At 2 Months:

• Calms down when spoken to or picked up
• Looks at your face
• Seems happy to see you when you walk up to her
• Smiles when you talk to or smile at her

At 4 Months:

• Smiles on his own to get your attention
• Chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make
  her laugh
• Looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or
  keep your attention

At 6 Months:

• Knows familiar people
• Likes to look at himself in a mirror
• Laughs

At 2 Months:

• Respond positively to your baby. Act excited, smile, and talk to him when he makes sounds. This teaches him to take turns “talking” back and forth in conversation.
• Talk, read, and sing to your baby to help her develop and understand language.
• Spend time cuddling and holding your baby. This will help him feel safe and cared for. You will not spoil your baby by holding or responding to him.
• Being responsive to your baby helps him learn and grow. Limiting your screen time when you are with your baby helps you be responsive.
• Take care of yourself. Parenting can be hard work! It’s easier to enjoy your new baby when you feel good yourself.
• Learn to notice and respond to your baby’s signals to know what she’s feeling and needs. You will feel good and your baby will feel safe and loved. For example, is she trying to “play” with you by making sounds and looking at you, or is she turning her head away, yawning, or becoming fussy because she needs a break?
• Lay your baby on his tummy when he is awake and put toys at eye level in front of him. This will help him practice lifting his head up. Do not leave your baby alone. If he seems sleepy, place him on his back in a safe sleep area (firm mattress with no blankets, pillows, bumper pads, or toys).
• Feed only breast milk or formula to your baby. Babies are not ready for other foods, water or other drinks for about the first 6 months of life.
• Learn when your baby is hungry by looking for signs. Watch for signs of hunger, such as putting hands to mouth, turning head toward breast/bottle, or smacking/licking lips.
• Look for signs your baby is full, such as closing her mouth or turning her head away from the breast/bottle. If your baby is not hungry, it’s ok to stop feeding.
• Do not shake your baby or allow anyone else to—ever! You can damage his brain or even cause his death. Put your baby in a safe place and walk away if you’re getting upset when he is crying. Check on him every 5–10 minutes. Infant crying is often worse in the first few months of life, but it gets better!
• Have routines for sleeping and feeding. This will help your baby begin to learn what to expect.

At 4 Months:

• Respond positively to your baby. Act excited, smile, and talk to him when he makes sounds. This teaches him to take turns “talking” back and forth in conversation.
• Provide safe opportunities for your baby to reach for toys, kick at toys and explore what is around her. For example, put her on a blanket with safe toys.
• Allow your baby to put safe things in his mouth to explore them. This is how babies learn. For example, let him see, hear, and touch things that are not sharp, hot, or small enough to choke on.
• Talk, read, and sing to your baby. This will help her learn to speak and understand words later.
• Limit screen time (TV, phones, tablets, etc.) to video calling with loved ones. Screen time is not recommended for children younger than 2 years of age. Babies learn by talking, playing, and interacting with others.
• Feed only breast milk or formula to your baby. Babies are not ready for other foods, water or other drinks for about the first 6 months of life.
• Give your baby safe toys to play with that are easy to hold, like rattles or cloth books with colorful pictures for her age.
• Let your baby have time to move and interact with people and objects throughout the day. Try not to keep your baby in swings, strollers, or bouncy seats for too long.
• Set steady routines for sleeping and feeding.
• Lay your baby on her back and show her a bright-colored toy. Move the toy slowly from left to right and up and down to see if she watches how the toy moves.
• Sing and talk to your baby as you help her “exercise” (move her body) for a few minutes. Gently bend and move her arms and legs up and down.

At 6 Months:

• Use “back and forth” play with your baby. When your baby smiles, you smile; when he makes sounds, you copy them. This helps him learn to be social.
• “Read” to your baby every day by looking at colorful pictures in magazines or books and talk about them. Respond to her when she babbles and “reads” too. For example, if she makes sounds, say “Yes, that’s the doggy!”
• Point out new things to your baby and name them. For example, when on a walk, point out cars, trees, and animals.
• Sing to your baby and play music. This will help his brain develop.
• Limit screen time (TV, tablets, phones, etc.) to video calling with loved ones. Screen time is not recommended for children younger than 2 years of age. Babies learn by talking, playing, and interacting with others.
• When your baby looks at something, point to it and talk about it.
• Put your baby on her tummy or back and put toys just out of reach. Encourage her to roll over to reach the toys.
• Learn to read your baby’s moods. If he’s happy, keep doing what you are doing. If he’s upset, take a break and comfort your baby.
• Talk with your baby’s doctor about when to start solid foods and what foods are choking risks. Breast milk or formula is still the most important source of “food” for your baby.
• Learn when your baby is hungry or full. Pointing to foods, opening his mouth to a spoon, or getting excited when seeing food are signs that he is hungry. Others, like pushing food away, closing his mouth, or turning his head away from food tells you that he’s had enough.
• Help your baby learn she can calm down. Talk softly, hold, rock, or sing to her, or let her suck on her fingers or a pacifier. You may offer a favorite toy or stuffed animal while you hold or rock her.
• Hold your baby up while she sits. Let her look around and give her toys to look at while she learns to balance herself.

• Is there anything your infant does or does not do that concerns you?
• Has your infant lost any skills he/she once had?
• Does your infant have any special healthcare needs or was he/she born prematurely?

If your infant is not meeting one or more milestones, has lost skills he or she once had, or you have other concerns, act early. Talk with your infant’s doctor, share your concerns, and ask about a developmental screening.

If you or the doctor are still concerned:

• Ask for a referral to a specialist who can evaluate your infant more.
• If the evaluation still shows concerns call your state Early Intervention program to find out if your infant can get services to help. Learn more and find the number at Missouri First Steps Program.