Article Index
How the baby can learn and grow
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Does the baby show he/she identifies the people who are always with him/her
The baby begins to realize he/she has a name and shows this when he/she looks at the person who calls him/her. He/she already recognizes better the other family members and enjoys staying with them. The baby smiles, waves the arms around and shakes the body to the people. He/she likes to hold their hands and touch their faces. The intimate contact with the grandparents, uncles and the older siblings also helps the baby’s development.
When put near strange people the baby can become very shy, suspicious and can even cry. This shows that he/she already distinguishes who is not known to him/her or those people that are not always with him/her.
The baby reacts to be separated from the mother, and usually cries when is left alone. The parents and the family members can find ways to do the housekeeping leaving the baby, whenever possible, close to them.
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When someone makes noises behind the baby does he/she turn the head searching for the noise?
The parents and the family members can create several opportunities for the baby to hear and identify sounds. And they do so when they pay attention and repeat the sounds the baby does and when they put things with different sounds close to him/her. The baby catches them, plays of shaking them, beats one object against the other and then hears the noise it makes.
The baby has already other ways to communicate. Before, he/she would only make sounds with the throat; now he/she makes sounds with his/her lips. He/she squeaks and says “m, m, mum; “”p, p, pa, pa”. He/she likes repeating and hearing his/her own voice. When the baby acts like that he/she shows that is decided to learn to speak. If the family members repeat the sounds he/she makes, then they are helping the baby to learn to speak.
“What I speak of is what I have seen at my Father's side, and you too put into action the lessons you have learnt from your father.” Joh 8:38
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Do the parents encourage the baby to try to catch the things they put close to him/her?
In this age the baby can start to be interested in objects. But, for this to happen, he/she needs help from the people around him/her. It is necessary that they put several objects close to the baby, encouraging him to pay attention to them.
Doing so, the people also help the baby to coordinate his/her movements with his/her senses, such as the sight, hearing and touch. He/she looks at them, puts them in the mouth, bites, licks and shakes them. This makes the baby feel how things feel like: hard, soft, light, heavy, rough and smooth.
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When someone puts the baby to sit, with support, can the baby remain in this position?
The baby has to be put in the sitting position, with support, for not falling forwards or sideways. Thus, he/she learns how to sit alone. This new position helps the baby to see and catch more things and get prepared to stand up.
In this age it is necessary to put the baby on the floor, making sure it is clean, so that the child can move more. Thus he/she can learn to turn around and roll to both sides without the danger of falling.
Attention: The baby cannot be left alone in places where he can roll and fall. It is also necessary that dangerous things be not left close to him/her, such as plastic bags, for he/she may choke and get suffocated.