0-3 months

Smile, kiss and coo: love and predictability help her make sense of sensations.
“During her first months, everything your baby experiences will help her learn how to interpret all the things she sees, hears, touches and feels,” says paediatrician and cognitive development expert Dr Michelle Macias.

A baby‘s brain doubles in size during the first year because it’s working to establish ways of thinking, responding and solving problems. During the first three months, the most important thing you can do to maximise healthy brain development is to pay attention to your newborn: talk to her, hold her close to your face and make eye contact.

Your baby will probably begin to smile by six to eight weeks. Smile back and talk to your child while you are taking care of her. “It may seem like you aren’t doing much of anything, but all stimulation – giving baths, looking at books, playing music or even changing clothes – provides an atmosphere of education for babies,” says paediatrician Dr Ari Brown. “Every activity of daily life is a teaching moment, as your baby is watching your every move.”

Red flag If your baby hasn’t smiled or shown any attempts to do so by 10 weeks, talk to your paediatrician.
Note: if your baby is premature, he will meet milestones later, based on his adjusted age.

4-6 months

Share lots of interaction and use fun props during playtime to stimulate the senses.
At around four months, your baby will start to settle into more of a routine in terms of walking, sleeping and feeding times. Having more predictable alert periods gives you more time to play and interact with your child.

Try putting your baby on an activity mat or gym, suggests paediatrician Dr Tanya Remer Altmann. During this time, most babies will begin to bat at the toys that most of these gyms typically feature. This helps babies learn cause and effect, says Dr Altmann: “I hit this and it moves.”

At about the same age, babies coo, squeal and babble; and between five and six months they start to make consonant noises, such as “b-b-b” or “d-d-d”. “One of the best ways to encourage areas of the brain that involve language is for you to carry on a monologue,” says Dr Brown.

“It may feel strange at first to talk out loud all the time, but telling your child what you are doing while you dress him, make a bottle or go for a walk will help him learn the names of things and get a feel for the melody of conversation.”

Most babies this age love to look at their reflections. Take advantage of this by playing mirror-mirror on the wall. Sit with your baby in front of a full-length mirror and “talk” him through the various parts of his face and body. For example, “here are your eyes” (point to eyes), “here are your ears”, “here are your feet”, and so on.

Red flag If your baby doesn’t babble or make eye contact with you, or seems constantly in his own world at six months, talk to your paediatrician.

7-9 months

It’s time to introduce simple challenges – playing games helps teach the laws of nature.
Somewhere around seven months of age, your baby will begin to understand that toys and people aren’t gone forever when they’re out of sight, says paediatrician Dr Brown. This is known as object permanence and it’s a sign that cognitive development is on track. You can encourage this type of understanding by playing simple games of hide-and-seek with toys, dropping them in a bucket and asking, “where did the ball go?” Or you can cover your head (or a toy) with a blanket and ask, “where’s mommy?”

Many babies begin to scoot or crawl between seven and nine months, and this new mobility revs your child’s curiosity into high gear. Be prepared to satisfy it with interactive toys that have buttons to push, different textures to feel, and lights and sounds to see and hear, suggest cognitive-development expert Dr Michelle Macias. But don’t feel you have to go high tech; you are most likely to be your baby’s favourite toy. Play pat-a-cake or peekaboo, clapping your hands and waving bye-bye are all great learning activities.

Red flag If by nine months your child never seems to want your
attention, doesn’t make any consonant sounds (“d-d-d” or “b-b-b”), and/or doesn’t show any interest in toys, talk to your paediatrician.

10-12 months

Bring out the pots and pans to help your baby test his environment.
By around the tenth month, your baby should be able to get your attention by reaching for you or grunting. (Pointing begins at around a year.) Your baby will also be able to understand “no” or “up” and simple questions, such as “Where’s the doggy?” says Dr Brown.

“At 11 and 12 months, watch for imitation. Babies should be mimicking your use of the cellphone, remote control or other common activities, such as feeding himself or you.”

All of these acts are evidence that your child’s brain development is on track. To help develop verbal skills, understanding and vocabulary, use simple short phrases or words such as “bottle?” or “time for nap” to cue common daily activities. Age-specific toys can help your baby understand the physical world.

“Nesting cups, shape sorters and stacking blocks are great toys for infants nearing a year old,” says paediatrician Dr Michelle Macias. So are pots and pans. They stimulate creativity and understanding of how things fit together, stack up and fall down, and how to put things in and take things out.

Red flag If your child shows no response when you call his name, doesn’t understand simple commands or questions (“No” or “Where is your bottle?”) and/or doesn’t communicate beyond crying at 12 months, talk to your paediatrician.