Now that your infant has learned to recognize your voice, your face, and your touch, and associate them with comfort, during the coming months he or she will start responding more to you. Your baby may even give you a smile!

Your baby will spend more time awake and alert during this time, and will start to get more curious about you and about objects that he or she sees. Your baby will also start getting physically stronger and better able to coordinate movements.

You can encourage the learning process by talking to your infant, responding to his or her vocal expression, and providing colorful age-appropriate toys.

What is my Infant Learning?

During this time, you will see your baby's personality emerge. In the first month or two of life, the baby depends on you to initiate any interaction. But by the end of the third month you will find your baby engaging you with his or her expressions, vocalizations, and gestures. Your infant's eyesight will be improving, and your child is better able to distinguish between different sights and sounds. Your baby will be carefully watching your facial expressions and listening to your voice, responding to you with coos and gurgles, and around 2 months, respond to your smile with a smile. Between 3 and 4 months, most infants can squeal with delight and laugh out loud.

Your child will learn to open and shut the fists, and will be able to hold a rattle that you place in his or her hands. Your baby will soon discover that he or she is the one that caused the rattle to make noise.

Your baby will also start to explore the surroundings using his or her hands, reaching out, swatting at, and grasping for a favorite toy. Your baby will also begin to notice his or her hands and feet, and they'll become a source of amusement. You may notice your baby staring at his or her hands, playing with his or her finger fingers, and bringing hands or a toy to his or her mouth.

How Can I Encourage My Child to Learn?

As your infant becomes increasingly capable of exploring the surroundings and engaging other people, provide opportunities and a safe environment for your baby to do this.

It's important to respond to your baby's coos and gurgling with sounds of your own, so that your baby will be encouraged to keep using his or her voice for expression. Through these exchanges, your infant is hearing the sounds of language and is learning how to have a conversation.

Your baby's sense of touch is also being sharpened during this time. It's a good idea to provide colorful objects that have different textures, shapes, and sizes for your infant to hold and explore. This is a good age to introduce an infant gym with interesting objects that dangle for your baby to swat at. You also can hold a toy just out of reach for your baby to reach for, swat, and grab hold of, but do not string up toys on cribs or other baby equipment - your baby could get tangled in them.

Be aware that there may be times when your child has had enough stimulation. It's important to recognize the signs that your child might be overstimulated, and to take a break.

Here are some other ideas for encouraging your baby to learn and play:

• Gently clap your baby's hands together or stretch arms (crossed, out wide, or overhead)
• Gently move your baby's legs as if pedaling a bicycle.
• Use a favorite toy for the infant to focus on and follow or shake a rattle for your infant to find.
• When your infant is awake, let your baby spend some time on his or her tummy to help strengthen the neck and shoulders. Always supervise your infant during "tummy time" and be ready to help if he or she gets tired or frustrated in this position. Never put your infant to sleep on his or her stomach. Infants should sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
• Make different facial expressions for your baby to imitate
• Talk to your baby and let your baby respond

Keep in mind that there's a wide range of what's normal for babies. If you have any concerns about your infant's ability to see or hear, or your baby doesn't seem to be developing well in other ways, talk with your child's doctor.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: December 2005