Health & Baby

Month 7, Week 1

Before your baby arrived, you and your partner probably spent plenty of time together chatting, going out socially, and exploring your sex lives together.

Since you've become parents, though, you may have focused most of your time and attention on your new baby. Spending quality time with your partner every day can strengthen your relationship.

Try these ideas:

• Talk about your feelings. The stress of parenting an infant can be difficult to handle alone.
• Focus on the reasons why you fell in love, and find ways to stay close, like talking on the phone throughout the day or holding hands.
• Reinstate date night. Ask a friend or relative to watch your baby for a few hours so you can go to dinner or the movies, just like old times. Steer the conversation away from the baby.

Your Baby's Development This Week

Now that your baby is sitting up, reaching out for people and toys, smiling and making eye contact, she's a regular social butterfly.

Here's what you can expect now or during the next few weeks:

• Your baby should adore playtime. Whenever you're available, she'll want to interact with you, whether that means pointing to different objects and expecting to hear their names, reading books, sharing toys or just babbling and smiling.
• Babies love looking in the mirror, especially if you're there to make it more fun. Imitate each other, demonstrate different emotions or show your baby how to play peek-a-boo with her own image.
• Unless she's tired or sick, you can expect your baby to be in an upbeat, playful mood for several hours each day.

Month 7, Week 1 Tips

• Babies love to be held, and they love music. Play your favorite songs, hold your baby close and sway and dance together.
• Have enough age-appropriate toys on hand to occasionally give your baby something new. Take back a forgotten toy; it will seem new again next month.
• No babysitter? Schedule at-home date nights. Eat dinner after baby's bedtime, rent a movie, then move to the bedroom (or couch).
• Parenting an infant can strain your sex life. Too tired at night? Be intimate in the morning or during naptime.
• Make chore time togetherness time. You'll complete tasks quicker and have time to talk while working.
• By focusing on your baby, you may be neglecting yourself. Ample sleep and exercise, and a healthy diet can help improve your mood, relationship and even make you a more attentive parent.
• Make sure you read to your baby every day. It helps to develop language.