Week 37: Standing Strong, Feeling Deeply
At 37 weeks — around 8½ months — your baby is rising to new heights, literally and emotionally. Many babies are now pulling to stand constantly and testing their balance. This physical growth is matched by emotional depth: frustration, excitement, anticipation, and connection are all on display.
Your baby isn’t just learning how to do things — they’re learning how it feels to try, to wait, to struggle, and to succeed. These are powerful moments of development, and your calm presence makes all the difference.
Development
You might notice:
Standing confidently while holding furniture
Briefly letting go or shifting weight between surfaces
Pointing deliberately at things they want or are curious about
Showing clear understanding of some familiar words
Your baby is beginning to:
Use gestures to express needs — like lifting arms to be picked up
Laugh or squeal in anticipation of something they enjoy (e.g. tickles or a familiar song)
Display frustration when a toy is out of reach or an action is blocked
Show preferences for certain people, toys, or routines
This is a beautiful, messy, emotional stage — and it’s all part of becoming a full human being.
Sleep
With increased mobility and emotional awareness, sleep can go a bit haywire. Your baby might:
Stand up in the cot and not know how to get down
Take longer to settle due to stimulation or excitement
Wake more frequently and need reassurance overnight
You can support sleep by:
Providing extra active play during the day to burn off energy
Allowing time to “practice” new skills like getting up and down during playtime
Staying responsive overnight without pressure to “teach” self-settling
Sleep development isn’t linear. Keep routines gentle and predictable, and offer closeness as needed.
Feeding
Feeding may look like:
More assertive self-feeding — grabbing spoons, food, or cups
Clear preferences for favourite foods (and strong reactions to disliked ones)
Increased mess-making — squishing, throwing, or smearing
Try to:
Offer a variety of textures and flavours
Allow plenty of time for meals (with less focus on “clean” and more on “connected”)
Model eating, chewing, and drinking
Breastmilk or formula remains a key source of nutrition and emotional regulation. If your baby is teething or going through a developmental leap, you may see an increase in feeds for comfort — this is normal and supportive.
Play and Interaction
This week, play is full of intention. Your baby may:
Initiate games like hiding and revealing
Begin to understand object permanence (they look for hidden toys)
Use toys to explore cause and effect — pressing buttons, banging lids, dropping objects
Respond with excitement when you join their play
Play ideas:
Stacking and knocking over blocks
Playing “What’s in the box?” with familiar toys
Singing predictable songs with gestures
Using a safe mirror for facial expression and sound imitation
Your baby doesn’t need structured “learning activities” — they need time, attention, and permission to explore at their pace.
Top Tip of the Week
“Support your baby’s rising confidence by staying nearby — not leading, not pushing, just present.”
Real Life Reflections
It can feel like your baby is constantly in motion — and constantly needing you. You may not get a moment to yourself, or feel like every task is interrupted. That’s okay.
This intensity won’t last forever — but the trust and confidence your baby is building right now will. These are the days that shape emotional security, and your love is the foundation.
Let yourself move slowly. Choose connection over perfection.
Looking Ahead
Coming soon:
Standing unsupported
Transitions between surfaces and cruising around furniture
Using sounds or gestures to “ask” for things
Bigger emotions and more visible preferences
As your baby grows stronger and more expressive, their need for connection doesn’t shrink — it simply evolves. Stay close, and enjoy the view from standing up.
Further Reading:
Babies Hands Are Made for Eating Explore how your baby's developing hand-eye coordination supports self-feeding, a key aspect of baby-led weaning during this stage.
Infant Sleep Development Understand how developmental milestones, such as crawling and increased mobility, can impact your baby's sleep patterns, leading to more frequent night waking.
The Reality of Breastfeeding Learn about the challenges and rewards of breastfeeding during this stage, including increased feeding frequency and the importance of continued breastfeeding alongside the introduction of solid foods.
