This Week in Your Baby's First Year

Your Baby at 26 Weeks Edit  Child's  Info Baby's First Year Newsletter

Your Baby This Week

What's Going On With My Baby Now? When you brought your baby home from the hospital, she couldn't hold her head up. By now she's learning how to sit upright, if she hasn't already. You can help: • Sit her on plush carpeting or surrounded by pillows. Hold her steady. Let go for a few seconds, so she feels what sitting is like. • Put some of her favorite toys in front of her, so she'll have something exciting to focus on. • Once she gets the hang of sitting with your help, she'll learn to balance herself by placing her hands on the floor in front of her, like a tripod. • After a few weeks of sitting in tripod position, your baby should start sitting upright without help. Then her hands will be free to explore!

ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Sibling Rivalry You want your children to get along, but older siblings may be jealous that they have to share Mom and Dad. It's no fun, but sibling rivalry is normal. This may help: • Spend as much one-on-one time as possible with your older child, so she won't feel that the baby is taking you away from her. • Let your older child have a few special toys that only she can play with. It will help her feel special, and it's a good way to keep toys with small parts away from the baby.

Good to Know Shopping for a new baby toy? Entice as many of the senses as possible, since she'll look at it, listen to it, touch it, smell it and put it in her mouth. If your infant starts avoiding eye contact, she may be ready for a nap. Many babies stare elsewhere when they're tired. Looking for childcare? Your baby will get more attention if the child-staff ratio is 3:1, rather than the maximum 6:1. Your baby should wear sunscreen on exposed areas. Also keep her covered in a wide-brimmed hat and some lightweight long-sleeved cotton shirts and pants. Once your baby can sit up, switch to the big bathtub. She'll have more fun when there's room for extra toys and water. Never leave your baby alone in the tub, even if the water is really low. Babies are excellent observers. When they see you talking about something, they link your words with the object.

More From WebMD

• How to Minimize Sibling Rivalry • Thumb Sucking: How Much Is Too Much? • The Benefits of Infant Massage

Connect With Parents

• WebMD Baby's First Year Community • Parenting: 6-9-Month-Olds Community

Tools for Parents

Quiz: Does Birth Order Determine Who You Are? Track Your Baby's Development With the WebMD Baby App

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