Development in the first 4 months

For the first six weeks at least, the baby is unable to focus due to an immature muscle behind the eye. This develops with the aid of human contact and visual stimulation to a point at which the baby can see high contrasts and bold patterns i.e. black and white and yellow and dark blue more easily than the pastel shades usually found in a nursery environment. He or she will slowly learn to focus in on human faces and will begin to recognise people, developing a responsive smile at around 7 weeks. Baby will now look for more complex shapes and patterns but it is some time before a baby can make sense of the pastel shades. Surrounding the nursery with brightly coloured or black and white wall hangings, posters, mobiles or friezes will stimulate the baby during the waking hours.

At birth a baby has no idea that he has the ability to perform gross motor movements and this needs to be learned. In the womb babies make involuntary movements. Under a playgym the baby will learn to lift its leg or arm and touch a toy which rattles. A 'cause and effect toy' will reward and encourage the baby to repeat the same movement thus perfecting body control and hand-eye co-ordination! Make sure the baby can reach the toys; so many play gyms are set too high for baby to make contact. Gyms with eyelets are useful as these can be used with plastic links to attach a number of toys at the right height.

Babies love being talked to and are easily stimulated by facial expressions which accompany an adult's voice, even at a few months they will try to mimic and this is the very beginning of their language development! A baby mirror will allow baby to practise these sounds whilst watching its own facial expressions! Books and toys can bring liveliness and variety to the way you talk to your baby and talking is one of the most fundamental life skills. Children are building up a mental store of the names for different objects and actions long before they can say them. Your baby will also love to hear you say and sing rhymes and jingles over and over again. He will soon respond to being rocked and will come to anticipate the movements and the words. Your baby's attention will be held and you will encourage their listening skills, key for developing their attention span and learning ability.

Your child will enjoy sharing a book with you. It gives you the opportunity for a cuddle and some special attention and you can begin pointing out objects to learn new vocabulary and learning to turn pages. Cloth books, board and bath books are best at this age as these cannot be torn and will tolerate the necessary cleaning. Choose books with clear pictures, photographs are particularly good as they show an object how it really is. Bookstart, a five year pilot scheme run by the Book Trust Charity in Birmingham, showed that in the 300 families given free books for babies of 9 months, children at 2 1/2 were showing increased attention span and concentration and went on to be ahead in speaking, reading and maths skills at school! Research was done by Professor Barrie Wade of Birmingham University.