Week 42: A Step Towards Walking, A Leap in Learning
At 42 weeks — just a couple of weeks shy of 10 months — your baby is right in the middle of a powerful developmental leap. You might feel like you can see their brain growing: one minute they’re trying to climb the bookshelf, the next they’re waving goodbye, then bursting into tears because the banana broke in half.
This is a week of contrast — increased independence alongside emotional volatility. Your baby is busy, clever, and increasingly communicative, but still very much in need of your calming presence.
Development
You might notice:
Practising standing or stepping without holding on
Trying to bend and pick things up while standing
Copying daily actions (brushing hair, using a cloth, holding a phone to their ear)
Purposeful pointing, waving, or handing you toys
Cognitive development includes:
Understanding simple instructions (“Give it to me,” “Come here”)
Anticipating routines (reaching for the towel after a bath, looking toward the front door at goodbye time)
Starting to play “jokes” — waiting for a laugh or surprising you with a sound or action
Testing and retesting cause and effect with new determination
Your baby is trying to make sense of the world — and their place in it.
Sleep
This leap often brings sleep disruptions:
More resistance at naps or bedtime
Night waking due to increased brain activity or separation sensitivity
Shorter naps while new skills are being processed
You can help by:
Keeping nap and bedtime routines consistent
Offering extra cuddles and closeness if sleep is harder
Expecting a bit of inconsistency — things will settle again
Sleep “regressions” aren’t steps backward; they’re signs of leaps forward. Your responsive support helps them through.
Feeding
Eat is a full sensory experience:
Your baby might eat enthusiastically one day, and throw everything the next
New skills like using a spoon or drinking from a cup may be emerging
Some babies become more selective — exploring boundaries and preferences
Keep meals calm and pressure-free:
Offer a range of textures and flavours
Allow space for mess and exploration
Keep breastfeeding for comfort and nutrition
There’s no need to reduce milk feeds — follow your baby’s lead and trust the process.
Play and Interaction
Play becomes more connected and clever this week:
Simple pretend play may appear (pretending to feed a toy, mimicking household tasks)
Your baby might “joke” by offering and then snatching away a toy
Joint attention is clearer — they look at something, then to you to share it
They may test your response to behaviours (“What happens if I drop this… again?”)
Support this by:
Joining their play, not directing it
Describing what you see: “You gave Teddy a drink! So kind!”
Laughing, clapping, and responding with joy — your reactions teach social meaning
Top Tip of the Week
“You don’t need to entertain — just be available. Your presence is the most powerful plaything.”
Real Life Reflections
This stage can feel physically demanding. Your baby might crawl off at speed, demand to be picked up, then squirm to be put down again. Their emotions are intense, their energy boundless, and your coffee is still going cold.
Take heart — it’s not a sign that something’s wrong. It’s a sign that everything is developing just as it should.
In this chaotic, beautiful stage, your grounded presence helps their growing world feel safe.
Looking Ahead
Soon you might notice:
Cruising with ease or standing briefly unassisted
First tentative solo steps
More complex babble or early word approximations
Signs of play preferences or favourite toys
Their world is opening up — and you’re walking alongside them, every wobbly step of the way.
Further Reading:
Night Weaning: Keeping It Real Explore the realities of night weaning and understand that night waking is a normal part of development, even as your baby grows older. This article discusses the expectations and challenges associated with night-time parenting in the second half of the first year.
Infant Sleep Development Understand how developmental milestones, such as crawling and increased mobility around 8–10 months, can impact your baby's sleep patterns, leading to more frequent night waking.
Why Your Baby Doesn't Need To Be Taught How To Move Learn about the natural progression of gross motor skills in infants and why allowing babies to develop at their own pace supports healthy physical development.
