During the first few months of your baby’s life, you can begin to help your newborn learn to be calm, regulated, secure, and interested in his or her new world. Likely, your baby is already a sensory sponge, learning from the sights, sounds, smells, touches, and movements that are part of his or her life.

As you watch your newborn take in the world, you will notice that sometimes the sensations experienced will be exciting for baby. For example, he may actively turn his head to see what connects to a sound.

At other times, sensations experienced by your newborn may be upsetting or overwhelming and trigger a cry. When this happens, it is important to maintain your connection and relationship with baby. The familiar sight of your face, the comfort in the sound of your voice, and your reassuring gentle holding will offer your baby a sense of security that helps him recover his balance.

Each little bundle of love has her own way of sharing attention with you. Variations can be expected in the many ways babies take in their surroundings. For example, maybe your baby gets a special kind of pleasure when she uses her eyes to look at your face and other surrounding objects.

Enjoy taking note of your baby’s own special manner and interactive style. Then you can introduce the world to your newborn in ways that tap his or her delight and minimize frustrations.