What is my newborn thinking (3 months – 6 months)?

Now that your baby is more social and partially responding to your smiles, you may be looking forward to your newborn’s development in other areas during its three months to six months stage.  Read on and find out below what new areas to discover about your newborn.

Safety:  Safety always come first!  Now that your baby is more active, always keep an eye out for them when they are waving around their hands and feet.  Actions such as rolling over, or tummy time can be dangerous if left alone.  Some clues to look out below as you can consult with your pediatrician:

  • You or your baby is unsettling or anxious majority of the time.
  • Your newborn is not smiling or baby talking most of them time.
  • Your newborn is not kicking their legs as before.
  • You are not getting along with your baby as before.

Emotional status:  Your newborn is still dependent on you so no matter what, do not neglect them when they are crying.  They only know that the world revolves around them, and that they are the most important member in a family.  However, they are aware that you or your partner is the primary caretaker but they do not understand that you are a separate person.

  • Learning the essential lesson of relationship: reward and value.
  • Interacting with you and even with strangers.
  • Having conversations with you or the primary caretaker, they will get excited by smiling and kicking their legs.
  • Starting to enjoy things such as baths.

Physical development:  Your newborn will start to explore things by feeling and putting objects into their mouths.  They will also focus more on smaller objects as their eyes will start to look at objects around them.  When they are exploring objects, always make sure that they are comfortable so that they can concentrate on what they are doing.

Speech and Language:  Long before newborns can talk, they have been listening to you when you talk.  Therefore, continue to communicate with them by:

  • Read simply story books with colorful pictures.
  • Continue to reply to them as they use “baby talk” to you. As long as you are responding to them, they know that you are showing care and love.  They will continue to talk more to you.
  • Start to repeat words such as “maa” and “daa”. This way they learn how to pronounce the words by looking at the shape of your mouth.  Remember, they copy everything you or the caretaker does as that is one of the ways they learn to talk.
  • Keep your conversations short and simple as they are trying to learn everything they see.

Activities: Some of the following activities can stimulate them to reactions or communication with you.

  • Make faces and blow raspberries into their belly.
  • Put them onto their bellies and do tummy time exercises.
  • Provide them with different things so they learn differently.

Remember, newborns are very sensitive to things around them.  Try to make them feel as comfortable as possible, and provide the best environment you can for them.  At times, they may get cranky and anxious but as long as they are still smiling and making “baby talk” most of the time, they are doing well.  We, as parents, are always responsible for our actions, so try to think what will make their life better takes precedence at this time.

Article refernces:

www.healthywa.wa.gov.au

Pic:

www.verywellfamily.com