Bananas Baby Briefs: 2 - 4 Months

Babies Start to Notice Their World

Somewhere around two months, you will realize that your baby is beginning to be someone with definite characteristics and real likes and dislikes. Babies begin to coo, smile and see in a much more focused way. They start to explore.

They first explore with their eyes, looking at everything. They can recognize their immediate family
members. Then, one day, they discover their own hands. Babies at this age can begin to hold things in
their hands and examine them.

What Do These Babies Like To Do?

• Look at their own hands and feet
• Look at their surroundings
• Feel lots of different textures
• Reach for, bat at, and grasp objects
• Kick their feet
• Make sounds, sigh, laugh
• Listen to voices and music
• Smile
• Suck on fists, fingers, pacifiers
• Roll over Pull on hair and ears of the person holding them

What Can I Do With Babies This Age?

• Hand them toys, especially rattles
• Hang objects and toys above crib
• Talk to them
• Sing and make music for them (musical tapes, music boxes, musical mobiles)
• Give them lots of textured things to touch
• Hold them
• Go for walks – expose them to new and varied environments
• Smile at them

Activities:

• Help babies investigate with their eyes and hands
• Give them safe toys to hold and look at
• Try playing a smiling and singing game with your baby e.g. change your expressions, change your tone
• Hold objects in front of them
• Use cradle gyms, hanging mobiles

CHILDREN GROW AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. ENCOURAGE, BUT DON’T PUSH!

If you want to discuss your child care arrangement or the growth and development of a child in your care, call the BANANAS Warm Line or attend some of our many workshops and classes. BANANAS is located at 5232 Claremont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94618. For general information, call (510) 658-7353, or check our website at www.bananasinc.org.

Thanks to Katy King-Goldberg, Devlin and Judy Alley for their suggestions.

© 1979, BANANAS, Inc. Revised 2005.