Physical Development

You'll notice that the way your baby grasps objects has changed. He's now using a pincer grasp, bringing thumb and forefinger together, which allows for much greater manual dexterity. To develop this skill, he'll grasp one object at time (perhaps crawling with it) as he explores with the other hand. He'll also practice passing items from one hand to the other, and dropping or throwing them. As he becomes more proficient, he'll be able to sort small objects and grip larger ones with confidence.

Social Development

Your little one has a new theme song: "Don't fence me in!" His playpen, which used to delight him, now feels like more a penitentiary. Use it when he needs to be safely (and briefly) confined, and rotate playpen toys often so he doesn't get bored. If he protests, add a couple of "special" toys such as pots and pans, or plastic soda bottles without caps. And take out the bigger items (large stuffed animals and the like)--otherwise, he may use them to stage a jailbreak.

If you must keep your child confined for more than five to 15 minutes at a time, consider purchasing a collapsible fence-type "corral" like the one made famous by the TV show "Rugrats." Prices are comparable, and it will give him up to four times as much room to roam.

Intellectual Development

Around this time, your baby will start collecting and sorting various objects. He's learning the basics of quantity, placing one object after another in a cup or sorting them into piles. He'll pick up a block in each hand, bring them to his mouth one at a time, and then repeat the process with both at the same time, as though he's using his mouth to count them. At mealtime, he picks up Cheerios in one hand and bits of fruit in another, then brings each to his mouth as if tasting the difference.

Note: The information above offers general guidelines, but all babies develop differently, and few hit their milestones precisely when the conventional wisdom says they should. If your child was born prematurely, you may want to use your due date as a baseline for following baby's development.