Week 41: Practicing Independence, Needing Reassurance
At 41 weeks — around 9½ months — your baby is growing bolder in their movements and louder in their opinions. They're eager to do it themselves, but also quick to seek comfort when something feels new or unfamiliar.
This week is all about the push and pull of growing up: trying new things, moving further away from you, and then rushing back into your arms. Your baby is developing a stronger sense of self — and you are their safe base.
Development
You may see:
Standing unsupported for longer stretches
Attempting a step while holding furniture or hands
More refined gestures: clapping, pointing, waving
Stronger reactions to limits — frustration, resistance, or tears
Cognitive and emotional milestones include:
Understanding familiar routines (“After bath comes milk”)
Looking for things they drop or hide
Testing boundaries by repeating actions and watching your response
Showing preferences and making choices — toys, foods, people
This is a time of intentional behaviour — your baby knows what they want and is trying to make it happen.
Sleep This Week
You may notice:
Nap resistance or shorter naps
Night waking linked to separation anxiety or teething
Increased need for cuddles or reassurance before sleep
Support sleep by:
Keeping sleep cues consistent (songs, stories, cuddles)
Offering extra closeness before naps or bedtime
Being responsive overnight without rushing transitions
Even when your baby is capable of more independence, their need for comfort is real and developmentally appropriate.
Feeding This Week
Meals might become:
Messier, louder, and more opinionated
Full of dropped spoons, flung food, and determined self-feeding
A site of experimentation: smearing, biting, testing boundaries
Support this with:
Calm repetition — offer a variety of foods, without pressure
Gentle boundaries (e.g. “Food stays on the tray”)
Shared meals — your baby learns from watching you
Breastmilk still matters most. On hard days, a feed may soothe both body and soul — and that’s okay.
Play and Interaction
Play this week is full of intention and imitation. Your baby may:
Mimic your actions — brushing hair, talking on a toy phone
Start initiating games — peekaboo, clapping, hiding objects
Respond to simple questions or prompts (“Where’s the ball?”)
Delight in cause-and-effect — banging lids, pressing buttons, tipping things out
You can support this stage by:
Following their lead and describing what they’re doing
Naming emotions: “You’re so proud you stood up!”
Offering choices (“Do you want the red ball or the blue one?”)
Your baby is learning that their actions have meaning — and you’re listening.
Top Tip of the Week
“Let your baby try — and be there when they need to try again.”
Real Life Reflections
You might feel like you’re on duty constantly: stopping the baby from climbing the dog, wiping yoghurt off the walls, or trying to drink your tea before it goes cold. This stage can be relentless — but it’s also a powerful turning point.
Your baby is becoming someone who can move, express, assert, and connect. Their world is growing — and you’re the centre of it.
On hard days, zoom out: your presence, your tone, your love — these are the things they’ll carry with them for life.
Looking Ahead
Coming soon:
First independent steps (or increased attempts)
More emotional outbursts and frustration
Clearer babbling, sometimes with conversational pauses
A deepening sense of humour and understanding of social games
This is the slow unfurling of a whole human being. You’re doing the most important work — with love at the heart of it.
Further Reading:
Distraction and Breastfed Babies Around 9–10 months, babies often become more distracted during breastfeeding sessions due to developmental milestones like crawling and standing. This article explores how these changes can affect feeding patterns and offers strategies to maintain a strong breastfeeding relationship during this stage.
Infant Sleep Development Understand how significant developmental milestones, such as increased mobility, can disrupt sleep patterns in babies around 8–10 months. This piece delves into the reasons behind increased night waking and provides insights into supporting your baby's sleep during these transitions.
Why Toddlers Wake In The Night Explore the various factors that contribute to night waking in older babies and toddlers, including developmental milestones and teething. This article provides reassurance and strategies for managing disrupted sleep patterns.
