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Coos and babbles. May cry a lot but quiets down at sight of caregivers face or the sound of their voice, or when lifted or touched.
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Babies watch their mothers very closely often, this is the first sign of interest in babies.
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Very young babies express any discomfort or unhappiness by crying.
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Baby begins to smile and show excitement. Eyes can follow moving objects. Wants companionship. May like being tickled. Maintains brief eye contacts while being fed. Makes different crying sounds for different needs. Can tell a smile from a frown.
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Babies show joy by smiling, perhaps in response to an adult who is making funny faces at them.
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Turns to sound of familiar voices. Laughs, squeals, babbles. Can tell the difference between family members. Reaches out with hands and arms to play. May cry when left alone.
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Babies begin to show their dislikes very clearly.
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Tries to imitate sounds made by adults. Plays alone and plays longer with other people and toys. Begins to experience stranger anxiety and clings to familiar caregivers.
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Babies show anger by the end of their first year. Psychologists do not agree on when signs of anger first appear, but it may be as early as three to six months of age.
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Responds to "no" and own name. Says simple words, such as "no," "bye-bye," "dada," and "mama." Objects if a toy is taken away. Crawls around to look for parents. Enjoys playing "peek-a-boo" and sound games
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Uses the words "Dada" and "Mama" to refer to specific people. Uses gestures as well as simple body language. Shows stronger likes and dislikes. Spends time looking in mirrors.