HE'S LISTENING AND LEARNING TO UNDERSTAND SPEECH
Many parents with babies at this age
ask these questions: Does my baby listen to me? Does my baby
understand what I say? Your baby's bubbling, gurgling, and cooing
sounds are all part his learning to talk. At the same time, he is detecting
differences in the tone of your voice. He can tell whether it's cross
comforting, or approving.
At this age, he babbles sociably and even surprises you with inflections and
intonations that resemble adults' speech—even to the rising inflection of a
question. About this time, too, he begins to understand and recognize some of the
words you say to him.
By the time he's a year old, he'll understand a good many words, even though he
can't say them. This is known as "passive vocabulary," and it will always be
made up of more than his active vocabulary, or the words he uses in every speech.
Since he's picking up the words you say, it's important talk to him a lot in
short, simple sentences, and pronounce words correctly and distinctly. Don't use
baby talk!
FEAR OF STRANGERS
Up to about five months, babies are
willing to go to
anyone—parents or strangers, but around five months, they begin to regard
unfamiliar faces with fear and apprehension.
If the stranger reaches for the baby and picks him up, there're bound to be
tears. Grandparents are often greeted with this reaction, but much as they love
their grandchild, they're still strangers to him.
The baby's doctor gets the same treatment. This fear has nothing to do with the
immunizations the doctor is giving him. Up to now, the baby's probably been
unconcerned about his singular examinations, but now the doctor is a seldom-seen
face, a stranger, and your little one cries when he visits the doctor.
Eventually he will mature to the point where strangers are no longer frightening.
LEARNING ABOUT HIMSELF
At this age, the baby will find his
genitalia. If you'll recall, when the baby was between 3 and 31/2 months, he
found his hands and spent a great period of time watching and playing with them.
About a month later
he found his feet, and was fascinated all over again by his fingers and toes.
Now, he will find his genitalia and will show as much interest in it as he did
with his hands and feet. This normal curiosity helps the baby learn about
himself and should not be a reason for concern or alarm.
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