Even at this young age, reading to your baby will pay off. Hearing you read helps your baby develop an ear for the cadence of spoken language. Varying the pitch of your voice, using accents, and singing will make the connection between you and your baby that much more interesting.
If your baby looks the other way or loses interest while you're reading, just try doing something else and give him or her time to rest. Take your cues from your baby's responses.
You'll find plenty of good books to read to your baby – such as Goodnight Moon, Good Night Gorilla, and The Big Red Barn. Choose board books that have large, bright pictures and simple text – or even wordless books with pictures for you to narrate. At this point you don't have to be slavish to age guidelines. Books designed for older children can captivate a baby if they have clear, crisp images and bright colors.
Hands on
Your little one first discovered his or her hands a couple of weeks back, and by now is probably downright fascinated. Watch as your baby examines them, puts them in his or her mouth, and tries to suck on fingers.
Don't worry if your baby becomes a bit obsessed with these newly discovered digits: This form of self-comfort can be very soothing for your baby – and can possibly give you a little break, too.
Steady now
This week, you may notice that your baby's head control has improved. When he or she is lying tummy-side up, your baby may be able to lift his or her head and hold it up for several moments or even longer. When sitting with support, your baby should be able to hold his or her head steady and erect.
During tummy time, you might see your baby lifting his or her head and chest to about 45 degrees and appear to do mini-pushups. You can offer encouragement by sitting in front of your baby and dangling a toy.
For a fun game that also develops the neck muscles, place your baby on his or her back, grasp your baby's hands, and slowly pull your baby up to a sitting position. Then slowly ease your baby back down, and repeat. Your baby should be able to hold his or her head in line with the rest of his or her body as it's pulled up.