Watch and Learn

Your baby is learning by watching you. As she gets older, she’ll get even better at copying you and the people around her.

You may notice her paying close attention to how you use different items, or how you talk or respond to things.

Keep in mind that each person she sees and hears may be teaching her something new.

What you can do to help her learn…

• Treat your home as her first classroom, and the people she meets as her first teachers.
• Include her in your daily activities or chores.
• Remember that children watch and copy the things we do. It’s never too soon to give positive examples.

If he’s interested, talk about it!

When your baby shows interest in an object or situation, try to describe it out loud.

You’ll know he’s interested if he reaches for an object or can’t take his eyes away. His eyebrows may rise or squish together, and his mouth may hang open.

Talk about what he’s looking at. What color is it? Is it smooth or bumpy? Does it move or make funny sounds?

By talking about the things he shows interest in, you’ll help him learn about his world.

Health Tip

Try to use sippy cups, cups, and water bottles that are labeled BPA/phthalate-free when possible. Stainless steel water containers and sippy cups are good alternatives.

Q & A
Q: I’ve heard that babies under 2 years should avoid TV and other media, but sometimes I just need a break. What do you suggest?

A: Try keeping a list of other things to try out before turning on the TV. Maybe you keep a special toy reserved just for times when you need a break? Or maybe he gets some time alone with his exersaucer? If you need to take a 10-minute break and feel that a little screen time is needed, that’s okay. Try to use it for short periods of time, and choose programs that are slow, calm, and non-violent.

Feelings of Fear

Fear is a big emotion. As your baby grows, he needs your help to learn how to feel better when he’s feeling scared.

Different babies feel afraid of different things. Some are scared of new people and others feel uneasy in new places. Your child may open his eyes wide, scream, cry, or cover his eyes or ears.

If you notice your baby showing signs of fear…

• Hold him in a loving way and tell him that he’s safe with you.
• Try to find out what he’s afraid of. You can try to avoid those situations in the future or read stories that talk about similar fears.
• Don’t leave him to “tough it out on his own.” It can make his fears stronger.
• Show him that you care, even if his fear seems “silly” to you. Let him know that everyone is afraid sometimes.