Developmental activities 6 –12 month olds

With social media providing a window into our lives for all to see, parent shaming online—or more commonly mum shaming—is something we need to all be aware of. Find out how online shaming and cancel culture can affect parents today.

When your baby has a fever it is naturally a concern. Fever is a symptom that occurs when our bodies are fighting an unwanted intruder such as a bacteria or virus, and may or may not need to be assessed by your doctor.

Most formula fed babies will be very happy on the baby formula you first choose. However, it’s important to know that not all formulas suit all babies. Below is a list of common feeding problems some babies may experience, however in most cases you will find these aren’t really cause for concern. If your baby experiences any severe feeding problems after consuming baby formula, such as vomiting or diarrhoea, you should seek the advice of your doctor or health care nurse immediately.

Cow's milk allergy is a common food allergy in childhood, impacting approximately 1 to 2% of preschool children. Fortunately, the majority of children outgrow this allergy by the age of 3 to 5 years, with less than 0.1% of school-age children affected.  
 

A recent nationwide nutrition survey showed that 75% of infants aged 6-12 months were not consuming enough iron. Learn more about why this is so significant and how you can boost your baby’s iron intake.

The skin is your baby’s largest organ and plays a really important role in protecting your little one from external bacteria and infections. Your baby’s natural skin barrier is still developing, making it more sensitive to outside irritants and more likely to lose moisture from the inside.

Statistics show that Australia has one of the highest rates of allergies in the world, although it’s not entirely understood why. The causes of allergies in children are complex and linked to several factors. If you suspect your child is allergic to a food or substance, always get it checked out by your doctor.

Feeling tired all the time. The 24/7 care that is involved in looking after a newborn. The huge sense of responsibility that comes with being a parent. Sound familiar? The shock of becoming a parent is real and adjusting to parenthood may not happen overnight. Here’s why.

Most babies start solid foods at around 6 months. Baby-led weaning, where your baby feeds themself finger foods, is a way to help them discover new flavours and textures at their own pace.

Children are our future so it’s not surprising that everyone feels invested in helping parents to better nurture their babies. While it may sometimes feel like unwanted parenting advice, it often comes from a good place.

Sharing time with the kids. Sharing all housework. The mental load divided. Shared parenting may sound like the dream but is it really achievable? Find out who’s practicing shared parenting responsibilities around the world and what might be holding others back—it might give you ideas for your own collaborative parenting set-up.

You never get a minute to yourself, yet you’ve never felt lonelier? Yes, that’s the paradox of lonely parents. While you’re likely smitten with your newborn, there’s a certain kind of loneliness in parenthood that can come with being at home with a baby, day in, day out.

In Australia, almost all mums intend to breastfeed. While breastfeeding is a natural way of feeding, it isn’t always easy. The most important advice is to seek professional help if you’re experiencing difficulties and find a good support network early on.

If there’s one feeling that unites mums and dads all around the world in the rollercoaster of parenting emotions, it’s guilt—and most commonly it’s a mother’s guilt. Let’s break the silence on parent guilt and other common feelings.

Taking care of a newborn baby is a full-time job which requires dedication from you and your family. So, if you’re a working mum and you’re planning on returning from maternity leave to go back to work, you can only imagine how much that’s going to test your organisational skills!

The time you spend playing with your baby is precious, and enjoying games together is fun for both of you. But playtime is much more than just special moments spent together. It also gives you an opportunity to help your baby develop their motor, creative, and problem-solving skills.

By now your little one is likely to have started to get the hang of crawling, and is probably well on their way to cruising. Cruising is their way of walking or moving sideways while holding on to furniture for support. Most babies are able to master the skill of crawling between 7-10 months of age.

You may have noticed your baby is moving more and more every day—it may sometimes feel like they’re in constant motion! That’s great, as all this activity is helping to make their muscles strong for crawling and learning to walk.

Here are five ideas to pass the time with your baby at home —with not a screen in sight!