Farewell newborn innocence – busy baby’s here and making leaps in her development every day!
By Kate How
The first few months can be a little one-sided on your part. Lots of feeding, endless nappy changes, plenty of cooing and cuddling – you might find you’re putting in a lot and, apart from the odd smile, not getting that much in return. But once you enter busy babyhood, all of that changes. You know just how to raise a chuckle, she’s active and alert and seems to be taking it all in with increasing interest.
All babies are individual and develop at different rates, but here’s what your busy baby might be getting up to around this time:
She’s passing things from one hand to the other
Whatever she can grab hold of is going straight in her mouth for investigation!
She’s discovered ‘cause and effect’ - if I bat it, it will move
She’ll follow objects (like colourful toys) with her eyes if they drop, but soon forgets about them if they fall out of sight
Sounds are catching her attention and she’s beginning to twist herself around to follow them when you’re holding her
She’s watching your face intently and may try to imitate some of your expressions
She might be able to push up on her hands to look around and may have started to roll over by now. She may even begin trying to crawl
Encourage her busyness
Talk and sing to your baby as you do things so that she gets used to listening to you. Chat to her face to face whenever you have the chance so she can see your face and tune in to you - and be sure to give her plenty of time to respond.
It’s never too soon to start reading with your baby, so cuddle up and share a good baby book together. She’ll love listening to you as well as looking at the colourful pictures.
At this age she’ll enjoy toys like soft balls, playgyms, activity centres, toys with flashing lights and music, rattles and teethers – just make sure anything she plays with is safe to go in her mouth! Encourage your little one to be on the move by putting toys further out of reach so that she has to roll or even shuffle a bit to get to them.
Enjoy this wonderful phase while it lasts. Soon you’ll be on to baby’s first steps towards toddlerhood and all the curiosity, mischief and baby proofing that comes with it!
