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Baby First Impressions
how your baby's senses develop
Your newborn baby is already a sensitive, aware little being. Knowing just how far her senses develop during the first three months will help you to stimulate and 'entertain' your baby.
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FIRST TOYS Toys for babies can mean anything from the very latest expensive and imaginative invention to a classic rag doll or even a simple wooden spoon. Think about colors, shapes, and sounds for these are the elements that please a baby too small to actually 'play' with anything. A mobile hung close enough to a baby's face never fails to attract her attention -especially if it's brightly colored or light enough to move with the breeze. Things to hold that are easy to 'grip', will give your baby a lot of pleasure once she is able to hold objects. Try different spoons, or a ring shape.
A string of toys stretched across her pram or cot will help your baby learn how she can affect her world by her actions. At first she 'II knock the toy accidentally and then notice how it moves or makes a sound.
Bunches of objects, such as rings, beads and small plastic kitchen utensils strung on ribbons will give your baby something to grip, rattle, suck and chew. But make sure there are no detachable pieces.
Small cuddly toys like teddies or soft cubes or balls that your baby can hold and feel will become a favorite in the first few months, as your baby will respond to something squashy and lightweight, with a recognizable 'face’ and a pleasing texture.
Different textures can be explored in many ways -from a home-made beanbag to a seashell or a brightly colored fabric picture book.
From about two months a baby starts making a connection between what her hands are doing and her eyes are seeing.
Mum and dad are the centre of the world for their baby during her first weeks - frequent eye contact is important, when she'll be studying your faces intensely.
Stimulating toys are one thing -overcrowding is quite a different matter! | Right from the very start your newborn baby can begin making sense of the different sounds, smells, sights and textures in her world. She can respond to you and you can enjoy a growing closeness as - with your help - she learns about everything around her. VISION AND FOCUS Don't believe anyone who tells you your baby can't see anything much at first! Even a brand new baby can see, and can be wide awake in the hour or so after the birth. The truth is that new babies have difficulty in adjusting the focus of their eyes and their very best 'spot' for vision is between 20-30cm (8-1 2in.) away from their face. That's just about the distance between your face and your baby's when you're feeding her and you might notice your baby looks up from time to time during feeding to gaze at you intensely. This limited vision lasts until the age of around two months and then gradually develops, so by three to four months, your baby will be able to focus on objects held at varying distances from about 8*to about 50cm (3-20in.) away. New babies can probably hear quite clearly as well, though most have the enviable ability to switch off from sound when the time comes for sleep. Early on, your baby may show she can hear certain sounds by being still, as if she is concentrating on listening. At a few weeks old, she may respond to the sound of a bell by moving her eyes, and later her head, in the direction of the sound. Very small babies will often stop crying if in the middle of a yell, they hear a loud noise. But your baby will not yet move her head in the direction of the sound. TASTE, SMELL AND TOUCH It seems that even tiny babies have a sense of taste and smell. In a famous experiment, babies of a few days old were laid in their cots and two breast pads (one with their own mother's milk, one with another woman's) were held above their faces. Consistently, the babies turned their heads towards their own mother's pad. Texture and warmth are important to a new baby too. Studies have shown that premature babies nursed on a lambskin grow better and more healthily than on a plain cotton sheet. Your young baby will love to snuggle into your arms, experiencing the comfort, closeness and security you can offer her. Even young babies can get bored from time to time. You'll soon discover the games, toys and activities that keep your baby amused and stimulate her developing senses. Some of the things you can do need no time, effort or equipment whatsoever -just you, your face, voice and body. ENTERTAINING BABY Lift your baby up so your eyes are looking into hers, about 25cm (lOin.) away. Once you've got her attention, pull funny faces and make different noises as well. Sometimes your baby will try to copy you. Or you can start a 'conversation'. Speak in a fairly high-pitched voice with shortish phrases - 'cootchy cootchy coo' or 'who's a lovely girl, then?' are perfect! In fact, most people find they talk this way quite spontaneously with babies. Your baby may start to make her own little noises, just as if she were talking back at you. This is real communication! You can hum and sing to your baby, croon lullabies, smile and laugh. Her little eyes may watch you very solemnly for weeks but, one day, she will imitate your smile. This is always a moment of great joy!
Games to play • Play with your baby's hands: move them across her face and bring them together in a clapping motion. • Play finger and toe games: 'This little piggy' and 'Round and round the garden' will be just right. • Play different sorts of music - dance to it with your baby, holding her securely. • Massage your baby gently with lightly perfumed oil to stimulate her sense of smell and touch. • Do the 'bicycle' exercise: holding your baby's feet, gently move her legs. • Make bathtime playtime - gently ripple the water around her.
WATCH POINTS • Don't let your baby play unsupervised with anything that has a loop, ribbon or thin string. • Check that toys with fixed-in parts (teddies' eyes) are safe and firm. • All toys should be smooth and rounded - no points or sharp edges. • Babies put everything in their mouths - when buying toys that are painted make sure the paint is lead-free.
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