5-Month-Old: Week 2

Have you noticed how your baby turns to you when she hears your voice? Her expressions of attentiveness to you are really gratifying after the many hours of hard work you've logged in taking care of her. What seemed rather one-sided for so long is beginning to blossom into a truly interactive relationship. Don't be surprised if, more and more often, you feel like dropping everything just to get down on the floor and have fun with your baby.

How your baby's growing

Your baby may start showing signs of one of her first major emotional milestones — stranger anxiety. She may become clingy and anxious around new (and even familiar!) people and may cry if a stranger suddenly approaches her.

Keep this in mind when you're around people she doesn't know, and try not to be embarrassed when she cries in someone else's arms — just take her back and calm her down by holding her yourself. Tell your friends and family to approach your little one with slow gentle movements.

A case of stranger anxiety doesn't mean you have to avoid new faces. Your baby will benefit from getting used to being around people other than you and your partner. Just remember that she needs your patience and understanding to get through this very important stage of development.

• Learn more fascinating facts about your 5-month-old's development.

Your life: Getting your baby used to other people

When you were pregnant, you may have worried about whether your baby would bond with you. And now you find that the two of you are so tight, your baby howls with protest if anybody else comes near — even your partner, to his chagrin. When your baby rejects anyone else, it can be hard on that person, and it means more work for you. That's why getting used to other people is an important part of your baby's socialization.

A strong, lasting bond grows through regular day-to-day interactions, so encourage Dad to get involved in even the most basic baby care tasks, like changing diapers, bathing, and feeding. Have him carry your baby around when he's going about his day, and fit in playtime, too. Keep your distance at first so your baby can't hear or smell you. One idea: Divide baby care chores so your partner handles the daily bath or the bedtime routine every evening.

Expose your baby to friends and family, too. Try holding your baby while the other person talks and plays with him. Then hand him over to the other person and stay close. Eventually, leave briefly and come back. Repeat this step, making the interval you're away longer and longer.

3 questions about: Constipation

How will I know if my baby's constipated?T
here's no such thing as a normal number of bowel movements a day. When — and how often — your baby moves his bowels can depend on when and what he eats, his level of activity, and how rapidly his body digests food. However, your baby may be constipated if any of the following are the case:
• His stools are hard and dry.
• Three days have passed since his last bowel movement.
• He shows discomfort moving his bowels.

What causes it?
If your baby is being fed only breast milk, constipation is rare. See your pediatrician if his stools are hard and dry: When combined with other symptoms such as vomiting or a swollen tummy, this could indicate a blocked intestine.If your baby takes only formula, the particular brand he's drinking may not agree with him. Ask your doctor about switching brands.If you've introduced rice cereal to your baby's diet as a first step toward solid foods, the cereal could be the culprit — it's quite low in fiber. Try adding pureed fruits or vegetables to the cereal, or switching to oat or barley cereal instead.Constipation can also be caused by dehydration, so giving your baby more fluids can help. If he's already been introduced to juice, try giving him one ounce of prune juice diluted with one ounce of water.

How can I help?Aside from changes to your baby's diet, here are a few more tricks for getting bowels back on track:
• Wiggle your baby's legs in a gentle bicycle-type fashion while he's lying on his back.
• Gently but firmly massage his belly below his navel. If you feel a firm area, keep a steady pressure there for a few minutes.
• Use a glycerin suppository, but only with your pediatrician's approval.