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10 Month Old Baby: Developmental Milestones

Your baby is very close to his first birthday, being more independent this month as far as his motor, communication, intellectual and emotional development is concerned.

Physical development

Growth DetailsBoysGirls
How much should a 10-month-old weight16.53 to 24.69 pounds [1]14.99 to 23.58 pounds [2]
What should the height of a 10-month-old be27.16 to 30.55 inches [1]26.29 to 29.96 inches [2]
How much should their head size be16.92 to 18.81 inches [1]16.41 to 1842 inches [2]
What is the respiratory rate of a 10-month old [3]25 to 40 breaths per minute25 to 40 breaths per minute
What is the heart rate of a 10-month-old [3]80 to 120 beats per minute80 to 120 beats per minute

What should your baby be doing at 10 months

Motor development

With an advanced motor skill, your baby can crawl around with ease using his knees and hands [6]. He learns to sit effortlessly [5], also being able to pull himself from a sitting to a standing posture and vice versa [4]. Some might even stand unsupported for a short span and take a few steps with your support when brought to a walking posture[5,6]. The baby is more dexterous in picking up small objects or bits of cereals using his forefinger and thumb, without resting his wrist on a surface [5].

Communicative development

His language skill getting much developed helps him to understand commonly used words and phrases [6]. Most of them become experts in listening to the sounds of the words uttered by their parents, trying to comprehend their reactions to certain situations [4]. In fact, if you laugh at something funny, your baby may also join in. He starts expressing his needs through several non-verbal modes of communications. He begins pointing at an object that is beyond his reach, shaking his head to indicate a “no”, waving “bye bye” to mommy or clapping at something amusing [7].

Cognitive and behavioral development

As your baby’s brain is developing every month, his understanding of object permanence gets better, helping him to memorize familiar faces and objects [7, 8]. The trait of separation anxiety peaks up by now [9], where the child gets clingy, always wanting to be held by his parents, crying when put down. Though too early, some of them may also start developing a sense of individuality, engaging in a parallel play (playing on their own in the presence of other children) [5]. Your little one will be good at imitating by now, trying to copy every single thing he sees like brushing his hair or talking on the phone [7]. Girls are said to be more adept at imitation than boys [10].

Sensory development

In the tenth month, the infant has a sharper vision because of a clear color and depth perception. His eyes work in coordination with his hands and brain, enhancing his grasping and pointing skills [11, 12]. His proper vision as well as mental development also prompt him to recognize partially hidden objects [13].

With proper coordination of his ears and brain, he can hear from a distance, also being able to identify soft sounds coming from the other room [14]. However strange or new sounds that initially was of no importance to the baby might continue to startle and scare him [6].

What feeding schedule should a 10-month-old baby have

What to feed a 10-month-old

By the tenth month, most babies will have at least two teeth, with more to follow, resulting in the continuation of teething symptoms. If your baby has no teeth yet, there is nothing to worry as some may take time [15, 16]. His feeding pattern is more like that of an adult now as he has two to three meals in a day with one or two snacks in between [17]. You may give him oatmeal, banana slices, home-steamed apples and pears, pancakes and eggs (boiled, fried, scrambled) [18,19] for breakfast. Continue giving finger foods and consult your doctor before any change in his diet plan [20].

How much milk should a 10-month-old drink

Give your infant at least 500 to 600ml of formula milk. Nursing mothers are to feed their children regularly before a meal to maintain the essential nutrients [21].

You can give your baby sips of water when required [22]. Refrain from providing him whole milk or cow’s milk till he is one year of age [23].

What is the sleep schedule for a 10-month-old

Most babies sleep at a stretch at night for 11 to 12 hours with one or two naps in a day [4]. Sleep regression, persisting because of separation anxiety as well as his newly acquired cognitive and motor skills, may prevent the baby from sleeping through the night.

When to call a doctor

  • Bad breath persisting even after brushing and flossing their teeth well, as it might indicate an infection or other medical problems like sinusitis or a gum disease [25, 26].
  • Passing hard, dry stool, having reduced bowel movements, losing weight and refusing to eat [27].
  • Twitching and jerking his limbs, along with back arching and stiffened arms and legs [28].
  • Showing symptoms of diarrhea (passing green, yellow or brown stools [31]) for more than a day, coupled with vomiting, fever (above 103 °F), reduced urination, dry mouth and tearless crying [29,30].
  • Having yellow skin along with a loss of appetite and fever as they may be signs of jaundice [32].
  • Reddish-white pimples or acne being present for more than three months [33].
  • Vomiting forcefully after a feed (projectile vomiting), along with weight loss, dry mouth, increased hunger and decreased bowel movements, as they might be symptoms of pyloric stenosis [34].
  • Having red, teary and crusty eyes, along with swelling (may be because of an eye infection) [35].
  • Coughing at a stretch for more than five days, also spitting up green, brown or yellow mucus, along with cold, runny nose, red eyes, and fever [36].
  • Showing ear infection symptoms like pulling ears frequently, discharge of yellowish-white fluid from the ear, vomiting, diarrhea, reduced appetite and not sleeping at night [37].

Though there are no immunizations scheduled for this month, check out for any missed vaccinations and talk to your doctor about the same.