As your baby grows, they will want to start exploring the world around them.

You can help them by positioning yourself in a way that helps them get the most out of their play.

Things to know:

• It can be very helpful to think about positioning yourself on the same level as your baby, in order to have better interaction with them.
• For younger babies, if you are on the floor, position yourself in front of them. If they are on your lap, have them facing you.
• As they start to move around, they will enjoy you exploring with them.

At every stage, give your child lots of positive praise.

As they become a toddler, they might need reassurance and support from you as they play.

Things to try:

Consider the following suggestions and make sure to remember to have fun as you play with your baby.

• Use eye contact.
• Experiment with facial expressions.
• Encourage the use of different sounds.
• Singing is a great way to interact with your baby.

For more information on helping your child to communicate, visit How can I help my child communicate with me? – BBC Tiny Happy People.