The day is approaching when your little one will be
ready for her first pair of shoes, and her rapid growth means that a
whole host of new clothes may be necessary. She may also have outgrown
some of her baby equipment, and be ready for a bigger size.
To wear
Her increasing mobility means that your baby will need sturdy, washable clothes in darker-colored fabrics, to prevent endless piles of dirty laundry
Choose clothing in complementary colors, so that pieces can be easily mixed and matched and everything gets worn
Your baby will show a new interest in being just like mom and dad, and may like to have a pretty dress or a pair of jeans or socks just like yours
She’ll need three or four pairs of pajamas without feet—she’ll enjoy using her bare feet to help her keep her balance
A warm, waterproof winter jacket is a must now, as she will escape the confines of her stroller as often as she can and needs that extra warmth
If you live in a cold climate and winter has hit, choose mittens that attach to her coat with a plastic clip
One or two pairs of rugged pants, such as jeans, and some comfortable sweatpants are ideal for a growing, increasingly mobile baby, no matter what the sex
Warm-up pants and wide-necked, slip-on tops (avoid buttons and ties—your baby won’t hold still long enough to get them fastened)
Non-slip socks
will help to give your baby some traction as she attempts to maneuver
herself to her feet, or slide across the floor; let her go barefoot,
too, when it’s warm enough
Equipment
Time to take on the stairs
Even with safety gates,
your baby needs to learn how to use the stairs. Teach her to crawl up,
then slide back down on her bottom, holding onto the railing.
Safety equipment is essential now—make
sure you have locks on all cupboards and drawers with contents that may
not be safe; you may even need a fridge lock if your little one is
inquisitive
Invest in a good safety gate at the top and bottom of all stairs with more than three steps
Look carefully around your house and baby-proof everything with the appropriate equipment
Now that she’s standing, you’ll want to lower the base of her crib so she can’t climb or fall out
She’ll be ready for her own safe, chunky utensils, and will enjoy copying mom and dad by using a fork and spoon
A backpack-style carrier may now make it easier to carry baby, as she grows too heavy to be carried at the front
Your baby will probably be ready to graduate to the next-stage car seat at around nine months; check the label to be sure she hasn’t already outgrown the one she has
