What to Expect From Your Baby in the First Twelve Months- By this time, the baby will notice that he has some control over his environment.
He will soon figure out that when he shakes a toy it rattles, and when he drops
things on the floor, you get annoyed. Brace yourself––it is just the beginning of
many such attempts to test your patience!
The Fifth Month
- Your baby will become very active now, kicking his legs when he feels good,
rolling around on the floor (never leave him unattended on a sofa, changing table,
or anything else that he might roll off from), splashing water everywhere. You
will also notice him reaching for objects, then passing them from hand to hand as
he examines them. - Not only does baby now know exactly who you are, but he also begins to develop
awareness about himself, smiling when he sees himself in a mirror or turning
when you call his name. He will probably imitate your facial expressions and pay
close attention when you talk to him. Work on this development by keeping him
engaged in conversation and pointing out the names of things he’s interested in
e.g. ball, dog, car. - In the past, when baby dropped his rattle, he simply forgot about it. Even the sight
of his hands would surprise him if they reappeared within his range of vision.
Now, however, he notices when something disappears sight––including you––and
will look for it. This concept, called object permanence, is one of the most
important mental developments of the first year.
The Sixth Month
- The baby tends to lean less and less on the pillows behind him. He may even start
to sit up with his arms extended to the floor for balance. In the next month, he
will probably progress all the way to sitting up on his own. You may have also
noticed quite a bit of drool in the past month or two, and his first tooth could
sprout any day now, so provide lots of chewy teething toys for him to gum. - Your baby is now more awake and alert for the greater part of the day, making him
eager to play. He will enjoy seeing other babies and children and demonstrate
personal preferences for everything from people to baby food. As his desire to
communicate increases, you will notice him trying to combine body language
with his verbal expression––struggling and kicking when he doesn’t want his
diaper changed, for example. - Your baby’s attention span has increased to the point that he can happily amuse
himself with a toy or two while you go about your chores. You will notice him
putting objects in his mouth frequently as part of his explorations. He may also
try to compare two objects, or look at them upside down or sideways in order to
get a different perspective.