Physical Development:
Babies are quickly becoming stronger and more agile.
Almost everything they hold will go into their mouths,
which is actually a very important part of tactile
development. Most begin to:
• Roll over without help
• Push body forward and pull body up by grabbing
the edge of a crib
• Reach for and touch objects
• Hold objects like a rattle and wave them around
• Reach, grasp, and put objects in mouth
• Make discoveries with objects (for example,
a rattle makes noise when it is moved)
• Cut teeth (some start a little later)
• Splash and kick in the bath for entertainment
• Sit if propped up and hold head steady
Social and Emotional development:
Babies are more likely to initiate social interaction.
They begin to:
• Play peek-a-boo
• Pay attention to own name
• Smile spontaneously and easily
• Laugh aloud
Thinking Skills:
Baby's perceptual abilities improve rapidly. At
this age, they are able to:
• Recognize faces, especially of family members
• Differentiate between different people based
on the way they look, sound, or feel
• Differentiate between different people based
on the way they look, sound, or feel
• Respond to familiar sounds
• Self-soothe when upset
• Listen and enjoy music
Communication Skills:
Even small babies love to have "conversations."
Most children of this age:
• Exchange sounds, facial expressions, or gestures
with a parent or caregiver
• Listen to conversations
• Repeat some vowel and consonant sounds
• Experiment with babbling sounds and may add
more consonants to the babbling repertoire
• Coo, gurgle and chuckle
• Display full range of emotions, from pleasure,
love to impatience, fear and distrust
What you can do: As your baby becomes
more mobile, you'll need to watch out for sudden movements.
Encourage his sense of balance by bouncing him on
your knee. Carry on placing him on his tummy for short
periods. Encourage him to roll over by putting toys
in front of him or next to him so he has to reach
for them. Talk and sing to your baby; he may not understand
many words, but he'll listen to your intonation and
inflection. Introduce your baby to simple books with
bright colors and pictures.
Trivia:
Snooze news
With increased activities comes longer sleep hours
i.e. most babies at this stage are sleeping through
the night uninterrupted for about 6-9 hours. Morning
and daytime naps last for about 2-3 hours per session.
Meals
Solids are introduced during this phase, to suit the
changing taste buds, add variety and enhance the nutrition
aspect of meals. However, milk is still the mainstay.
All babies have their
own internal developmental timetable. If your baby
hasn't yet reached these milestones, rest assured
that she will in time. If you have concerns about
your baby's development, discuss them with her doctor.
