Your baby develops eye muscles by using them. Place your baby on his back or in an infant chair. Move behind him so he can’t see you. He will focus on the object, not you. Hold a noise maker, like a ring of keys, about 10 inches above his face. Shake the object gently until he looks at it. Watch his eyes to see how he follows the object. Move the object slowly from side to side, and up and down. When your baby is good at this, try moving the noise maker in a circle in the air and around his head. Change the direction of the circle. If he can’t follow the whole circle, make only part of a circle. Watch for your baby to let you know he is looking. Your baby may look very intent. He may look at you or at something else. He may wave his arms or become very still. He may even look like he’s saying “O.” Change your baby’s position often. Your baby likes to look at many different things. If you place him on a blanket on the floor, what can he see? Place some interesting toys around him. He likes roly-poly toys that rock and make noise.
Sometimes, carry your baby in your left arm and sometimes in the right. With your baby sitting on your lap and facing one another, try doing these things one at a time. Watch to see what your baby does. Smile, stick out your tongue, open and close your mouth or eyes widely, shake your head back and forth More Ways to Help Your Baby Learn Put a mobile over your baby’s crib so he can watch it as it moves. Move objects back and forth in a straight line in front of your baby. When your baby is awake and alert, move him around in his infant seat so he can be near you as you work. Babies like to be with people and see what is going on. Talk to him about what you’re doing. He likes to listen! If your baby is looking one way, call to him from the other side. See if he’ll turn his head to find you. Dance with your baby and sing to him.

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