9 wks old
Your baby is growing stronger
every day. She may now be able to lift
her head, chest, and shoulders off the ground when she's on her tummy. Your
Superbaby will look so proud and happy while she's "flying" this way.
If she's especially strong, she may be able to push herself up using her arms
while lying on her stomach. She won't crawl
until at least 6 months, but these precrawling motions are her way of
developing the necessary muscles.
10 wks old
Your baby is an excellent
listener. He recognizes your voice, and he'll show you his pleasure by
smiling at the sound of your greetings. He's also excitedly using all five
senses to learn about the world. You can actually see how hard he's working to
assimilate the new information he's exposed to every day. If something grabs
his attention, notice how hard he focuses on it and stares. He's taking it in
on many levels.
11 wks old
Your baby is becoming very
handy. Although she's already aware of her hands, she's now inspecting them
like Sherlock Holmes. She turns them around, the better to look at her fingers
from all sides. She opens and shuts her fists, watching each finger as it moves
up and down. To help your baby develop her blossoming hand-eye coordination,
try dangling a toy just out of reach so she has to grab for it.
12 wks old
Your baby is probably able
to sit upright when propped up by blankets or pillows. If he can do this
for short periods without slumping forward or immediately toppling to the side,
by all means let him enjoy the new views that come with sitting upright on the
floor or next to you on the sofa. (Take care not to leave a propped-up infant
unattended. Even a seemingly stable pre-sitter can topple over.)