At this age, babies are drawn to colors, patterns, and different shapes and textures of objects and toys. They learn about touch, shape, and texture by reaching out to objects. Allowing your baby to hold, explore, and investigate objects helps them learn. Babies often bring things to their mouths to explore and learn more about them. They use smiles, squeals, laughs, and other sounds to get your attention. Engaging with your baby through conversation and responding to their sounds helps them learn social interaction.
How to Support Learning
As your baby reaches the end of this stage, they will be rolling over, sitting up, and reaching for everything. Make the environment engaging and stimulating with age-appropriate toys of various shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. As your baby begins to babble and experiment with making sounds, reinforce those sounds by repeating them. Introduce new words by pointing to and naming objects around them.
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Recommended Books for Babies
- Interactive Books: Choose books with simple images and faces. Books with textures for tactile exploration, such as “touch-and-feel” books, are ideal.
- Durable Books: Opt for fabric, vinyl, and sturdy board books that won’t tear easily. Encourage your baby to hold and explore these books.
How to Help During Playtime
- Safe Play Area: Place a favorite toy or a soft ball in front of your baby to encourage reaching and grabbing.
- Hide and Seek: Hide a toy and encourage your baby to find it to support their development of object permanence.
- Toys with Movement or Sound: Provide toys that make noise or move to engage your baby and stimulate their sensory development.
When to See a Pediatrician
There is a wide range of normal development, so some babies may achieve skills earlier or later than others. If you have concerns about how your baby is seeing, hearing, or if you have any questions or worries about their development, consult your pediatrician.
Engaging in these activities and providing the right toys and books will help support your baby’s developmental milestones and create a stimulating environment for their growth.