4 to 6 months old babies

4 to 6 months old babies and their development

Are you beginning to think that your 4 to 6 months old knows his name? You're probably right! His memory and attention span are increasing, and he's learning all sorts of things, even at this tender age. Repetition is the name of the game for learning and play. Be prepared to play games, sing songs, and repeat actions over and over - you may be bored, but your baby is excited and stimulated!

Your baby is now beginning to understand the fundamentals of language. He's starting to pick out the components of your speech. He can hear and understand the different sounds you make and the way words form sentences. During this period, your baby will probably recognize and respond to his name - and it won't be long before he's learned to ignore the word "no"!

4 to 6 months olds generally begin to grasp the principle of cause-and-effect during this stage. He will explore this concept by doing things - dropping an object, kicking his crib, yelling - over and over again. Although this may be frustrating, it is the way your baby is learning the effects his actions may have. He is not throwing his pacifier on the floor over and over in order to upset you. He is doing it in order to see if it appears before him again.

Now that your baby is beginning to realize that his actions have an effect on you, he will enjoy playing copycat games where you mimic what he says. He may also make the discovery that whenever he cries, he grabs your attention. This is mostly a good thing, but he will also use it on occasion when he is bored or frustrated. Rather than punish him for this, give him extra attention once he stops crying or fussing.

Your baby will learn a great deal about the properties of objects with his hands and mouth. He will struggle to reach objects and learn to transfer them from hand to hand. Every object he manages to reach will go in his mouth, so watch him carefully, and make sure the objects he can reach do not pose a choking hazard.

Reading to your baby gives him a chance to observe the way you talk and mimic the sounds you make. If the book has bright pictures, all the better. Be sure to show them to your baby and describe them. Books that will withstand some mouthing and chewing are best.

With your baby's more sophisticated motor skills, he is probably ready for toys that he can activate himself. Toys that make sounds when shaken are good, as are toys that teach cause-and-effect, such as pop-up toys. Puppets and other toys with finger holds will allow your baby to practice hand control. Allow your baby to use his toys other than for their intended purpose. This stimulates his creativity and curiosity and encourages him to experiment.

Your 4 to 6 months old baby is now beginning to understand the idea of object and person permanence, which means that objects and people continue to exist when they are out of sight. To demonstrate the principle of object permanence to your baby, try hiding a rattle, ball, or other toy under a towel or washcloth. See if he forgets all about the toy, or if he seems to grasp that the toy is simply hidden.

Captivate your 4 to 6 months old baby with these simple games, and introduce your own:

Food PaintingPlace some purified food on your baby's highchair tray, and let him "finger paint" with it. It's messy, but it's a lot of fun for your baby.

PeekabooThis old standby will delight your baby, with his budding understanding of object and person permanence. Cover your face with your hands, then remove your hands and say: "Peekaboo, I see you!"

Hide-and-seekHide one of your baby's toys - but don't hide it very well - and encourage him to find it.

By the end of this period, most 4 to 6 months old babies will have learned to:

* Find an object that you have hidden

* Explore objects with their hands and mouths

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