Further Reading

Your baby will have now developed their gaze and vision to be able to focus more closely on things that are nearby, such as toys, and familiar faces. They will be making eye contact with you during play and other times where your faces are close. 

The development of depth perception

Already by this stage, your baby will be enjoying looking at things. You may have noticed them gazing at objects above them, such as a mobile, or even your face when you are comforting them or playing together. You also might have noticed your baby's gaze change when they are looking at objects they are interested in – their eyes may widen when they notice a favourite toy, for example.[1] 

Your baby has been listening to voices and sounds since before they were even born, and from birth they have been hearing and responding to the sound patterns of spoken language. Even in the first few months of life, babies will be able to discriminate between different sounds, and will show a preference for familiar voices, such as those of their primary caregivers.^[1] 

Your baby will now be starting to direct the sounds that they can make, perhaps towards you or other people, or sometimes at toys during play. They have been interested in watching and interacting with you since they were born and might have responded with movements or smiles when you spoke to them. Now, or soon, your baby will be starting to make more deliberate sounds with their tongue, mouth and lips, and looking towards people or objects when they do this.  

Starting a conversation 

Your baby will have been moving their mouth in different ways since before they were born. These movements won’t have been accompanied by any noise at first, and some of these will be involuntary reflexes, such as sucking and swallowing. Now you might notice your baby making shapes with their mouth, and beginning to make a few sounds. They may be blowing raspberries, gurgling and even watching you while they do this.  

Crying, coo-ing and exploring sounds 

What is the unique journey?

Your child will take their own unique learning journey, mastering skills in 6 streams of development underpinned by play.