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When you cuddle, talk to, and play with your baby, you build an emotional bond. You also help stimulate his or her learning and cognitive development.
Show your baby new and interesting things. For instance, carry your
baby around the room and show him or her pictures on the wall. Tell your baby
what the pictures are. Go outside for walks. Talk about the things you
Between 3 and 6 months, babies seem to like toys that they can easily
handle. They may fixate on a toy or task until it is mastered and then move on
to another. Rotate the toys you have by taking them away for periods and then
reintroducing them. Any household object, like a spoon or a measuring cup, can
serve as a toy as long as it cannot injure or be swallowed by the baby.
Babies tend to like toys that match or challenge their motor and
cognitive skill levels. For example, when they are able to pick up objects with
their hands around 8 to 12 months, they may delight in playing with blocks.
They might also enjoy more complex toys, in which an action triggers a
Reading to your baby also is a vital part of cognitive development. For information about nurturing your baby's language
development, see the topic Speech and Language Development.
ByHealthwise StaffPrimary Medical ReviewerJohn Pope, MD - PediatricsSpecialist Medical ReviewerLouis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics
Current as ofAugust 21, 2015
Current as of:
August 21, 2015
John Pope, MD - Pediatrics & Louis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics
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