Your baby is learning from your consistent responses
Your baby has been communicating with you in different ways since they were born, and you'll have responded to their cries, expressions and movements. They will have learnt from your consistent actions and comforts that they can expect a particular response in familiar situations.[1]
Conversations, routines and people they see
They are also developing more understanding of conversations, and while it will be some time before you have a back and forth chat together, they will now be more active participants in your interactions.
When you are talking to your baby, you probably talk about the things that are around you at the time, and they will be becoming familiar with the ways that you respond to them during regular routines.[2] They will also be starting to recognise the different people that they see frequently, and they might react differently to those people and others who they see less often.
Two-way interactions (or the 'dance') between you
They now recognise that conversation involves two people communicating and will take a turn during an interaction. Your baby might become distracted if the way that they are responded to remains the same, or if they start to get tired or overstimulated. You'll probably vary what you do to keep your baby’s attention and notice when it's time to stop, based on their responses.
Interactions between adults and babies have been described in different ways, for example, as a ‘dance’ or as a ‘serve and return’. Researchers use the term, ‘contingent reciprocal interaction’, which means that the response made by the baby or adult links to both the situation and the response given by the other person. Through their interactions with you, your baby is beginning to learn about the role that they can take in these ‘to and fro’ interactions.[3]
They will notice your expressions and tone of your voice
This mutual attention will support your baby's language development and also their social, emotional and cognitive development.[4] They learn about themselves and their emotions through the responses that you give. Your baby will also look at you and notice your emotions as they see your expressions and listen to your tone of voice.
They will begin to link their responses with yours and might adapt what they do to continue the ‘conversation’. If you respond enthusiastically to their smile, they might smile again; and you're likely to change your response according to how your baby responds to you, so through these interactions you and your baby strengthen your relationship.
Listen out for new sounds and ways of sharing attention
In the coming months, your baby will start to make more sounds and use these in their interactions with you. They will discover other ways of sharing attention and might show you what they are interested in as they are able to reach for and look at people, objects and toys.
References:
[1] Gerhardt, S. (2004) Why love matters. How affection shapes a baby’s brain. Hove: Bruner-Routledge.
[2] Owens, R.E (2016) Language Development: An introduction (9th Ed.) London: Person.
[3] Masek, L. R., McMillan B.T.M.,Paterson, S.J., Tamis-LeMonda C.S., Michnick Golinkoff R., & Hirsh-Pasek K. (2021) Where language meets attention: How contingent interactions promote learning, Developmental Review, 60, pp.
[4] Carpendale, J.I.M, 7 Lewis, C. (2004). Constructing an understanding of mind: The development of children’s social understanding within social interaction. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 27 pp79-151.