Week 43: Balancing Acts and Building Confidence
At 43 weeks — just over 10 months — your baby is constantly practising. Whether it’s physical skills like pulling to stand and cruising, or social ones like pointing and waving, this week is all about repetition, mastery, and the confidence that comes from doing it again and again.
Your baby is beginning to realise they are separate from you — but still deeply connected. They might crawl away, only to come rushing back for a cuddle. You are still their safe base, even as they stretch toward independence.
Development
This week, your baby may:
Pull up and lower themselves with more control
Cruise along furniture confidently
Let go of support briefly to test their balance
Initiate social gestures like waving, pointing, or giving toys
Cognitively, they may:
Follow your gaze to see what you’re looking at
React more strongly to changes in your tone or facial expression
Repeat actions to get your attention or a reaction
Begin understanding the meaning of a few common words
They’re not just learning what to do — they’re learning why it matters.
Sleep
Sleep might be affected by:
New skills (pulling to stand in the cot is a common culprit)
Separation sensitivity at sleep times
Disrupted naps due to movement
You can support smoother sleep by:
Allowing time and space for active play during the day
Helping your baby practise standing and sitting safely during awake time
Staying calm and reassuring if sleep takes longer
They’re not fighting sleep — they’re adjusting to their expanding world.
Feeding
Feeding continues to be about exploration and connection:
Many babies are enjoying finger foods more confidently
Some may resist being spoon-fed as they want to do it themselves
Appetite can vary day to day, depending on activity, mood, and teething
Support this stage by:
Eating together — your baby learns by watching
Offering safe foods they can hold and chew
Keeping breastfeeding available and unrushed
Feeding isn’t just about calories — it’s also a social and sensory experience.
Play and Interaction
Play this week is increasingly relational:
Your baby may offer you toys, clap when you do, or imitate your facial expressions
They’re beginning to understand turn-taking in simple games
They love predictability — games like peekaboo are still top tier
They may protest when play ends or a toy is taken away
Support this with:
Playful routines — songs with actions, tickling games, hide-and-seek
Space for solo exploration alongside shared play
Respectful transitions when play needs to end (“We’re all done now — let’s go together”)
They’re learning that connection doesn’t disappear when the moment ends — it stays with them.
Top Tip of the Week
“Repetition isn’t boring for babies — it’s how they build their brains.”
Real Life Reflections
This week might feel like a loop: pick up the baby, stop them climbing the cat, wipe the mashed banana off the wall, repeat. It’s easy to forget how much learning is happening in these small, chaotic moments.
You don’t need to schedule complex activities. Your loving presence, everyday routines, and warm responses are doing more than you know.
Looking Ahead
Next week you may notice:
Brief independent standing
Clearer signs of understanding daily language
Early attempts at first words or sound/gesture combinations
Growing confidence in testing limits
Everything is a rehearsal for what’s to come — and you’re right there, cheering them on.
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.
Why Toddlers Wake in the Night Understand 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.
Biting and Breastfeeding! As babies begin teething, biting during breastfeeding can become a concern. This article discusses why biting occurs around 9–10 months and offers practical advice on how to manage and prevent it without disrupting the breastfeeding journey.
