Your 28-Week-Old Baby

Milestone: Crawling

Your baby has been hard at work these last few months, building the strength and skills to crawl. (All that tummy time helps build important core, neck, back and shoulder muscles to make the magic happen!)

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies typically master crawling between seven and 10 months. Rolling, sitting without support, rocking back and forth on all fours and being able to move from their stomach to a seated position (and vice versa) are good indicators that crawling is next.

How to encourage crawling:

• Place objects just out of your little one’s reach to entice baby to crawl toward them.
• Make sure there’s plenty of room for your baby to safely explore in your home. A foam or rubber floor mat comes in handy (and is a soft, cushy surface for cute, chubby knees!). Plus, it’s easy to wipe clean, because crawlers are droolers.
• Stick with daily tummy time!

Keep in mind: Some babies prefer to scoot on their bottoms instead of a typical crawl or skip crawling altogether and go straight to standing and walking. However, if you have any concerns about your child’s development, it’s always a good idea to talk to your pediatrician.

It’s Time to Childproof!

Outlets, furniture, lamps, curtains, cords, cabinets, stairs, cleaning supplies—all that normal household “stuff” = major danger zones once your curious kiddo is on the move. As much as you’d like to put your baby in a comfy, protective bubble, childproofing is a more realistic way to keep harmful items out of reach and steer kids away from staircases and areas they need to avoid.

From outlet covers to baby gates, drawer locks to corner guards, be sure to put safety measures in place before your baby starts crawling (even rollers can get themselves to things that are dangerous!). Not sure where to start? These are our top product picks for childproofing.

Childproofing kits simplify the process because they contain all the essentials for keeping your home safe and secure for your resident explorer. If you’re nervous about going the DIY route, you may want to splurge and hire a childproofing expert to get the job done. For more helpful info, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission created a list of 12 recommended child-safety home devices.

And never leave your baby unattended anywhere (even if you just have to pee!). Place them in the crib or a pack ‘n play if you need to leave the room.

Staying Close with Friends Who Don’t Have Kids

New parents need support to get through this exhausting, challenging phase of life. And that’s where your friends come to the rescue. But it’s important to remember that not everyone in your inner circle is in the same life stage as you. If they don’t have kids, they’re not scheduling appointments around nap times or up all night because of teething. While being a parent can feel all-consuming, you don’t have to let it consume the conversation when you get together with friends who don’t have kids. Here’s how to keep those friendships going strong:

Don’t fall off the map: Some days you feel like you’re fighting to keep your head above water. Some days you fall asleep on the couch at 8 pm. Even if you’re not up (literally!) for long phone conversations, don’t let too much time go by without checking in. Email or text to show you care.

Plan a grown-ups-only outing: No offense to your kiddo, but there’s nothing like some quality friend time—free of baby-related interruptions and distractions (because epic diaper blowouts make it hard to 100% focus on the convo). Whether you meet for drinks, dinner or a jog… make room in your schedule for one-on-one time. Of course, there’s always time to show off cute pics of your baby, but no one’s interested in discussing their digestive issues at length over dinner (save that topic for your playgroup).

Don’t judge: Some people don’t want to have kids, can’t have kids or just aren’t in a place in life where that’s a reality. Be a supportive friend no matter what the circumstances, and hopefully they will be too.