Emotional development in Your Baby

Emotional development in Your Baby

Emotional development in Your Baby

0-6 Months
Article
Dec 31, 2015
3 mins

Your baby is discovering their emotions from birth.

Emotional development is a very sensitive stage of baby development. It may even contribute to what kind of a person your baby grows up to be – compassionate or indifferent, trusting or apprehensive, optimistic or pessimistic, hopeful or resentful. It is important that you have a kind and loving attitude towards your baby. Providing love and building trust is crucial for your baby to develop a sense of belonging. Such feelings build a strong foundation and can help reduce stress levels in your baby. Establishing love and trust in the early developing years helps your baby develop mental and emotional strength and resilience and will most likely help them deal with the varied and challenging situations throughout their life.

Understanding the language of your baby’s affection

To begin with, the signs your baby shows to express affection toward you may be difficult to identify.  It may just feel all they want is food or a bath or a clean nappy!  However while it may look more like an inclination or liking towards you rather than a show of love – they are very genuine in their responses and are very sensitive to your responses in return. Around 6 weeks of age, you will get your first smile and all the wait has been worth it. Your baby is finally ready to display their first conscious grin at faces that have become familiar to them.

By 4 months your baby will start to imitate you. They may try to mimic your moves and expressions, a reflex that becomes more intentional as they learn that you respond and enjoy it. The more animated you get the more your baby is going to copy you.

By 7 months your baby may raise their arms to be held, and you will jump to it. Once they have the motor skills to grab for their favourite toy, they are going to start grabbing for you too. This is definitely a positive sign of baby development and a reason to be happy. Your baby may start to cry when you separate from them, but this is very normal and an important part of their mental and emotional development. Even if for a short while, this separation anxiety shows that they prefer you over others.

By 8 months your baby may start to imitate your words and by about 12 months say their first words and you may even get a “mama.” The combination of such easy-to-make sounds and a desire to name what’s important to them is often among the earliest words that your baby speaks. Most commonly, the first words sound like “mama” – but don’t worry if “dada” comes first – they’re most likely just sounds at this point in time with little meaning.

By 12 months your baby loves giving kisses. Around their first birthday, your baby finally has the motor and communication skills to respond to your kisses. They may forget to close their mouth after bringing it close to your cheeks but keep encouraging those sloppy beginnings – they will get better.

Related articles

View details Your baby’s appearance at birth
Article
Your baby’s appearance at birth

Your baby’s appearance at birth

Many parents are surprised or even alarmed at the sight of their newborn. It is important to understand that the effects of birth are usually temporary and the baby’s looks improve rapidly.

5 mins to read

View details Healthy Growth
Article
Healthy Growth

Healthy Growth

How a baby is fed may be as important as what foods are offered. Your baby is growing in leaps and bounds. The first year, a baby multiplies his weight by 3 and his size increases by 50%!

1 min to read

View details Common concerns in the first days
Article
Common concerns in the first days

Common concerns in the first days

Physiological jaundice

5 mins to read

View details At six months
Article
At six months

At six months

At this stage, baby’s development is on ‘fast-forward’. It’s an ideal time for sitting up and looking around. So, what’s the most interesting thing for baby right now? Baby’s mouth!

5 mins to read

View details The Newborn Baby
Article
The Newborn Baby

The Newborn Baby

Hello, world!

5 mins to read

View details At Six Weeks
Article
At Six Weeks

At Six Weeks

Your baby will smile deliberately, especially for his parents. He can hold his head up momentarily, and focus on and follow moving objects.

5 mins to read

View details At Two Months
Article
At Two Months

At Two Months

By 2 months, he can lift his head when on his tummy and hold his head up when held at his shoulder.

5 mins to read

View details At ten months
Article
At ten months

At ten months

  • He enjoys nursery rhymes and games. Encourage and play with him. Talk to him and imitate and add to his sounds.
  • Encourage self-occupation.

5 mins to read

View details At Three Months
Article
At Three Months

At Three Months

Your baby lifts his head up when lying on his tummy. His hands can grasp a small rattle, and he has started laughing.

5 mins to read

View details Developmental Milestones
Article
 Developmental Milestones

Developmental Milestones

You cannot fast-track the stages of your baby’s development, but you can help by creating a stimulating environment.

5 mins to read

View details At Four Months
Article
At Four Months

At Four Months

Baby is growing and getting excited about, well, just about everything. Especially playtime and all the things hands can touch. Hands are so fascinating!

5 mins to read

View details At Five Months
Article
At Five Months

At Five Months

He starts to roll over from his tummy onto his back.

5 mins to read

View details Your baby is growing by leaps and bounds
Article
Your baby is growing by leaps and bounds

Your baby is growing by leaps and bounds

Follow it month by month

1 min to read

View details Making your home safe
Article
Making your home safe

Making your home safe

Safety Tips

5 mins to read

View details The Explorer Eater from around seven months
Article
The Explorer Eater from around seven months

The Explorer Eater from around seven months

When your baby has successfully learned to eat solid food, he is ready to explore new tastes.

5 mins to read

View details Nurturing small tummies
Article
Nurturing small tummies

Nurturing small tummies

Nurturing small tummies

5 mins to read

View details Postnatal exercise progressions
Article
Becoming a parent Postnatal exercise progressions

Postnatal exercise progressions

Check your basic progressive exercise programme with your caregiver.

5 mins to read

View details Sleeping
Article
Sleeping

Sleeping

Babies all have individual temperaments, which will affect their sleep patterns. Some are sleepy and others more alert and wakeful.

5 mins to read

View details Medical Care
Article
Medical Care

Medical Care

Clinics and primary health services are freely available in most countries in Southern Africa. Locate your closest clinic and the telephone number from your local authority or hospital.

5 mins to read