Navigating the Seventh Month of Fatherhood

Welcome to month seven, Super Dads! This is an exciting time for you and your baby, as you will bond more than ever. Your baby's development is progressing rapidly at this stage, and you might notice significant changes in their growth and behavior.

There are a variety of fun activities to enhance your bonding experience, bringing you closer and promoting your baby's overall development. Let's explore some of these activities together!

Baby’s Development: The Explorer Emerges

Mobility Master: Crawling might be on the horizon. Get ready for a mini, super-curious explorer in your home.

If you notice your Almighty Baby starting to move earlier than seven months, you've probably already baby-proofed the plugs and corners of your home. Now would be a good time to do it if you haven't. 

Babies will always surprise you no matter how much you do baby-proof. They'll find that one way to make you shout "No! Don't!" and stop them from some impending accident waiting to happen. But fewer things will keep you up at night when you add baby-proofing to the house, including cupboards, toilets, and stoves. 

Babble Central: Conversations with your baby are getting more enjoyable with various babbles and sounds. It's like a mysterious foreign language but cuter.

Your baby has seen a lot, and they want to tell you about it. It doesn't matter to them that you still don't know precisely what they are saying. Continue to encourage them to talk, and their sounds will become words before you even know it. 

Peek-a-boo Pro: Your baby's understanding of object permanence is kicking in. Hide-and-seek games are about to get a lot more fun (and a little more challenging).

Every baby I've ever played peek-a-boo with laughs. They love peek-a-boo… except for that one baby, but we don't have to talk about them; I'm positive they were tired. I don't believe I have a scary face… I promise. 

You can get creative with peek-a-boo, too; you don't have to use only your hands. Blankets, doors, other people's bodies- nothing is off-limits!  

Dad’s Bonding Time: More Than Just Play

Interactive Storytime: Make reading an interactive adventure. Use funny voices, point out pictures, and let your baby touch the book. It's a mini-drama class every night!

Books have come a long way since we were babies. Granted I don't know how old you are, but I assume it's been at least twenty years. 

There are a deluge of cloth books that crinkle, tag books to pull on, and fuzzy puppies with leather noses and soft coats. When you combine the touch and feels with a funny voice your time 

Dance Party: Who needs a gym when you can dance with a baby? It's a great workout and an even better bonding activity. Plus, your baby doesn't judge your dance moves.

Quality Time with Mom: Don't forget about your partner. Plan some baby-inclusive activities, like a family picnic or a walk. It's about making memories together.

Dad’s Guide to Baby Games

Baby Gymnastics: Gently move their legs and arms in playful exercise. Think of yourself as a baby fitness coach.

Patty-cake is a good game to think about when you start moving their hands and legs. You don't have to do patty-cake with their feet, but you can. I'm using the game as an example of gently moving your baby's body. 

Using rhyme and tone will help your baby keep rhythm, too. 

Sound Explorer: Introduce different sounds and watch their reaction. Musical toys, crinkly books, or just pots and pans—it's a symphony of fun.

Creating a marching band of noise is a great way to inspire a bunch of playtime creativity. It will be louder the older they get. Pots and pans are a durable way to create this! 

Anything can make a noise if you let it. Make sure what you're using is baby safe so it doesn't give their inquiring minds something to touch when they shouldn't be.

Texture Time: Introduce various textures for sensory play. Soft fabrics, bumpy rubber toys, or crinkly materials offer tactile exploration.

You can buy great mats with different types of textures to keep your Tiny Overlord interested and engaged for a long time (in baby time), but there are things you can make yourself. 

An empty water bottle is excellent for many things (keep the lid on for all of them or make sure the little plastic ring at the top is taken off. Best to avoid possible hazards.). It crinkles and can hold liquid. You can add things to the bottle or let your baby squeeze it before you recycle. 

It's a great prop!

Look around the house to find other items your baby can safely use for sensory play. I bet you'll be creative with this one.

Bubble Fun: Babies love watching bubbles. Blow them and let your baby try to catch or pop them. It's a simple yet magical game.

Bubbles also come in many forms. Bubbles at bathtime are different from bubbles from a bottle. A weird side effect of blowing bubbles is that it shows your baby a new facet of their body. Blowing! 

While they might not be able to blow out birthday candles yet, they will try to do it and may even come with kisses, too. 

Mirror Play: Babies are fascinated by their reflection. Playing with a mirror can encourage self-awareness and is often met with giggles.

As a bonus, they start to recognize themselves too. They see you in the mirror with them and associate the reflection with you. Then, they see them and make all kinds of great connections. 

Silly Sounds: Make funny noises and see your baby's reaction. This not only entertains but also encourages them to mimic sounds.

Technically, this entire section has been made up of different kinds of sensory building experiences. Instead of taking stuff around the house to make noise, use your clapping, puckering, squeaking selves to make some noises too. Your hands are fantastic at making all kinds of noise with your mouth. 

Your mouth and throat can do that, too. 

Remember, everything your baby sees, they learn something new about their bodies too, so if you don't want your baby to mimic any noises that are associated with unpleasant behavior, it's probably best not to do it. 

But, if you enjoy letting your baby be comfortable with all bodily noises and functions, burps and passing gas might be acceptable, too.

Soft Ball Roll: Roll a soft ball towards your baby and encourage them to grab or roll it back. This simple game can help develop motor skills and coordination.

It may take a couple of times for your baby to understand how to roll the ball back, but letting them 'catch' it will be a ton of fun. 

And yes, you don't have to ask anymore. The ball will go into their mouth. Or, at least, they'll try to get it in. Depending on what kind of ball it is, the baby might be able to lick it instead. If it's a sponge, though… prepare for a wet ball.

Pro Tips

• Safety First: As your baby becomes more mobile, double-check baby-proofing measures.

• Encourage Exploration: Give your baby a safe space to crawl and explore.

• Capture the Moments: Their first crawl, first word, or just a funny face – these are the memories you’ll cherish forever.

This Week’s Dad Joke:

Why don't babies make good directors? Because they always shout, "Cut!" during diaper changes!

Here’s to another month filled with laughter, love, and a little bit of controlled chaos. Keep up the great work, Dads!

Further reading: The importance of bonding with your baby

If you find this helpful, please forward it to other dads.

Disclaimer
_{Always check with your partner and or pediatrician before implementing any new practices that involve your children. The information provided is meant for educational purposes. Please do your own research as I have provided my own thoughts, experience, and perspectives on the matter at hand.}