It may seem like a blur, but it has been 4 months already since that amazing day when your beautiful child entered this world! By the 4th month after birth, your baby is really beginning to interact with her world more. She is now able to imitate sounds that she hears. This is when you may hear ma ma or da da for the first time. She doesn't yet understand what these sounds mean though. This would be why she looks at you and says "ma ma" and then looks at the dog and says "ma ma"! But, this is the beginning. Before you know it, you'll hear her calling "Mamma" and it will be you and only you she is calling for.
Around this age your baby will also begin to find other objects pretty interesting. Giver her a rattle or other age appropriate toy, and she'll intently explore it, learning all she can about it. She'll enjoy playing with such easy to reach things as her own hands and feet just as much though. Its just as important to figure out how they work! This is how babies and young children learn, through exploration and repetition. If you haven't already, you may hear your baby's first laugh around this time. She is starting to enjoy things like peek-a-boo and the silly faces you make. When you respond to your baby's laugh with your own, it lets her know that laughter is an appropriate response, and, you both can have a good time laughing just for the fun of it!
As your baby moves into her 5th month, you'll see her begin to understand where sounds are coming from. If you make a noise, she'll turn her head in that direction. And, she may even begin to recognize her own name. When you say her name, she'll begin turning her head to see who is calling. Babies love hearing your voice and language. TV and Radio don't have the same effect. She is hearing your voice and also often watching your lips and mouth as they move to form the words. Read her a book or just talk about whatever comes into your mind. She'll love being a part of the conversation! Babies around this age will also begin to have the muscle tone to sit up, or, they may not tackle this feat for another few months. Babies develop in very unique ways, and while they will all pass through certain stages, these stages may not all occur at the same ages for each baby, or even always in the same order!
Stranger anxiety often hits around this age. Your baby may become nervous or cry when others, particularly those she doesn't know, want to hold or talk to her. Help your baby through this time by following her cues. If she becomes upset or uncomfortable try your best to help her through these feelings by not pushing and letting her go at her own pace. By being there for our babies in this way, we show them that we will honor their feelings, and build trust. It doesn't mean she'll not enjoy others forever, like everything else this too shall pass!
By about month 6, your baby will have much more muscle control and strength, especially in her neck and upper arms, to begin rolling around. Now more than ever you will want to be vigilant during diaper changes and anytime she is on an elevated surface like a bed, because she'll likely continue practicing this skill whenever she gets the chance! If you've thought of teaching your baby sign language to help her communicate, now is a great time to start. Children have a lot to say long before they can say it in words that we parents can understand! Using basic ASL signs with them has been shown to help ease communication breakdowns, which often lead to great frustration for your child. Check out www.signingbaby.com for more information and a wonderful online photo dictionary of signs.
Your baby's sixth month is a perfect time to introduce some very basic solid foods. Many choose to wait longer than 6 months, while others will begin a bit sooner. One of the benefits of holding off beginning solid foods is that it can help reduce the incidence of food allergies. You can watch for your child's tongue-thrust reflex to disappear as well as her giving you the cue that she would really like to partake in the family meal, as signs that your baby is ready to begin exploring solid foods. A great food to begin with is some plain organic rice cereal mixed with formula or breast milk. You can gradually expand her repertoire from there.
