How your baby learns cause and effect

I did that!

By around 7-9 months, your baby is starting to figure out that that there’s a connection between what he does and what then happens.

Understanding ‘cause and effect’ is crucial, because knowing that certain actions lead to certain results is one of the main ways your baby learns. Once he realizes that pressing a button causes a funny noise or makes a light flash, he’ll be pressing every button in sight. He’s learning that he can control his environment and he’s problem-solving before your very eyes!

Tips to help him work it out…

• If he can’t yet sit up, give him rattles he can shake, crinkle toys that make an interesting sound, a play gym he can bat at.
• Once he’s sitting, offer him press-button pop-up toys.
• Show him things he can’t control Let him work out the difference by encouraging him to bat at a patch of sunlight on the wall or to try to scratch the pattern off the rug. Then give him something he can control, such as a jack-in-the-box.

Ages given are a rough guide only. All babies develop at their own unique pace. If you have any concerns about your baby’s progress, talk to your pediatrician.

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