PREPARING YOUR

HOME
  FIVE TO 12 MONTHS

RUTHANNE TREGASKIS
 Preparing your Home
5 to 12 Months

 Five to 12 Months

This is a period when you and family members go through a time of adjustment as your baby
during this time is going through numerous developmental changes; some of these seem to
happen quite rapidly.  As an integral part of this process of change, it is important for your baby to
feel accepted. Understanding what is occurring for your baby, knowing what to provide to support
your baby’s needs is your main means to assist your baby develop her sense of acceptance. During
this period from five months to 12 months, as your baby grows and changes and her needs shift
and change, adapt the home environment accordingly to support her needs.

By about five months, your baby is able

to move by sliding and or slithering
along, communicate both verbally and
non - verbally, reach out to grasp and use
her hands in many varied ways as she
develops hand eye coordination, she also
begins to sit; perhaps at first with
support. It is only a short amount of time
before she also is able to roll over, crawl,
pull herself up and move from one piece
of furniture to another and quite possibly
be walking by 12 months. 

(C) RUTHANNE TREGASKIS • BELLANDRIBBON.COM

It is through her own development, supported by you that your baby develops her sense of independence.
 You could easily feel quite left behind by your baby’s development during this period! To enable your
support of your baby’s developmental needs during this period you will need to gather information and
make adjustments to your home by adding items and taking some items out of your home environment.
Here is a list of topics that you will need to gather information on so that you are able to fully support
your baby’s development: 
MOVEMENT DEVELOPMENT
Fine motor (the capacity of baby’s hand movement) and
gross motor (the capacity of baby’s large body or
coordinated movement) is intense.

SENSORIAL EXPLORATION
Is intense and necessary to build your baby’s abilities of
her body and mind. She needs toys that offer many and
varied properties and support her motor development.

LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
: Is intense and requires your support as cooing becomes
babbling then purposeful and variegated babble when
baby bridges the gap between sounds and meaning
eventually speaking her first intentional word.

SLEEP PATTERNS
These will change with baby’s increased activity and with
the commencement of teething.

THE WEANING PROCESS

 Commences during this period from 5/6 months due to
many physical and psychological developments that
require your support. 

ORDER
Increases in sensitivity. Your baby needs order to
understand the basic patterns of life.  

TOILETING
 Requires your support as the physical developments of
baby’s body and baby’s natural pathways of independence
enable the commencement of the use of the potty. 

-
( C ) R U T H A N N E T R E  G A S K I S • B E L L A N D R I B B O N . C O M
 During this period of growth and development your baby will
commence moving about independently. This can be by
slithering or sliding, creeping or commando crawling, scooting
on the bottom or by traditional crawling and it will happen
almost overnight. Don’t wait until baby is able to move about.
Prior to the commencement of your baby being able to move
about independently …..move all possibly unsafe items for
baby to come into contact with to a high secure cupboard away
from baby’s reach or ability to access. These items include
medicines, body products and make up, dish washer powder or
tablets, plastic bags, all sharp items, all cleaning products,
gardening fertilizer and potting mix, paint and thinners, general
garage items, pet care products and food and if you have an
indoor cat ensure baby cannot access the cat litter tray.

 Check the security of low windows and any windows behind a

sofa or lounge, doors and screen doors, animal doors, fire place
guards, deck or veranda balustrading, man holes, pool fencing,
all fencing and gates around your home, in general. In some
elevated homes, it is recommended to fit child safety gates
across the top of stairways.   Never leave water in a bath,
buckets, planters, a wading pool or other items that can hold
water.

 Check the placement of ornaments in your home as once baby

is on the move it may be wise, for baby’s safety and for the care
of ornaments and possibly furniture to remove some items
during this busy period. 

*Note this is not a complete list, take time to assess your home and areas surrounding your home. Local
government groups often provide home safety lists for parents of babies and young children.

During this period of development from five months to 12 months you’ll notice just how strongly your
baby is driven by her efforts and led by her desire to mirror the movements of you and others in her home
environment.   From five to 12 months she needs to be able to establish steady gains of independence.
Your baby’s progress in achieving her natural independence will be effected by her experiences. This
knowledge highlights for all parents the importance of a home environment prepared to nurture baby’s
stage of growth and change.

(C) RUTHANNE TREGASKIS • BELLANDRIBBON.COM

 P R EP AR IN G YO UR H OM E

Five to 12 Months Checklist

sChecklist Checklist
These essential items for your home and baby wholly support the awakening of your baby’s development
through your care of your baby, baby’s sensorial exploration, baby’s hand abilities and movement, and the
development of language. All support your baby’s, natural, steady gains of independence.

FOR FEEDING
! A feeding/comfort pillow or Topponcino

! Feeding chair

! Footrest.

! Side Table: To store breastfeeding accessories

! Breast pads

! wiping / burping cloths.

! A framed photo featuring you and baby or family and baby on the side table.

! A small vase of fresh flowers for beauty on the side table

! Breast Pump (optional)

! A weaning table and chair with adult stool.

! Accessories to weaning.

FOR SLEEPING
! A low bed.

