The Developing Stages of a Child

He or she vocalizes to begin a conversation.

He or she laughs when tickled.

The baby learns to react to people differently.

The baby becomes silent when hearing music.

Baby’s intellectual development this month

He or she plays actively for one or two hours.

He or she can memorize something for 5-7 seconds.

The baby reacts and smiles more to a person than to a reflection.

The baby pronounces new sounds and imitates different intonations with

pleasure.

Your baby is 5 months old

It’s more than likely that your tot can turn from back to belly

and back again, and can sit down with the help of an adult. By the end

of the month your baby will weigh twice as much as when he or she was

born. The baby observes his or her hands and tries to grasp everything

in sight. The baby is already able to put an object from one hand to another

and take it with both hands. He of she tastes and chews everything.

Your baby more and more often combines vowels and consonants. It’s

high time to test his or her hearing. Language development depends on

hearing, and early diagnosis of hearing loss can prevent many problems.

Your baby often wakes up early in the morning when the family is still

asleep, and sometimes in the day time he or she sleeps only twice. By

this age the majority of children have already spent all the iron that

they got from their mothers before birth, and now they need to obtain

minerals from other sources. A milk substitute containing iron will be

enough for babies who practice artificial feeding. Those who are fed with

iron-containing porridge would be all right. To vary your baby’s

menu, add some new food to what he or she likes and gradually make the

portion of each new dish bigger. If a baby refuses to eat new food, wait

for some time and try again in several weeks.

During the next month you can notice the first signs of a strange nervousness.

Your baby is afraid of strangers and can examine some stranger’s

face. Usually, a baby becomes friendlier if he or she has an opportunity

to observe a newcomer while safely sitting on your knees.

Your baby is more and more active and energetic, therefore more things

will be forbidden for him or her – this will cause protest from

the baby’s side. But despite the fact that a baby needs stability

and regularity (the basis of discipline), don’t exaggerate and don’t

demand too much from him or her. The baby already feels your mood: if

you are ok, he or she is fine too.

Baby’s physical development this month

When sitting he keeps his or her head upright quite well.

The baby can stretch the hands and legs, raise the head, and bend.

The baby tumbles, rocks himself/herself to and fro, and bends down.

The baby easily turns over.

The baby sucks his or her toes.

He or she grasps objects more confidently.

He or she plays with a rattle put in his hand.

He or she can hold a bottle with one or both hands.

Baby’s social development this month

The baby smiles and vocalizes to attract attention and to communicate.

The baby protests and opposes the adult who tries to take away his or

her toy.

The baby recognizes parents and close relatives, and is often suspicious

towards strangers.

He or she imitates expressions.

He or she likes to play while eating.

Baby’s intellectual development this month

The baby pronounces vowels and some consonants.

He or she looks around when entering a new place.

He or she wants to touch, hold, turn, shake, and taste everything.

The baby bends to look at a fallen object.

The baby deliberately imitates sounds and movements.

Your baby is 6 months old

Inherent curiosity and growing independence drive your little discoverer

to active explorations of his or her surroundings. At the end of the month

he or she will already be half a year old.

Contacts become more interesting both for your child and for his or

her listeners. He or she can peep, growl, grunt, rumble, spit, smack,

and click. The baby also makes faces and gesticulates a lot.

This month you can watch your baby pulling himself/herself up and pushing.

This is how the baby develops the hand and leg muscles. He or she has

probably already begun crawling on his or her belly, although not all

children go through this stage. As the baby’s desire to stand up

grows, and as he or she persistently tries to reach the objects that attract

attention, the risk of trauma increases. Make sure that he or she has

safe places for games and that he or she spends enough time on the floor

to develop moving skills.

Your baby most likely adores shaking everything that is in the way.

He or she also gets interested in small objects, but he or she can’t

take them. The baby copes well with two big objects at once. However,

he or she doesn’t know how to lose hold of them. You can see how

he or she tries to get rid of the object by putting it from one hand to

another. The baby can try to place one brick upon another if he or she

saw you doing it. Soon you will see that he or she likes to throw things

onto the floor again and again.

Your baby mutters without a break, pronouncing different consonants.

By the end of the month he or she will be able to react to the names of

objects by turning his or her head in that direction. The baby understands

speech by its intonations, and reacts differently to angry, friendly,

or encouraging tones.

Besides, he or she learns to express different feelings. At any moment

the baby can get angry if he or she doesn’t like something, and

calm down very quickly when seeing an interesting toy.

At this age a child constantly examines your face from different sides.

He or she tries to touch it at the first opportunity. Thus, the baby studies

you better and makes sure that you are a separate person. Playing hide-and-seek

gives your baby confidence that close people won’t leave him or

her, because you disappear and return in almost a moment. He or she will

often try to attract your attention if you leave.

Food interests your baby more and more as he or she can eat something

on his or her own. If the baby chokes with some food or can’t swallow

it, it means that he or she is not yet ready for it. As soon as your baby

begins eating solid food containing enough minerals and vitamins, you

can cut down the daily milk portion.

Baby’s physical development this month

The baby tries to crawl on his or her belly.

He or she freely turns his or her head.

The baby turns over and bends in different directions.

He or she can sit for a short time with help.

He or she likes to eat with the hands.

He or she forms certain taste preferences.

The baby likes to play with food.

The first teeth can appear.

He or she can manipulate objects and hold a cup by the handle.

The baby can almost sit down by rolling from back to side.

Baby’s social development this month

He or she vocalizes to express pleasure and displeasure; the baby rumbles

and whimpers when complaining, and smiles and pronounces different sounds

He or she is suspicious towards strangers.

The baby stops crying when hearing music.

He or she responds to his or her name.

Baby’s intellectual development this month

The baby’s mood and emotions can change very quickly.

He or she examines objects thoroughly and for a long time.

He or she likes to look at upturned objects or from top to bottom.

He or she can compare two objects.

Your baby is 7 months old

Your six-month baby entered the third quarter of his or her first year.

It’s a very interesting time that is characterized by a quick rate