Newborn to 6 Months

Your baby is unique. He will grow and develop at his own pace in his own way. Babies have their own awake/sleep cycles, their own preferences for how they like to be held, their own cycles of eating and eliminating, and their own preferences for interaction with you and others. The ways babies use their senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste) to learn about their world also differ. Some babies are very sensitive to noises and changes in lighting, and others are not. You know your baby’s rhythms and preferences better than anyone else.

Babies love the people around them. They look intently at their mother’s and father’s faces. They delight in language. Long before they can say words, babies coo, then babble, and then make sounds that imitate the rhythm and tone of adult talk. They even quickly learn to take turns during conversations, cooing in response to their father’s words, stopping and waiting for the father to answer and repeating the process.

Babies learn through all of their senses. They can identify their mother through her smell at birth. They put things in their mouths and learn about different shapes, textures, and tastes. Babies move their bodies and soon learn that they can change what they see, hear, or feel by their own activity.

Your baby needs you and the security you provide most of all. The young infant thrives on the warmth and caring of a close relationship. The interactions you have with your child are much more important than the nice toys you provide. When you respond to the smiles, cries, coos, and eye contact of your baby, you are meeting your baby’s needs and he feels secure. Secure infants are able to explore their surroundings, feel good about themselves, and grow into more confident children and adults. A positive relationship with you is essential to help your baby reach his future potential. A baby’s sense of well being comes in part from how you respond to his efforts to communicate. By anticipating your baby’s need for food, rest, and quiet time as well as stimulation, you help him get ready for the world.

Physical Development

As your child’s first teacher, you can:

• Place your baby in different positions when he is awake and has an adult watching – back, stomach, and sitting with support – to help develop different skills.
• Help strengthen neck muscles during play time with lots of games that involve moving his eyes or placing him on his stomach and encouraging him to lift his head.
• Offer your baby lots of safe things to grab, hold, poke, and wave.
• Talk and sing to your baby from various distances and locations. Use a happy and friendly voice.
• Put your baby on his back and pedal his legs gently like a bicycle.

Typical 6-month Milestones

• Sits up with a little support
• Begins to crawl
• Picks up objects with one hand
• Turns his head at the sound of your voice and watches you move
• Examines his fingers or the toy he’s holding
• Smiles spontaneously

Language and Intellectual Development

As your child’s first teacher, you can:

• Show and tell your baby what makes the sounds he hears – the doorbell, a music box, or even banging spoon on a plate.
• Talk to your baby face to face so he can see your expressions change.
• Talk and sing to your baby during diapering, dressing feeding, and other regular routines. Tell him what you are doing – “Now, I’m going to put you in the car seat.
• Pay attention to the rhythm of your baby’s babbles. When he pauses, you respond and then pause for him to respond. Repeat sounds and words.
• Listen to your baby’s cries remembering that it is the only way he can talk to you. Try to figure out what he needs, give it to him, and comfort him.

Typical 6-month Milestones

• Responds to name
• Smiles or vocalizes to initiate a response from you
• Reaches for and grasps toys
• Babbles using all types of sounds
• Recognizes different sounds, like a sister’s voice.
• Looks to see where something lands after being dropped
• Recognizes mother or father in a crowd

Toys for Learning

• Rattles with handles, teething rings, and other safe objects baby can chew
• Bells with handles, music boxes, and other toys that make sounds
• Hanging mobiles with colorful objects (mobiles should be out of reach – gradually raise as focus improves)
• Washable cloth toys, dolls, and stuffed animals (make sure all parts are permanently attached)
• Unbreakable mirrors
• Texture balls and play gyms used with supervision
• Cloth, plastic, or cardboard books

A Few Book Suggestions

• Baby Faces Series by Scholastic – photos of babies playing familiar games like peek-a-boo
• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown – a wonderful bedtime classic with calm, rhyming words
• Baby Animals by K. Warabe – each page has a bright, bold picture of an animal
• Snapshot Series and Touch and Feel Series Board Books by Dorling Kindersley (DK) Publishing – board books filled with bright photos, soft textures, and great pictures

The Brain from Birth to 6 Months

Did you know?

Stress affects brain function. The amount of emotional security and safety a baby feels directly influences brain activity. When someone is afraid or under stress, the brain begins to function on a more basic level, one that promotes survival. It is much like when you react to pain automatically. If a baby is afraid or unsure of his environment, then the brain focuses on building a wiring system for survival and the wiring that allows him to learn complex activities is not formed. The amount of time spent reacting to stress takes away from the window of learning opportunities.

Research has demonstrated that premature babies who are cuddled and held develop much more rapidly than those who are not held as much. Hold, caress, and talk gently to your baby frequently. A baby who feels safe and loved can learn more easily.

Children who grow up in nurturing and stimulating environments are better prepared for school, and the benefits of this help remain with them as students. They usually have higher IQ test scores and are more likely to graduate from high school.