! Bed linen and blankets.

! Waterproof mattress protector.

Preparing Home for Your Newborn – Birth to Two Mo

FOR PERSONAL CARE
! Change table. ! Baby bath and stand.

! Change mat. ! Accessories for bathing baby:

! Nappy bucket/s with lid. o Bath wash

! Accessories for care of baby: o Shampoo

o Nappies o Towels (hooded),

o Wipes o Face cloths

o Barrier cream o Disposable cotton wipes.

o Cotton tips

o Soft baby hairbrush

o Baby nail clippers/scissors.

! Storage facilities for baby care accessories.

! Storage facilities for baby’s clothes.

! A small bin with a lid.

! A potty or two with a cabinet or tray for wipes and toilet paper.

! Trainer pants.

! Independence stool for your child’s use.

! Independence steps for your child’s use.

FOR SENSORY PLAY

! Low shelf.

! Movement mat: this is removed once baby can independently move off the mat.

! Toys for sensorial exploration: These toys specifically support baby’s sensory development of the visual,
tactile and auditory senses and development of hand eye coordination.
! Toys for stimulation of sensory motor movement and equilibrium development through visual, tactile,
auditory and movement experiences.
! First books.

! A small basket of first musical instruments.

! Framed art with a realistic subject that your baby is able to relate to.

! A small child’s activity table and chair.

! Bar and mirror

! A sturdy, low stool/coffee table or ottoman.

! A first push wagon.

! Balls.

! Sand and baby water play toys.

OUT AND ABOUT
! A pram with sunshade, rain/insect cover.

! A front carrier.

! A baby back carrier with sun shield to use for longer walks or off path walking.

! A baby car seat.

! Movement mat.

! A food cold storage bag and cold bricks.

! Potty: to take with you when going out. Choose one with a removable receptacle. Line the

receptacle with a disposable bag.

! A baby change bag and accessories

o Nappies/trainer pants,

o Wipes/hand sanitiser

o Toilet paper

o Barrier cream

o Disposable bags for dirty nappies/trainer pants

o Spare cloths,

o Breast pads,

o Spare clothes

o Hat and

o Portable baby water cup/bottle.

o A spare set of baby feeding utensils and bibs.

*Hint: Keep with you - a spare set of your clothes, a snack, full water bottle and a hat.

!
HOME SAFETY CHECK
Prior to the commencement of your baby being able to move about independently: Move all possibly unsafe
items for baby to come into contact with to a high secure cupboard away from baby’s reach or ability to
access.
These items include medicines, body products and make up, dish washer powder or tablets, plastic bags, all
sharp items, all cleaning products, gardening fertilizer and potting mix, paint and thinners, general garage
items, pet care products and food and if you have an indoor cat ensure baby cannot access the cat litter tray.
Check the security of low windows and any windows behind a sofa or lounge, doors and screen doors, animal
doors, fire place guards, deck or veranda balustrading, man holes, pool fencing, all fencing and gates around
your home, in general.
In some elevated homes, it is recommended to fit child safety gates across the top of stairways.
Never leave water in a bath, buckets, planters, a wading pool or other items that can hold water.
Check the placement of ornaments in your home as once baby is on the move it may be wise, for baby’s safety
and for the care of ornaments and possibly furniture to remove some items during this busy period.
*Note this is not a complete child safety list. Take time to assess your home and areas
surrounding your home. Local government groups often provide home safety lists for parents
of babies and young children.

! Movement mat.
 PREPARING THE HOME FOR YOUR BABY
-ROOM LAYOUT FIVE MONTHS TO 12 MONTHS

Store your accessories

for breastfeeding in the

Feeding side table. On the side Movement Mat

Side table Add a sturdy
Chair table place a recent
framed photo of mother low stool or
ottoman for Mobile
and baby or the family
Foot Rest baby to use Hanger
and baby. Add a small
vase of fresh flowers for to pull up and
Cushion
an extra element of later cruise
Use your feeding s
beauty. around. Mirror
/comfort pillow
/Topponcino while Bar
breastfeeding baby.
Child’s Low Shelf
Activity Table Add a small sized activity
table for your baby’s use
from about eight months
You can guide baby to Child’s Chair or when able to sit
move independently to independently.
the low bed when
showing signs of tiredness. Remove the Movement Mat, cushions and
Change
Low Bed the mobile hanger when your child can
Table
independently move off the mat. Add a Bar
Position the low bed and secure it to the wall across the Mirror
away from power outlet. for your child to reach up to, pull up and in
outlets. readiness for your baby to practise cruising.
Provide your baby framed art with a
realistic theme and a subject which baby is The potty is added first as reparation
able to relate. Hang the framed art at your Container
for learning to toilet. Introduce to
for soiled
baby’s eye level. For example: A child at baby when baby is able to sit
clothes.
the beach, at a picnic or at a park. independently.

Tray with wipes

Parent’s storage cupboard: Useful for storage of your
or toilet paper.
baby’s clothing items, baby care products, extra
breastfeeding accessory items, extra linen and toys in
readiness to support baby’s unfolding development.