What your baby understands
Parents are often surprised to learn how just much their baby understands, even from birth, so be attentive and enjoy all that your baby is sharing with you.
Newborn baby
© DK
Your baby will concentrate on your face if you bring it close to her, and she can distinguish your voice from anybody else's. When she hears your voice her eyes will move in the direction of it and she'll try to follow your face if you move it close to her. She can recognize your face if you place it about 20-25cm (8-10in) away from the time she's 36 hours old.
Four weeks baby
If your face is close enough for her to focus on, she'll watch you while you are talking and she'll mimic your talking by opening and closing her mouth. She may stop crying when you pick her up because she knows you are a source of comfort. She imitates the movements of your face: she can use the right muscles to smile and grimace.
Six weeks baby
She'll smile back at you and her eyes will follow a moving toy.
Eight weeks baby
If you hold something brightly coloured above her head, she'll take a few seconds to focus on it and will then follow it as you move it from side to side.
Three months baby
She'll immediately see a toy held above her. She'll smile when you speak and will make squeals and gurgles of pleasure. There will be obvious signs of curiosity and interest in what is going on around her.
Four months baby
At feeding times she'll show signs of excitement. She'll laugh and chuckle when played with. She'll love being propped up because she'll be able to see what is going on around her; she'll turn her head in the direction of any sound.
Five months baby
She'll be aware of strange situations and can express fear, disgust and anger.
Six months baby
Your baby will become very interested in mirrors and in seeing herself in one.
Eight months baby
She'll know her name and will understand the word “No”. She'll probably have developed little sound signals like a cough to attract your attention when she reaches out for something that she wants. She'll probably want to feed herself at around this time.
Nine months baby
She'll show a will of her own and may stop you when you try to wash her face. She concentrates very hard on toys and games and will even turn a toy over in her hand so that she can examine it carefully. When an object is hidden under a cloth she'll lift the cloth up to see the object.
Ten months baby
She'll probably be able to clap her hands and wave bye-bye. She'll show that she understands a small number of words, and very short, simple statements.
11 months baby
She'll know, and will enjoy, simple games like “Peek-a-boo”. Her other favourite game will be dropping things and having you pick them up. She'll become very noisy and will want to shake and bang anything that makes a noise.
12 months baby
She'll do anything to make you laugh and will repeat it over and over again. She'll enjoy “reading” simple books with you and will help you to undress her by lifting up her arms when you take off her clothes. She may know a few simple words like bottle, bath, ball, drink.
New Babycare
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley
Text copyright © 2009 Miriam Stoppard
Posted 30.06.2010
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