7-month-old speech and feeding milestones

Speech and Language Development

At 7 months old, babies are becoming even more expressive, experimenting with a variety of sounds and showing increased social communication skills. Here are 7-month-old speech and feeding milestones you might observe:

Speech Milestones

1. More Varied Babbling:
   • Your baby may be producing a wider range of consonant-vowel combinations, such as “ba-ba,” “da-da,” and “ma-ma.”
   • Babbling becomes more rhythmic and speech-like, with intonation that mimics real conversation.
2. Increased Vocal Play:
   • You’ll hear different sounds, including squeals, growls, raspberries, and giggles, as your baby experiments with their voice.
   • They may also change pitch and volume to grab your attention.
3. Turn-Taking in Conversations:
   • Your baby will pause after making sounds, waiting for you to respond, and then vocalize again.
   • This early back-and-forth interaction lays the foundation for real conversations later on.

Language Comprehension Milestones

1. Recognizing Their Name:
   • By 7 months, some babies may turn their head or respond when their name is called.
   • If your baby isn’t consistently responding to their name yet, do not panic! Try using a sing-song voice or varying the tone to catch their attention.
2. Understanding Simple Words and Phrases:
   • Babies begin to recognize a few familiar words, especially those tied to daily routines like “bottle,” “up,” or “bye-bye.”
   • They might show excitement when you say, “Let’s eat!” or reach for a toy when you say, “Where’s your ball?”
3. Responding to Tone and Emotion:
   • Even though they may not understand full sentences, babies are great at picking up on emotional cues in your voice.
   • A playful tone might make them giggle, while a stern voice may cause them to pause or look concerned.

Encouraging Speech and Language Growth

• Narrate Daily Activities: Describe what you’re doing throughout the day, such as, “Mommy is making your breakfast!” or “Look at the blue car!”
• Read Books Together: It’s never too early! Talk about the pictures and what’s happening in the story.
• Sing Songs and Nursery Rhymes: Rhymes and melodies help with language rhythm and word learning.
• Play Peek-a-Boo and Other Interactive Games: These encourage turn-taking and social communication skills.

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Feeding Development at 7 Months

By 7 months, many babies have already started solids and are beginning to explore different textures and flavors. Here’s what you can expect in feeding development:

Oral Motor Skills and Readiness

1. Improved Tongue Control:
   • Babies develop better control over their tongue, allowing them to move food around their mouth more efficiently.
   • They may start using their tongue to push food to the sides of their mouth instead of just moving it forward and backward.
   • Meal time will gradually get *less* messy.
2. Advancing from Purees to Soft Solids:
   • If you started with purees, your baby may now be ready for thicker, lumpier textures.
   • Soft, mashed foods like bananas, avocados, and well-cooked sweet potatoes are great options.
3. Beginning to Use Hands to Self-Feed:
   • Babies are developing better hand-eye coordination and may start grasping small pieces of food with their fingers.
   • A palmar grasp (using the whole hand) is common at this stage, but they may begin refining their pincer grasp (thumb and forefinger) over the next few months.

Introducing New Foods

1. Expanding the Variety:
   • Continue offering a range of fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains to expose your baby to different flavors and nutrients.
   • Safe options include mashed beans, soft scrambled eggs, cooked oatmeal, and finely shredded meat.
2. Encouraging Exploration:
   • Let your baby explore food with their hands. It’s messy but beneficial for sensory learning!
   • Offering a preloaded spoon can help them practice self-feeding.
3. Monitoring for Allergic Reactions:
   • Introduce new foods one at a time, waiting about 3-5 days before adding another to monitor for any reactions.
   • Common allergens to introduce at this stage include peanuts, eggs, dairy, and wheat, unless advised otherwise by a pediatrician.

Hydration and Cup Drinking

• At 7 months, breast milk or formula remains the primary source of nutrition.
• Avoid juice, as it can contribute to tooth decay and doesn’t provide necessary nutrients.

Encouraging Feeding Skills

• Let Your Baby Take the Lead: Offer food but allow them to decide how much to eat.
• Model Eating Behaviors: Eat together as a family so your baby can observe how you chew and swallow.
• Offer a Variety of Textures: This helps develop oral motor skills and prevents texture aversions.

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Final Thoughts

At 7 months, babies are busy exploring the world through sound and taste! By engaging in meaningful interactions, encouraging vocal play, and offering a variety of nutritious foods, you are setting the foundation for strong communication and feeding skills. Enjoy this exciting stage, and celebrate each new milestone your little one reaches!

What’s Next?

Stay tuned for our upcoming post on 8-month-old speech, language, and feeding development! For 6-month-old speech, language, and feeding development, check out my blog. In the meantime, share your baby’s milestones and favorite foods in the comments—we’d love to hear from you!