Babies become more and more alert, active and engaging at this age. It’s a fun time, but it can also be overwhelming if you don’t have the right care and support. Here are some tips for baby care at this age:
Be in sync with your baby’s rhythm and mood
This is a good time to be sensitive to your baby’s cues, so react quickly when they are happy or sad. If your baby cries, respond to them with a smile and gentle touch. If they are laughing, laugh with them and try to mimic the funny sounds they make.
Move with your baby
This helps your child learn how to control their bodies and become more dexterous. They are now more interested in reaching for things and grasping them, so play games where they can use their arms to pull or push something. You can also give them toys that are safe to reach for and touch, such as wooden spoons, blocks and soft plush toys.
Be consistent in your parenting skills and practices
At this age, babies are very social creatures who enjoy being around other people. It’s a great time to introduce them to family members, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and other children. It’s also a good time to take them to play groups, so they can meet other kids and adults who are similar in age and personality.
Be patient with your baby
At this age your baby is learning how to coordinate their eyes and hands, so keep an eye out for them as they are moving their arms and legs to play or reach for objects that they want. They are also developing object permanence, which means they understand that something can be in their environment even if it’s hidden.
Cut out pictures of different textures, scenes and faces to show your baby during playtime. This will help them learn to distinguish between different materials and will encourage them to play more with textured toys that will be interesting to them when they are older.
Sing and dance with your baby
This is a perfect time to introduce your baby to songs and rhymes. They’ll soon begin to respond to the words you sing, so keep a variety of songs on hand. You’ll also find that singing will be a natural part of your baby’s bedtime routine, so repeat the song every night for a few weeks.
Be careful with your baby’s skin
Your baby has very soft and delicate skin at this age, so it is important to keep their skin clean and moisturized. This is a good time to start using baby-friendly skincare products, such as lotions and shampoos.
Scents and odors are another thing your baby is learning to differentiate at this age, so try to choose scents and odors that you think they will like. They’ll turn toward those that smell pleasant and away from those they don’t like.
Safety is always a concern when it comes to your baby, so you should follow all of the safety rules that apply to newborns. Don’t let your baby get too close to sharp or pointed objects and don’t forget to keep all medicines and other items that could hurt them out of reach.