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Print | YORK REGION>Services>Public Health and Safety>Child and Family Health |
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Birth to 6 Months
During these first six months, you will see many changes in your baby as they start to grow. One of the ways your baby communicates with you is by crying. This is normal. Babies cannot be spoiled or manipulate you at this age. Different, daily experiences will help your baby's growth and development.
Growth and Development
Your baby enjoys being held and cuddled during feeding. Crying is their way to express needs, feelings, likes and dislikes. This is how your baby communicates with you. Your newborn baby can see objects clearly at 20-40cm (8-16 inches). This means that they can see your face when you hold them.
Babies should always be put to sleep on their back in order to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Also, providing your baby with supervised tummy time on the floor will help prevent a Flat Head from developing.
By 2 months, babies can recognize the faces of their parents. Your baby can see clearly at any distance by 4 months, and will start laughing and smiling at you. They can lift their head and shoulders off of the floor when lying on their tummy. Playing with your baby on the floor face-to-face encourages this development.
The cooing and gurgling sounds your new baby makes will change to squeals of pleasure and grunts of anger by 6 months as your baby communicates their needs. By 6 months, your baby's uncoordinated movements with their hands change to being able to reach, grasp and bang objects. They are able to roll over from their stomach onto their back and from their back onto their stomach.
What you can do to help your baby grow and develop:
- Read, talk, sing and play with your baby
- Talk to your baby about what you are doing
- Smile and laugh along with your baby
- Play with your baby at their level, face-to-face
- Offer your fingers for them to grasp
- Hold and rock your baby
Toys to offer:
- Mobiles
- Pictures on the walls
- A music box or soft musical toy
- Soft cuddle toys
- Rattles
- Bright coloured toys to grasp
- Teething rings
Speech and Language Development
The development of your baby's speech and language skills begins long before your child can say their first word!
You can start to encourage your baby's speech and language development as early as birth. By talking with your baby, singing with your baby and reading with your baby, you start the process for life-long learning.
Your baby's communication skills will develop over time. At first, you may have difficulty understanding your baby's first words and you may rely on hand gestures to communicate.
By 6 months of age your baby will:
- Watch your face when you talk
- Cry in a different way when hungry
- Make noises to get your attention
- Make sounds back when you talk
You can encourage your baby's speech and language development by singing or saying a simple rhyme with them. Remember to maintain eye contact with your baby, relax and have fun. Learn the words and actions to These are Lisa's Fingers and The Moon is Round. You can find more communication tips for this age group at the York Region Preschool Speech and Language Program website.
For more information on growth and development or speech and language development, visit Programs & Resources.
Parenting can be a challenge. We can help.
For more information or to speak with a Public Health Nurse, please contact
TTY 1-866-252-9933
