7 months old
Little Movers, Big Milestones 🚀
Play ideas, a book, a song and a little encouragement for your 7 month old, from Maddie.
By Maddie, early childhood educator and Mum
4 min read · Updated
In this guide
Hello lovely parent,
Seven months already! Your baby is suddenly full of determination, curiosity, and possibly an alarming interest in anything just out of reach (or in reach!!!). If you’ve found yourself rescuing the remote, your drink bottle, or the dog's tail… you’re right on track.
Through the messy floors, the lukewarm coffee, and the constant “what’s in your mouth?” (sometimes anything BUT food), you’re showing up with love. Even when it feels like you’re winging it, your baby thinks you’re doing an incredible job.
Activity 1: Pass the Toy Hand-to-Hand
How: Choose a small, easy-to-hold toy.
Show your baby how to move it from one hand to the other. Let them try, it may drop, roll away, or get chewed. All normal, all perfect learning.
Why: This simple action strengthens Crossing the midline (a huger early skills), fine motor coordination, brain communication between both sides and attention and focus. It is the foundation for later skills like writing, dressing, reading and sports.
You may have found your baby has already been doing this on their own, they can start this action as young as 4 months.
👶 Activity 2: Reach, Move & Explore
At this age, some babies are still happily rolling and reaching, while others are crawling, cruising, or already trying to pull themselves up. This activity can be adapted to match wherever your baby is right now.
How: During tummy time, place one of their favorite toys just out of reach, encourage them to wriggle, reach out, move around and try and get it, before moving in (its ok to let them get a little frustrated, this can sometimes be when they do their best work).
If your baby has started to move, place toys a little further away to encourage crawling or scooting. You can hide around a corner, behind the lounge, or pop out with a playful peek-a-boo to motivate them to come and find you.
For babies who are pulling up, place toys on a low couch, sturdy box, or safe surface so they can practice standing and reaching while closely supervised. This is when they also love climbing and pulling themselves up all over you, so sit down on the floor with them and be their climbing frame! You may find they need no encouragement for this and you will learn a fun little game called "is this stable?" So providing safe options makes everyone's like easier.
Why: This may get them motivated for crawling, build core and arm strength, problem solving, spatial awareness and build their determination and perseverance.
✨Remember: Babies learn confidence when we pause and let them attempt first.
Nursery Rhyme of the Month: Clap your hands
“Clap, clap, clap your hands, Clap your hands together.
Clap, clap, clap your hands, Clap your hands together!
This is a really fun song, which you can repeat over and over singing it slowly, or fast or quiet or loud, just having fun.
Clap along to the beat of the words and then STOP abruptly and then end of the verse. (babies find the sudden stop funny)
You can also change the clap to tap or shake or stomp/ jump (if older siblings are joining in, your baby will love watching their siblings big movements)
✨Remember the tune or rhythm doesn't have to be perfect, your baby thinks your voice is the best whether you sing or speak the words. If you're ever unsure of the melody (which happens to all of us, even with songs we know!), you can always look it up on you tube to get a feel for the tune.
Just keep in mind, your voice is always more beneficial and comforting to your baby than any recording.
Book of the Month: Where’s Spot?
Lift-the-flap magic never gets old.
Your baby will love the repetition, the simple pictures, and the surprise of each new hiding place.
Try pausing before lifting a flap and saying:
“Hmmm… is Spot in here?”
The anticipation builds memory, focus, and joy.
Your baby may be starting to try and turn the pages before you're ready, or flip straight to the end and then back again. Help them do this by holding the book and lifting a page just a little and then encourage them "turn the page". Or just go with it and read the book in all different order, just notice the pictures on the page or under the flap, it doesn't matter, it's more about them falling in love with book, falling in love with learning.
Any interactive book is great at this age!
Did you know?
At 7 months, your baby's favorite pastime is often discovering cause and effect and practicing their new grasping skills by emptying containers, pulling clothes out of draws or wipes out of their packet…
HACK- make a pull toy, with an empty wipes packet or tissue box filled with some cut up pieces of material tied together. Encourage pulling it out, by tugging on the end.
Social & Emotional Skill Building
Remember You don’t need fancy toys, perfect setups, or endless activities.
Your baby learns through you; your voice, your encouragement, your presence on the floor next to them. Every smile, every cheer, every cuddle after a topple = real learning.
You’re doing beautifully. 💛