Oral exploration – how your baby’s mouth is their key to learning
Babies learn about the world through their mouths. Those little movements from their mouth, lips, and tongue will help them explore and make connections that will support their development as they grow.
Let's take a look at some of the things your baby learns about as they move their very busy mouths:
Pointing it out – how pointing helps your baby learn to talk
Communication involves much more than talking, and just as your baby will learn different ways to use words as they talk more and more, they are also learning different ways to use gestures. 'One of these is pointing, and there are several types of point you'll see.
Pointing to ask for something (imperative pointing)
Settling your baby to sleep – Lauren from Little Sleep Stars shares her tips
As your baby grows and is no longer a ‘newborn’ should their sleep be changing? When should they settle themselves, and how can you help them to sleep? We asked Lauren Peacock from Little Sleep Stars to tell us more.
How sleep changes during infancy and beyond
Growth charts – Children’s Dietician Lucy Upton answers common questions about babies’ growth
One of the questions we’re often asked after our baby is born is how much they weighed, and you might have heard people talking about centiles or following a line – but what does all this mean, and how often should your baby be weighed? We asked paediatric dietician and feeding therapist Lucy Upton to answer some common questions about growth and growth charts.
How do we monitor a baby or child’s growth?
‘A child, more than anything else, is a spontaneous observer of nature’ Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori studied and researched early childhood development in the 1900s. She was a leading advocate of outdoor learning, believing that children thrive most in nature. We are also lovers of the great outdoors, so we wanted to flag up just five of the reasons it does wonders for your baby’s growth and development...
- Babies are curious and the world outside offers a wealth of sights, sounds and smells for them to explore.
- Being outdoors can be a great stress reducer – indoor rules can literally go out of the window!
- Nature offers a variety of surfaces and objects that are great for your baby’s physical development.
- When your baby spends time in nature, they build connections with the environment and can lead to them having a greater love and respect for the world.
- Being outdoors is thought to boost your baby’s immune system development. Being exposed to a variety of bacteria found in nature helps the body from head to toe.
Disclaimer – there are a gazillion more reasons that spending time in nature boosts your baby’s development, but, just as important, it's hugely beneficial for your own wellbeing. Get your coat!
Time for another home safety check?
Your baby’s physical skills are developing and soon they will be on the move, so now might be a good time to do another safety check. Look at the spaces where your baby plays from their point of view and check what they might be able to reach as they begin to move, so you can think about what you need to change.
Be on the look out for small parts and button batteries
Looking, sitting and balance – becoming a confident sitter!
Muscle strength is just one key factor in your baby's improving physical skills; another, which isn't always as obvious, is their increasing sensory development.
When they sit, your baby uses information from what they see, along with their balance system and receptors in their muscles to maintain their posture.
What are ‘objects of reference’?
Communication is more than words – in our daily lives we use gestures, facial expressions and even objects in our conversations with others.
The things we use to help communicate with young children are also known as ‘objects of reference’. When babies and young children are first interacting with the world around them, following conversations and concepts can be difficult, so using objects can help your baby make links between things and actions.
A classic book that’s great for fine motor skills – Where’s Spot? By Eric Hill
Spot has been a beloved character of children’s books for 40 years; we expect there are many My First Five Years parents who were read one of his adventures as a child!
Where’s Spot is a classic lift-the-flap book for young children, and its interactive nature makes it perfect for developing fine motor skills.
Can’t stand sand? Here’s why you don’t have to
Sand is a wonderful, and relatively cheap, way for your baby to play using all their senses. But it is also itchy, easily spread around and almost impossible to fully sweep up, no matter how many times you try. For some parents this is fine, for others this sounds like a nightmare come to life.
If bringing sand into your house isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry that your baby will miss out.
