HELP YOUR BABY

■ Encourage your baby to track people and objects around him with his eyes.

■ Provide opportunities for your baby to reach for and grab at objects. Encourage him to use both hands when he’s holding an object.

■ Play hand-clapping and block-bashing games together. He’ll just love making noise with you.

■ Give your baby a range of objects to hold so that he can practise holding different shapes, and talk to him about what makes them different. Watch out for the day when he can transfer an object between hands. Crossing the midline is a very important ability.

■ Your baby will play with his own hands and be fascinated by them. This is a wonderful way for him to discover himself. Ensure he has plenty of time for this.

■ Let your baby mouth things – it’s an important skill and he is learning loads through oral exploration.

■ Allow your baby the opportunity to investigate and explore things with his eyes. Hang a mobile from the roof and let your baby enjoy gazing at it.