Tag:baby communication, baby sign language, baby talk

My little prince will be 2 years old in a week’s time. At this stage he is able to utter simple words and make a simple sentence such as “take back home”, “baby eat porridge” or “papa drive car”. He calls himself baby. At times he calls himself “wa wa” . Not sure where he learns it from. Maybe because of the sound of baby crying. If only he can tell why.

As parents, how we wish we could understand our babies, especially when they are at the young age of a few months old. I can still remember how frustrated I was when our baby cried trying to tell us something but we just could not make out what he wanted. We can only assume and guess. Is he in pain or hungry?  Now that he is able to talk, it is very much easier to communicate with him.

When he was about a year old, I noticed that he used to point at things that he wanted. He wanted to communicate but not able talk, so he used his hands to show. At times he threw tantrums and got irritated just because we did not understand what he was trying to tell us. Yea, if only we could communicate then.

I have come across recently an article which says that baby can learn sign language even at the young age of 6 months old. By 7 to 8 months old, he is able to use the sign language. If only I have come across this when my baby was 6 months old then. Much frustration could have been avoided. We could have taught our baby sign language. Beside communicating, he could be more intelligent , better IQ,  more confident  and high self-esteem as explained by Maria Sinclair, Managing Director of Baby Sign Online.

If you have a baby and you may want to learn how to use sign language. Do not let the chance pass by just like what we did. If only we can turn back the clock.

Tag:baby ability, baby development, milestones

Age 1 month

From birth, the baby is all curled up. His neck muscles are not strong to support his head. He can just lift his head to turn from one side to the other. His hands are tightly held in a fist. His visual are not fully developed and can only see a distance of about 10 inches in front of him. He may smile involuntarily.

Age 2 months

Can lift up his head to about 45 degrees for just a while. He can now open his hands and grasp.

Age 3 months

He can now extends his legs and arms and kicks vigorously. Can hold his head steady when held upright. He may try to grasp objects but not able to hold it for long. He will start to make eye contact with adults and may smile for the first time.

Age 4 months

He may start to roll from side to side. May play and suck his thumbs and will try to touch everything that is within reach. He loves to see bright colours escpecially red, black and white.

Age 5 months

When put on his stomach, he will lift up his head and may learn to roll over when put on his back. Learns to grasp and hold objects. Can focus better on distance objects and follow objects movements.

Age 6 months

May sit up unsupported for a few seconds and raise his head when lying back. Some may have their first tooth at this age. He tends to put everything in his mouth. Can hold objects well and rotate his wrist.

Age 7 months

Ability to sit will improve at this age. Can hold objects in both hands together. Starts to explore using hands especially during feeding.

Age 8 months

Can sit on his own without support if keep still. May rock forward and backward. Can learn how to wave goodbye. At this age, he may start to recognise familiar faces.

Age 9 months

May learn how to crawl and support weight on hands and knees. Can get into sitting position from lying down. May start to search for objects dropped, hidden or out of sight. May learn how to clap hands.

Age 10 months

Crawls with straight arms and legs. Pulls self up to standing position with support. Will tend to explore every new objects with hands.

Age 11 to 12 months

Learning how to walk with support for example holding on to people or furniture. May move around by himself. May want to feed himself.

Note:

Remember your baby is an individual and each develop at their own pace. This is just a guideline of what they can do at any particular month of their age. If they can’t do it now, they will do it soon. There is no need to rush your baby into doing things that they have yet to learn.

Tag:baby physical development, mental development

It is a joy to watch your baby grow each day and it is also one of the most exciting aspects of parenting.

During the first year, you will be astounded by how fast your baby grows. Each baby has his own development pace and do not force the development of your baby but rather encourage him and help where you can.

Physical development always start from head to toe. The first thing he learns is to control his head, followed by body, arms, trunk and legs. As your baby develops, so does his skills. He will learn to master one skill at a time.You may also notice that while he is learning the new skill, he seems to forget the previous skills that he has learned. But not to worry. He will be able to gain back the skills once he has mastered the new one.

As parents, you should help the baby to develop eye and brain connection, and also eye and body connection. You should help the baby to connect what he sees, thinks and does. You can do this by providing stimulating ideas, books, toys and simple activities.

Recent studies have proven that a newborn baby’s eyes perceive the high contrast colours Red, Black and White better than any other colour. Although a newborn baby may not see as clearly as a grown child, he can see objects within 13 inches from his face. That’s why it’s important to provide your baby with visual stimulation in Red, Black and White contrasting colours.

Research shows that a baby’s brain grows especially rapidly during the first two years. By the age of two, your baby would have achieved 80% the brain size of an adult. Red, Black and White stimulates your baby’s brain activity and increases his potential for learning.

Tag:baby, baby instincts, baby reflexes, newborn

All newborn babies have reflexes or instinctive movements which are designed to protect them. The reflexes will last until your baby learns to make voluntery movements, at about three months. You may notice the following reflexes in your baby.

1. Rooting relfex

If you gently stroke your baby’s cheek, his/her head will turn to the direction of your finger with mouth open. This rooting movement helps baby to search for your breast to start feeding.

2. Sucking reflex

Every baby is born with the reflex to suck. He/she will try to suck whenever you put something in the baby’s mouth or touch on the soft palate (the roof of the mouth towards the back)

3. Grasp reflex

A newborn baby  automatically tightens the fingers around anything which is pressed into the palm and grasp tightly. If you touch the soles of your baby’s feet, the toes will curl downwards as if to grip something.

4. Moro reflex or startle

Babies respond to stimuli in a “total” way when they hear a loud noise or when roughly handled. They will throw up their hands and legs with fingers out-stretched in an attempt to hold on to something. If this happens, hold the baby firmly. This gives the baby great sense of security and comfort.