Social:

• Acts differently towards strangers than with you
• Holds out arms to be picked up
• Responds to and often imitates a parent’s emotions
• Likes to look at self in a mirror

Language/Communication:

• Responds to sounds by making sounds like “da”, “ga” , “ba”
• Responds to own name
• Makes sounds to show joy and displeasure

Problem Solving:

• Looks around at things nearby
• Brings things to mouth
• Reaches out for objects in front of her
• Begins to pass things from one hand to the other

Movement:

• Rolls over in both directions (front to back, back to front)
• Begins to sit without support
• When standing, supports weight on legs and might bounce

WHAT FAMILIES CAN DO

• Be predictable and consistent when you interact with your baby.
• Cuddle, talk, sing, and play with your baby while feeding, dressing and bathing.
• Read to your baby. Look and talk about pictures.
• Establish routines for sleeping and feeding.
• Smile when your baby smiles and copy sounds.
• Learn your baby’s moods – keep doing what makes your baby happy; calm your baby when he/she is upset.
• Play on the floor with your baby every day. Put your baby on his/her tummy or back and put toys just out of reach to encourage rolling and reaching.
• Help your baby to sit or support with pillows; let your baby look around or give toys to look at while balancing.
• Imitate your baby’s sounds and say words with those sounds (if she says “bah,” say bottle and book).
• Look at and read books with your baby.
• When your baby looks at something, point to it and talk about it.
• Pick up a toy when your baby drops it on the floor and give it back to help teach cause-and-effect.