Developing a strong emotional bond with the baby (age 6-9 months)

Beyond six months of age, the baby is already very skilled in making conversation and wants to improve further, but also to use these skills to get to know the world around him/her.

For example, the baby will chatter and actively use different sounds, explore making new ones, imitate the ones you make. In addition, the baby will try to use motor skills to show you that you are important to him/her and that he/she needs your closeness, contact with you, joint activities: he/she will reach out to you, try to "reach" you, crawl after you. At this age, usually around the eighth month, the baby will show discomfort in contact with strangers and may strongly protest when held by or left with someone unfamiliar (to him/her). This "fear of strangers" is a common milestone in the child's emotional development and is another indicator that the child perceives his/her relationship with you as very important and different from all others.

Here's what you can do to strengthen the emotional bond between you at this age:

  • always respond when the baby moves towards you or tries to reach you. If you can't pick up or caress him/her immediately, smile at him/her and speak to him/her gently (“You want to cuddle? Wooonderful. A hug is coming, just let me put the laundry in the washing machine”);
  • name - describe in words what the baby experiences, does, feels. Repeat these words so that the baby understands their meaning (while bathing him/her, for example: "Are you taking a bath, yes! Do you like bathing?"). Becoming familiar with new words - names for things and phenomena - expands the vocabulary and helps the baby to actively grasp the world around him/her. The experience of understanding what your baby is feeling or doing strengthens the emotional bond between you;
  • repeat the sounds the baby makes. These will now very often be syllables (eg. ma-ma-ma; ba-ba, etc.). By repeating his/her "words", you will encourage the baby to continue talking to you and thus improve his/her communication skills. The experience of being accepted and encouraged will strengthen your bond;
  • play peekaboo with the baby. Hide your face behind your hands, and then show it to the baby again, with a smile. This will help the baby understand that you exist even when he/she cannot see you.