Interacting and Playing

It is important to make time to play with your baby. How he understands the world comes from playing with other people. Two of his best playmates are his parents. Here are some tips for playing with your baby:

• Sing nursery rhymes or songs to your baby.
• Dance to music. Hold your baby firmly in your arms or in a baby carrier and dance to music you both like.
• Hold your face close to your baby’s. Copy his looks and his sounds. Laugh with your baby.
• Your baby is interested in his hands and feet. Touch his fingers and toes while you talk to him or sing to him.

Dads and other caregivers should play with the baby, too. This is an exciting time for your five-month-old. He needs to get to know all the people who will take care of him besides his mom and dad.

Babies need to be around different types of people. This helps babies learn about themselves and the world. They need to learn to tell the difference between family members and strangers. There are many things brothers, sisters, grandparents and others can do to help your baby grow and learn.