Appointments – What's coming up in the 10th month?

• U6: The early detection examination U6 is carried out between the 10th and 12th month of life – the appointment is usually scheduled closer to the end of that period. During the U6 the pediatrician mainly checks whether your baby is developing age-appropriately in speech and motor skills and, if necessary, recommends support measures.

• Childcare: If you go back to work after parental leave, you've probably already thought about childcare for your child. Daycare centers or a childminder are the common alternatives for children under three years. Take a bit more time to visit different facilities and let your 'gut feeling' help decide – most of the time the first impression is the right one.

Important developmental milestones in the 10th month

• Crawling or scooting: By now most babies have developed their own way of getting around. Some crawl, others scoot or push themselves forward while sitting on their bottoms. And it's not uncommon for them to be surprisingly quick.

• Walking: Many babies at 10 months already make their first attempts at walking by cruising along the furniture, pushing a chair in front of them, or taking steps while holding your hands.

• Precision: Your baby probably already masters the pincer grip with thumb and forefinger quite precisely. Even the tiniest crumbs are picked up. And otherwise a lot is experimented with: objects are banged together, deliberately dropped, or sometimes thrown with force.

• Sitting: Your baby can now sit securely and will usually be able to lean forward in the sitting position without toppling over. It can sit for longer periods with a straight back and outstretched arms. To get into the sitting position, many babies simply plop down onto their bottoms.

• Standing: The muscles in the legs are becoming increasingly stronger. Muscle control also improves, so your child can pull themselves up on all kinds of objects better and better.

• Gestures and touches: Your baby probably likes to communicate a lot through gestures. They may clap their hands or wave goodbye. In addition, many children at this age feel and touch the faces of their parents or other people, thereby expanding nonverbal communication.

How much should my child weigh in the 10th month?

The baby face is becoming more like that of a toddler and the body continues to stretch, so your child is about 72 to 73 centimeters tall and weighs between 8,500 and 9,200 grams.

Image credits

Modern baby scale on the table and blurred woman with a child in a house © New Africa - stock.adobe.com