the website and previously the magazine for seven years. First-time mum to Theodore, Emily writes about everything from the top baby products to pregnancy, fertility and maternal mental health. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases in the parenting industry.