Your Baby's Development

You want your baby to thrive as much as possible, and there are many ways that you can help your little one grow in the first crucial months of life. Learn the ways you can help your baby's development as much as possible, why it's so important, and have fun interacting with your little one in the meantime!

In the first month or so of your baby's life, help their development in sight and focus by keeping objects (including your own face) within 16 inches of your baby's face, so they can focus on and see them best. Bright, solid colors entrance your baby and help them learn to sight and focus on them better than wild patterns do, so keep solid bright colors (blue, yellow, green, red) around your baby in close view so they can grow best- and who doesn't want to snuggle and coo close to their little one? Enjoy making that very close eye contact with your baby in their first few months of life- it really helps their eyesight development.

Talk to your baby- a lot. In the first few months of growth, your baby develops by mimicry- if you clap their hands together and sing at them, they learn hand-eye coordination and even communication by attempting to copy you. They may not copy you right away, but the repetition of your voice and hand and foot movements (encourage them to play with their feet, and use big facial expressions that keep your baby entertained) help them grow. Before too long, your baby will begin to copy your crazy faces- which is a great thing!

Give your baby a mirror as they learn to focus, so they can enjoy the wondrous world of- baby! Give your baby tons of time playing on their belly so they can practice lifting and holding their head, and keep lots of squishy, soft toys within arms' reach so they can explore. Lots of close contact from you keeps your baby engaged and continues their need to learn how people move and talk by mimicking your actions and noises.

Reading to your baby, as young as 5 months old, is so crucial to their development. Pictures and their associated words will stick in your baby's head, and they will point or babble at the pictures or words on the page. Continue reading to your baby as it grows to encourage reading as a toddler and the interest in reading as they get older and begin to understand. Always indulge in your little one's curiosity and stay involved in their growth- because their little world is so big to them!

Source:

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/infant-development-9/slideshow-baby-development