| Your baby is developing a more critical eye and will | | | | will learn to mimic your behavior, including your |
| graduate from preferring bright, two-toned objects | | | | speech. It is never too early to stop cussing around |
| to being attracted to more complicated and detailed | | | | your child and much better to get in the habit of not |
| designs, shapes and colors. It is important that you | | | | doing so early on. You should also look for signs that |
| supply a wide range of stimuli to your son or | | | | your little one is able to hear okay. Yes, he or she |
| daughter, as he or she is not able to travel to reach | | | | has probably undergone tests for hearing already, but |
| them. Allow him or her to touch and play with a | | | | be aware if your son or daughter does not startle at |
| variety of new items, some of which you can find | | | | loud sounds or does not respond to the sound of |
| right in your own kitchen. Plastic cookie cutters, small | | | | your voice when you speak from a direction other |
| Tupperware containers and soft silicone spatulas are | | | | than the one he or she is looking towards. Don't |
| all readily available at home. You can also buy stuffed | | | | hesitate to mention your concerns to your |
| animals and soft balls, items that will not soon be | | | | pediatrician. |
| outgrown. Your son or daughter will not be able to | | | | Bear in mind that if you are a single parent, it is |
| hold the item for inspection for any length of time, if | | | | important that your little one bond with other loving |
| at all, so hold it while he or she touches, move it | | | | adults that will be in his or her life. Grandparents, |
| slowly back and forth to strengthen those eye | | | | aunts and uncles, and even your friends should be a |
| muscles and improve eye coordination and hold it out | | | | part of your son's or daughter's life. You want your |
| front, encouraging him or her to reach for it. | | | | baby to become accustomed to various adults and |
| Your little one is also becoming quite good at | | | | teens. This will help immensely when you go back to |
| differentiating familiar voices from other sounds, | | | | work and your son or daughter goes to daycare. |
| though his or her attention span is short-lived and if in | | | | And there are times when they will be able to give |
| a noisy room, you will most likely see your son or | | | | you a much earned break from being 'Mommy' for an |
| daughter moving his or her head all around as new | | | | afternoon of shopping or a morning at the salon, or |
| sounds become audible. When interacting with your | | | | even for some quality 'Mommy-time' with an older |
| baby, keep up a running conversation. He or she | | | | toddler or sibling. You also want to think about your |
| doesn't really care what you talk about at this point; | | | | partner. That person has slipped on your radar since |
| it's just the sound of your voice that is pleasing. If | | | | the new little one arrived and there may be some |
| you are face-to-face your son or daughter will | | | | feelings of jealousy, or of just being left out. Yes, |
| probably be watching your mouth as it moves, | | | | that little bundle of joy can have an effect on many |
| making the connection that the sounds come from | | | | lives in many different ways, not the least of which |
| your mouth. This is how babies learn. Just as lion cubs | | | | is your life. Take it all in and make it a mission to |
| learn to hunt or bluebirds learn to fly, your little one | | | | have a well-balanced life for your growing family. |