Your Baby Week 45

If you are giving your baby formula, now might be a good time to start thinking about weaning your baby to just a sippy cup. As you are approaching his first birthday, many pediatricians say that it is a good time to wean, and most say definitely by 18 months.

As a baby gets older, he becomes more and more attached to items, like his bottle, pacifier, etc, and it becomes more difficult to take them from him. He is only going to get more stubborn which means more fighting and crying the longer you wait. He will also drink more liquids from that bottle than he would from a sippy cup, which will make him too full to get enough nourishment from food that he needs.

When weaning your baby, if you decide to go cold turkey make sure you have lots of choices for food and a sippy close by for when your baby wants it. Be prepared to have a couple of hard days, and a baby that doesn't eat much. By the third day however, your baby should be pretty resigned to the loss of his bottle, and things should start getting easier.

If you decide not to go cold turkey, remember to take it slow. Try substituting bottles for cups, and when you are giving a cup, don't let your baby see the bottle. Bright fun cups or cups that change colors might be what your baby needs to get excited about the new process.

Photo of 45 week old Owen submitted by Babies Online member Tory K.

Week 45 Milestones

Not only does your baby understand more, but he could be adding to his vocabulary as well. It is possible that by now your baby might be able to say five distinct words that clearly mean something to both him and you. Listen closely and be sure to praise your baby and depending on what it is he is saying, give him what he wants. The acknowledgement and "reward" are a great way to encourage your baby to continue learning more.

What Might Concern You at 45 Weeks

Baby teeth, just like adult teeth, are breakable and prone to injury. With all the times that your baby falls, it would not be unexpected that he could chip a baby tooth at some point. Since these are just baby teeth, and will fall out, a small chip is not something you really need to be concerned about.

However, make sure there are no sharp edges and check for any bleeding of the gums. If it looks like there is a problem, call the dentist to have your baby seen. If a few days go by and you notice a problem, or your baby is clearly in pain, call the dentist to have him seen. It is possible that your baby damaged a nerve and it will need to be taken care of. Injury to the nerve, left untreated can cause permanent damage to your baby's adult teeth, even though your baby still has years before they will show up.

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