Month 5
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Your baby has been in the world for four months now. And the fifth month is no less eventful than the previous ones. You will get to know each other better and better and the baby’s character traits will become more and more apparent. And your baby can already do so much more than just a few weeks ago: It seems that hardly a day goes by without something new being added.
As already mentioned, every child grows at their own pace and in step with their own percentile. However, most babies have roughly doubled their birth weight by the 5th month, becoming stronger and even more active. Some babies can even sit on their own for a few moments. However, you shouldn’t let your baby out of your sight and always cushion them sufficiently with pillows – because little ones often lose their balance and tumble backwards or to the side. Time that the baby can spend on the floor – sometimes on their back, sometimes on their stomach – helps them strengthen their muscles and independently increase their range of movement.
Anyone who exercises this much naturally works up an appetite: now may be the time to introduce “complementary feeding”. This means that your baby gets porridge in addition to the milk meals. The following are signs that your baby is ready for this step: they can hold their head well and sit independently in their high chair with a little support (e.g. from a cushion). Children who are ready usually show great interest when the other family members eat and follow with their eyes how the fork goes to their mouth or try to reach for the food. In addition, the tongue thrust reflex is gone. This means that your baby no longer pushes their tongue forwards when something touches their mouth.
The introduction of complementary feeding is rarely successful immediately. Babies first have to get used to the new texture, flavour and swallowing. A good time for the first attempts is when the baby is well rested and has perhaps already drunk some milk: their hunger is already mostly satisfied, but the baby is not yet quite full. It is usually recommended to start with a mash made from just one vegetable – carrot, for example – and only offer other varieties after a while. But don’t worry if it doesn’t work out – every child goes at their own pace. It’s better to try again later than to force it. Maybe your baby isn’t ready yet or is already more of a finger food type: you can also offer them cooked, roughly chopped vegetables.
Your baby’s muscles will become stronger and stronger and their movements more varied. Singing and movement games such as “Ally Bally Bee” or “this is the way the ladies ride”, where the baby sits on your lap and is bounced, make many children whoop with joy.
Your baby is happily putting on weight – you’ll notice this not only because the clothes are getting too small for them, but also because carrying them around is becoming more strenuous. This makes it all the more important that you pay attention to good posture, and don’t forget your pelvic floor: it is strained every time you lift. Targeted pelvic floor training strengthens these important muscles. There are numerous videos on the internet with instructions for suitable exercises. However, if you are unsure, feel that the training is not helping or prefer to train together with other mums, you can find special courses or pelvic floor physiotherapy. Please note: if incontinence is an issue for you, don’t be afraid to seek help.