Your baby is starting to explore the world around them and it starts with reaching and grasping. Reaching and grasping for objects, people and food is a new activity for your baby. Help baby to explore by placing them in a variety of safe spaces. Encourage them to reach for what they want by placing toys or other fun objects slightly out of their reach. Once baby learns that reaching and grasping gets them what they want; they will certainly reach for the stars!

Now that baby is reaching and grasping for objects, it's time to baby proof the environment for safety.

Check out this website on how to make babys environment safe.

Brain Science for Your Baby

Between six and twelve months, your baby will get better and better at using his hands. The outermost part of the brain is called the cortex. A big part of a baby's brain cortex is devoted to helping with fine motor skills like reaching and grasping.

Why is that? Babies are "little professors" who learn through their own senses and actions on objects. New science tells us that these "baby experiments" help children understand how the world works by helping to build strong brain connections between neurons. The brain tends to prefer new things, or "novelty". And as for almost everything - practice makes perfect!

A Baby Buffer Prescription for Your Baby

Encourage your child to reach and grasp by putting a fun toy slightly out of reach.

Choose objects that baby can easily grasp such as soft blocks, rattles or rings.

You want your baby to be successful so don't put the object it too far away.

Praise your baby for trying to reach and grasp objects!

A baby Buffer Prescription for You

Talk to your doctor about a healthy diet, sleep and exercise program for you. When you take care of yourself, you are best able to take care of your baby!

Remember to have fun with your baby! Take time to talk, sing and play with your baby every day, even if other tasks don't get done.

What Your Baby Can Do - Developmental Milestones

Your baby is changing quickly during this period. Know what to look for to make sure your baby is growing and changing in a healthy way. Click on the links below for information from the CDC on what your baby can do now.

What your baby should be doing at 6 months

What your baby should be doing at 9 months

What your baby should be doing at 12 months

Gene's Research Tip of the Week

Your TSK is curious! It's in his genes, directly from you! But sometimes parents don't think that curiosity is cool; they think curiosity is a catastrophe! How can you use this curiosity to help him learn healthy habits? By being prepared for your little Curious TSK!

You need to give him new ways of looking at the world! You can do this by being a great example for such things as eating vegetables! So, does food presentation make a difference in how well TSK will eat? YES! Read more here

Baby Buffer Blog

Written by, Cathy Mancina Smith, PhD

Being a mom is not always easy. That's why it is important to have a circle of support. We all have times when we need someone to talk you, someone to give us advice or to lift us up when we are having a bad day. Your circle of support can include friends, relatives, neighbors or people you meet through a club, church or other organization. Some of my best friends are women whom I met when my children were babies. When my oldest daughter was born, I didn't know many people in my neighborhood and my mother and four sisters all lived out of state. My family was a great support but they lived so far away. I needed some local supports, so I started looking for a way to meet other mothers who had young children.

Read the full blog here

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