5-Month-Old Baby (21 Weeks)

It is important to make sure all hazardous materials are out of reach of your 21-week-old baby, as her improved eye-hand coordination allows her to reach for and grasp nearby objects. Many 5-month-old babies also seem to have a habit of putting everything in their mouth, so it is very important to keep dangerous objects (such as dishwashing detergent and coins) out of reach.

You and Your Baby at 21 Weeks

Watching your baby making daily discoveries about his world is entertaining and thoroughly heartwarming. As he grows and is able to explore more, he learns more about his surroundings.
 
Unfortunately, this opens up a new world of dangers for your little explorer. Take heart -- there are many things you can do that will quickly become second nature to you and will help prevent dangerous situations around your home.
 

Major Developments for a 5-Month-Old Infant

With increasing eye/hand coordination, your 5-month-old baby can not only reach for and successfully grasp nearby objects, but his new "thing" might be to try and taste each one!
 
You may have noticed that virtually everything that your infant gets his little hands on, he will try to taste. Babies explore their world orally -- it is as if every new thing needs to go through a taste-test before it can meet their approval!
 
While this is a funny new development, parents need to be extra careful about what they leave around the house. Things that you never needed to watch out for before are quickly becoming hazards. Items like pens, coins, magnets, and paper clips can all become choking or swallowing hazards.
 
(Click Baby Proofing for other helpful ideas.)
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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