Hooray, your baby is now 10 months old! For some, the first few months go by at a snail's pace, while for others they seem to run away. With that said, here's a little reminder that all babies are individuals and that each child develops at a different pace. While some children take their first steps soon, others take several more months. Try to be calm about it and know that all the exciting developments you are looking forward to will happen eventually.

Baby development at 10 months

Month 10 marks the last phase of mental development in the first year of life. This is a time when they often begin to show signs of moodiness and self-will, which you may notice if they don't get your attention, such as jealousy of a sibling or simply talking to other people around you. 

In the past, your baby has tried his or her hand at tearing or pulling things apart. This is still popular, but from now on, you may also see your baby trying to put things back together after being taken apart or torn down. 

Your little one is becoming more and more personal and independent, which can manifest itself in frustration when things don't go as planned. The lack of patience often requires constant attention and stimulation, which can be very challenging as a parent. 

During this period, it's good to have a few aces up your sleeve when you're not quite up to it yourself. Simple things like letting them rip out boxes of clothes or pots in the kitchen, or investigating something exciting up close, can be enough to keep them happy and calm. And for extra whining, you can try experimenting with different evasive maneuvers! Instead of focusing on the bad mood, you as a parent can turn the focus and start talking about something exciting that you see or hear with as much empathy as possible.

The baby will increasingly understand that you are different individuals and that you as a parent can "disappear". This may result in restless nights or crying when you are separated for a while, but try to take it one day at a time and try to see it as an important part of development rather than an obstacle to you getting some time alone sometimes.

The oral phase

Many children like to explore everything they see, and preferably with their mouths! So it's not surprising that this period is called the oral phase, which simply means that the child explores by tasting. So it's high time to remove all the little things that absolutely shouldn't be in your little one's mouth.

This age is also often called the age of repetition. It means that children try the same thing several times, such as throwing things on the floor or shaking objects to see how they sound. Stacking blocks and knocking them over can also be great fun now, as can clapping your hands or waving. If your little one has previously enjoyed playing peek-a-boo, singing rhymes or mimicking different sounds, this will usually be yet more fun now.

Team visit to the BVC when baby is 10 months old

It's time again for a team visit to the BVC with a doctor and nurse. During this visit, the doctor will carry out an examination, then you will check the weight and height and look at the baby's development together. At the visit in month 10, the doctor and nurse will look at motor and psychological development. They will see or ask questions to see if your baby can bang blocks together or clap their hands, see how the tweezer grip works for your baby, play peekaboo, coo, respond with smiles and if your little one seems to understand single words. You'll also talk about how you're doing at home, what your baby seems to enjoy doing, and how things are going with food, sleep and activities.

Here you can read about baby development at 11 months!