Your 5-month-old's development: Week 1

Homing in on sounds

Your baby now realizes where sounds come from, and he'll turn quickly toward a new one. One of the easiest ways to engage him is to jingle a set of keys. Wind chimes are great attention-getters, too.

Your baby may now be able to recognize his own name and understand that you're speaking to him when you say it. You may notice that your little one turns his head when you call him or talk about him with others.

If you want to engage and entertain your baby, all you need to do is talk to him. At this age, babies don't learn language from the television or radio, so turn them off and use real dialogue instead.

A growing range of emotions

Your baby can't express his emotions in the same complex way that you can. Although he can let you know in clear ways when he's angry, bored, or happy, his ability to show love and humor are just developing.

Your baby also shows a strong attachment to you by raising his arms when he wants to be picked up and by crying when you leave the room. He may also give you hugs and kisses.

And he's beginning to get the joke — he'll laugh at funny expressions and try to make you laugh, too. Keep the laughter flowing with your silly faces!

Remember, your baby is an individual

All babies are unique and meet milestones at their own pace. Developmental guidelines simply show what your baby has the potential to accomplish — if not right now, then soon. If your baby was premature, keep in mind that kids born early usually need a bit more time to meet their milestones. If you have any questions at all about your baby's development, ask your healthcare provider.

source: babycenter

Your 5-month-old: Week 1

How your baby's growing:

Your baby can't express his emotions in the same complex way you can. Although he can clearly let you know when he's happy or unhappy, his ability to demonstrate his love and sense of humor is just developing.

As your baby gets older, he may start to cry when you leave the room and get excited when you come back in. He may also raise his arms when he wants to be picked up and give you pats on the back.

And you'll probably see him getting your jokes — he'll laugh at funny expressions and try to make you laugh too. Keep the laughter flowing with your silly faces!

• Learn more fascinating facts about your 5-month-old's development.

Your life: Sex as new parents

Finding the time and energy for sex as new parents is challenging enough. And then there's the small matter of the third party in your room or down the hall, ready to wail at the least opportune moment. But with a little planning and effort, anything is possible!

Flirt Flirting isn't the same as foreplay. It's sexual play without the intention of immediate sexual activity. Flirting with your partner (in person, on the phone, or by e-mail, for example) helps both of you get in the mood.

Time it right You don't always have to "sleep when the baby sleeps." Nap time provides a great chance to get intimate before end-of-the-day exhaustion sets in.

Make a "date" You don't have to dress up and go out — simply plan ahead to stay in. When you're parents, sharing massages or taking a shower together while the baby sleeps counts as a date.

Keep a sense of humor Be ready for things to not go as usual. If you're breastfeeding, for instance, you may see some milk leak or spray. If your baby does start to cry, don't rush to his rescue. Wait a few minutes to see whether he settles back to sleep. If he does settle down, you may find that the mood has been broken anyway. Don't call the whole thing off. Start back with slow, gentle foreplay and see what happens.

3 questions about: Your baby's head and hair

Should I do anything if my baby's head looks flat?
A flattish head (called plagiocephaly) is often the result of sleeping too much in one position and usually isn't a cause for concern. Mention it to your doctor, who can evaluate it. In rare, severe cases, your doctor may refer you to a specialist for treatment, such as cranial orthotic therapy involving headgear. Flattish skulls have become more commonplace since babies began to be placed on their back to sleep to prevent SIDS. But the benefits of a baby sleeping on his back far outweigh the temporary, cosmetic issue of a flattish head. Although the condition is harmless, some parents look into pricey helmets to prevent or correct flatness. You can get a similar result by giving your baby plenty of "tummy time" during his waking hours and alternating the direction in which you place him in his crib to sleep. (Even when lying on their back, babies tend to turn their head away from the wall to look around.) You could change the position of your baby's favorite mobile or even change the location of his crib so that he's inspired to look in a different direction. Also, minimize the amount of time your baby spends in his car seat (outside the car, of course) to reduce the amount of pressure the seat back exerts on his head. Regardless of what you do to fix it (if anything), flatness usually goes away as your baby grows, learns to sit and stand, and becomes a more vertical little being.

What should I do if my baby is losing hair or has a bald spot?
Baby baldness is usually caused by your baby's position and not by a serious health problem. Babies who tend to keep their head in the same position, rub it against the mattress, or bang it against the side of their crib may have more hair loss. This stops as your baby grows and replaces old habits with new, exciting behaviors. Babies born with lots of hair often lose it as hormone levels drop. It's very rare for a baby younger than 6 months to have other causes of hair loss, such as ringworm or the autoimmune disorder alopecia areata.

When will my baby's hair grow in?
This is hard to predict. Most babies will have two separate crops of hair before their first birthday, but the timing for hair loss and regrowth varies greatly. Some babies have new hair grow in soon after the old is lost, while for others it seems to take longer. The color and texture of this new hair may be significantly different from the hair your baby was born with.

source: babycenter