May show displeasure or try to resume interaction when play or other interaction ends
Over the past few months your baby has experienced many styles of interactions with you and other familiar people. They are active participants in these interactions and relationships, as their brains make meaning from what you and other familiar people do. [1]
Enjoys being held and swung, bounced or rocked quite vigorously
A natural response as a parent is to sooth your baby by swinging, bouncing or rocking them from side to side. This innate reaction is no coincidence as it has been proven that it has comforting and self-regulatory properties [1]. Starting in the womb, babies become consoled by their mothers’ movements and continue to enjoy these actions for sleep and play right throughout their first years. Even as adults, we can continue to find regulatory properties in rhythmic motions. For example, some of us might find that we feel relaxed and even sleepy whilst on a train or a bus.
Uses their hands to move food or drink split on the table, watches their hands and the food as they move
Your baby’s senses started to develop before birth and as they have had more experiences your baby will be bringing together information from their senses to understand themselves and the world. You will notice this combining of information when you watch your child as they explore a new texture with their hands. They will watch the movement of their hands, the marks made as they explore, and move in different ways to see the effect. When they do this your baby combines information from their vision touch and proprioceptive (body) senses.
Uses a combination of sounds when speaking, rather than repeating the same sounds
Up until now you will have heard your baby repeating consonant / vowel sounds. The sounds will have been short with very little differentiation of sound in each vocalisation e.g. ‘da, da, da’. It is likely that your baby is becoming much more attentive to you and your interactions have become more frequent.
Beginning to understand some words and responds to the tone of your voice
Your baby hears and recognises familiar voices in the womb even before you give birth. [1] They were able to tune into voices and listen to the tones and speech patterns they were hearing as soon as they were born; this is how your baby learned that words have meaning. Now that they are a bit older, they're starting to connect understanding to the words.
Pushes onto hands and knees
Your baby may have been experimenting with pushing themselves up using their arms whilst playing on their tummy. Their arms, core and neck and becoming stronger, giving them more control over their body and movements.
Knows the names of a few everyday items
Your baby will now be becoming quite fluent in the art of baby conversation, their early vocalisations are being held with more intent and they are willing to try and communicate meaning with you. It is around this time that your baby’s brain has connected many words to objects, people and expressions in their daily routine and their level of comprehension is growing.
pushes onto hands and knees rocking backward and forward
Your baby has been pushing themselves up onto their hands and knees. This has taken lots of concentration and practice.
I can see it, what more will my mouth tell me?
When your baby is playing, you may have spotted them exploring toys and objects in different ways. Before this, they might have moved their hands or an object to their mouth to explore. Now, they are developing more control of their movements and are also starting to use their vision alongside touch to learn more about objects. They know the set of actions that need to be taken in order to pick up an object and bring it towards their mouth.[1]
I know what's coming! Moving in anticipation
Your baby has been exploring their movements and is beginning to link them with things that happen. They are also starting to remember things and move in anticipation of what is about to happen. For example, they might stiffen their body in anticipation of being picked up or open their hand when they see a toy.
