Guiding Principles To Help Your Baby Every Day

Here are some important things you
can do that will help your baby every day:

• Be your baby’s teacher. Babies learn
  when they have many good experiences
  with someone who loves them. Give

  your baby a rattle. Say, “Shake, shake,”
  as you move it and make sounds together.
  Name things for your baby. For

  example, say, “Look at the tree. Let’s sit
  under the tree.” This helps your baby
  develop language.

• Encourage your baby to explore. Your baby is at an age when she likes to
  be held up to look at things. Looking at things is important for her.
  Look at something together, and move it around. Your baby now is
  holding on to things and putting them into her mouth. This helps her
  explore. It also helps her develop movement skills. Find things she can

  play with like unbreakable spoons or plastic cups, and get down on the
  floor and play with her.

• Get excited about your child. Show your excitement when she does
  something. Make sure you act immediately. Your baby will connect your
  pleasure with what she has just done. For example, when your baby sits
  up as you hold her, say, “Look at you! You are sitting up!”
• Repeat things with your baby. Babies learn by doing the same thing over
  and over. Your baby may learn faster when she has lots of time playing
  and talking with you.
• Communicate. Talk and sing to your baby. She has been learning about
  language since birth. Talking to her helps her to learn.
• Do not treat your baby harshly.
• Babies do not know right from wrong.
• They should not be punished.
• They should not be teased in a rough manner.
• Never shake or hit your baby. Never allow anyone else to shake or hit
  your baby. This can cause injuries, brain damage or even death.

This content has been provided freely by CMC. Click Healthy Start, Grow Smart—Your Four-Month-Old for your free download. Click GreatDad Free Ebook to download the entire Health Start, Grow Smart series.

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