Now your five month old is on his way to becoming more active. He is able to roll from front to back or back to front and is therefore able to bring himself closer to things he wants. The skill to use his fingers is increasing. He can use both hands e.g. holds a toy in one hand while he explores the details with the other. Your baby is probably attentive to sounds - searches quickly and correctly for sounds that are out of sight. He will enjoy music and rhythm. Mirrors are usually his favorite - mirror games are fun ways to support his growing self identity. Your baby is getting stronger and more coordinated; many are able to sit with minimal support for a few moments, before tumbling over.

new toy or object. He will look at it; bring it to his mouth and fingers to examine its size, shape and texture. He shakes to see how it moves, whether it makes any sound. As he grows older and more skillful, he will try various other ways like pulling, squeezing, twisting the toy or throwing it on the floor. He will try fitting it into a container to explore size. The more responsive the toy is to his handling, the more the explorations. All these help him to learn. Needless to say he learns a lot from his interactions with you and other family members. Learning is vital but it should be fun too at this stage. Through play, they learn how to learn, how to be creative and flexible in solving problems. Early enjoyment propels them to learn more and sets the stage for the more formal learning that is offered through schooling.

A high maintenance baby displays some, if not all, of the following characteristics:

• Start easily and acts jumpy or cries at various sounds
• Extreme sensitivity and is uncomfortable with bright lights, lots of activity, some clothes
• Protests about everything from bathing to sleeping
• Restless and refuses to nap
• Gets upset by new people, surroundings or experiences
• Rarely smiles, cries often, whimpers, wails and screams

Within weeks of birth, most babies display their temperament. High maintenance babies have their traits in place at birth hence don't feel guilty if your baby is fussy or difficult. There is nothing wrong with you or your baby; that's just the way your baby is.

Learn what upsets your baby.
You cannot change baby's temperament but you can avoid situations that are upsetting for baby. Experimentation and work on your part at the start is necessary but this will pay off in the end.

Look for patterns in his mood swings.
What triggers his fussy behavior? If he is hungry after napping, feed him first. Establish a routine; it is comforting for baby to know what to expect and when.

Reduce stimulation if baby is sensitive.
Lights, noise, color, activity all act as stimulants and can therefore upset a sensitive baby. Set a calming routine such as a bath, then rocking or cuddling. Dress him in natural fabrics and keep baby comfortably layered.

Be consistent.
Set up a routine baby can depend on. When he fusses, respond to baby in the same way as much as possible. Keep your cool; don't get overwhelmed and frustrated. Baby may sense your feelings and this can agitate baby more.

Stay focused on the positive.
As baby gets older and more mobile, you may see a change. Till then take comfort that you are doing your best and that this phase too will pass.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE & your Baby
It is never too early to begin. Researchers say that children learn languages most easily between birth and age 10. You can expose your child to different languages at this time and not limit baby to one language. A baby can learn a foreign language with the same ease as he learns his native language. If both parents each speak a different language, he can learn both languages if they are spoken to him. Baby can be bilingual or even multilingual if his grandparents use a third language. It's a matter of exposure.

Baby & SOLID FOOD

If your baby is ready for solids, most of the following conditions should apply.
Baby..
Controls her neck, Sits up with support, Has doubled her birth weight, Indicates when she is full by turning her head or refusing to open her mouth Shows interest in the food you eat Reaches out for objects by leaning toward something Seems hungry for more food Is able to move her tongue back and forth These skills are usually not achieved until baby is between 4-6 months of age. Don't introduce solids in the hope of making baby sleep through the night. By making baby eat solids before she is ready, you will be creating problems instead. Baby's digestive system isn't ready for solid food when she is very little. Certain digestive enzymes which help baby gain nutritive value from the food she eats only develop after baby turns nine months old.

This can cause serious physical and mental harm to baby. 'A good shake' as a means of discipline to baby is resorted to by some parents in place of hitting. This is dangerous as it can be fatal. The problem usually occurs when a baby cries persistently and out of frustration the caregiver shakes the baby to quieten her. All it takes is less than 20 seconds, and a baby may be shaken upto 50 times, enough to cause serious harm or even kill her. Shaken baby syndrome is particularly dangerous because their neurological systems are still developing. Symptoms a baby has been shaken violently include:

• Brain damage
• Seizures
• Blindness
• Problems with speech
• Bruising
• Any signs of abuse

Never shake a baby for any reason. All babies cry, some more than others. If you don't think you can deal with a crying baby, ask for help. Don't let your emotions get out of control. It is ok to play with your baby, just avoid playing too rough.

Baby in PAIN

You may have wondered how you will know if your baby is in pain. Unfortunately there is no single sign or symptom to indicate when infant is in pain. Different babies express pain differently. The following indicate a baby might be in pain:
• Crying for long periods
• Cannot be comforted
• Pulling away when you touch a part of his body
• Swelling, redness or misshapen on body
• Pulling, rubbing or scratching part of the body
• Changes in sleeping pattern
• Changes in eating
• Changes in the way he moves or how much he moves
• After a long bout of crying, baby becomes still and may even stop crying

Milestones - your Baby's progress report

Anticipates some outcomes, but not others:
Baby is learning to anticipate the outcomes of certain actions. He demonstrates this skill when he reaches for his bottle to satisfy his hunger or shakes his rattle to make noise. He looks for an object when it drops. Baby knows where his hands are when they disappear but cant find a hidden object yet even when he watches you hide it.

Mirror, mirror..
Now is the time to get baby a crib mirror if she hasn't got one already. Choose one made from unbreakable material. It should be about 6 inches across and one in which baby can see herself clearly. Attach the mirror to the outside of the crib so she can see it through the bars. If you have a full length mirror in the hall or bedroom let her gaze into that.

Tickle Games:
These are lots of fun. Tickle game involves identifying different parts of baby's body. Begin by softly touching parts of her body according to the rhyme. Trace circles on her tummy at the end.

"where are baby's fingers?
Where are baby's toes?
Where, oh where, oh where..
Is my baby's nose?"

You can change the parts that you identify in the song to ears, chin, forehead, hands, feet, and tummy. The words don't have to rhyme; name whatever comes to mind. Repeat it few times if baby is enjoying the game.

Imitate Baby Sounds:
To encourage baby's efforts at talking, imitate the sounds she makes when she babbles. Hold her facing you on your lap; let her babble and when she pauses, repeat the syllables she just made such as 'da-da-da'. She will probably listen closely. Smile and hug her if she repeats your sounds. Continue the game even if she doesn't imitate you; you are helping her learn through imitation, one important way she will master language.

Encourage Baby to Move:
Now is the right time to begin encouraging baby to practice crawling skills. Place baby on the floor with a few toys he likes just out of his reach. Let him choose which toy he wants to play with, then encourage him to move toward it to get it. In addition to encouraging baby's movements, you will also giving him opportunity to make simple choices