Your 8-month-old: Week 4

How your baby's growing:

Once your baby starts standing and cruising, you may wonder whether real shoes are necessary. Until your baby is walking around outdoors regularly, most doctors and developmental experts don't think so. It's normal for your baby to walk a bit bowlegged or with feet turned out, and those little tootsies may look flat. Going barefoot can help strengthen your baby's arches and leg muscles, and feeling the textures of what's underfoot can help with balance.

• Learn more fascinating facts about your 8-month-old's development.

Your life: Get moving

Moving your body actually creates energy, rather than sapping it. The trick is to choose exercise that fits your schedule.

Head outside. Go for a walk, a jog, or a hike during the regular time you spend with your baby. Consider a jogging stroller or one with all-terrain wheels. While you get exercise, you'll also be stimulating your baby's senses and helping her development.

Take a class with your baby. Some health clubs and yoga or Pilates studios offer classes for parents with babies. Others supply childcare for infants.

Create an "exercise studio" at home. Look into home exercise equipment or DVDs and videos that you can use while your baby is napping or otherwise occupied.

Dance with your baby. Twirl around the room together — your baby will enjoy the music and the movement.

Resist shortcuts. Park farther away from your destinations than usual so you have to walk more. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. It's counterintuitive when you're trying to make time to work out, but it's good exercise.

3 questions about: Scary head bumps

What should I do if my baby gets a bump?
Comfort your baby, but try not to overreact — bumps are common for babies learning to get around, and most of them are minor and don't cause any serious injury. Apply an ice pack for 20 minutes to bring down any swelling. Try feeding or distracting your baby so she doesn't react too much to the cold of the ice pack.

If your baby loses consciousness, call 911. If she's not breathing, give her two minutes of rescue breathing or CPR first, and then call 911. (Click here for more details.)

In general, call the doctor after a bump if your baby is not her usual self — you know your baby best, so follow your instincts and talk to a healthcare professional if you have any doubts.

More specifically, call the doctor if your baby vomits, appears unusually irritable or confused, appears drowsy or dizzy, cries or screams for an extended period of time, or has a significant bump, a deep or persistently bleeding cut, a bruise behind the ear, a soft area on the scalp, unexplained black-and-blue spots, blood in the whites of her eyes, or clear or pinkish fluid or blood coming from the mouth, nose, or ears. (Click here to read about concussions.)

How can I prevent serious head injuries?
You simply can't prevent every tumble and bump your baby is likely to suffer, but here are some effective precautions:
• Secure unstable furniture to the wall and remove shaky lamps from within your baby's reach.
• Supervise your baby carefully if she climbs furniture.
• Consider applying pads to furniture corners and placing skidproof pads under rugs.
• Keep a close eye on your baby when she's on her changing table or in the grocery store cart. Use straps to keep her in place whenever possible, but remember that you can't rely on them entirely.
• Lower your baby's mattress as soon as she stands in her crib.

source: babycenter