Here are some ways to help ensure that your baby develops to his full physical and cognitive potential (and have fun doing it!):

• Encourage your baby to raise his head and push up on his arms to watch what is happening in the world around him.

• Hold your baby upright under the arms. Slowly lower your baby until his feet touch the table, bed, or your lap.

• Help your baby sit up alone. You can start by sitting on the couch or a chair with your baby and propping him up in the corner (which can prevent him from falling over).

• Try to get your baby to follow faces or bright objects with his eyes.

• Let your baby feel many different textures.

• Help your baby pick up small toys, such as 1-inch blocks. (As a reminder, keep pills and other small objects that can cause choking out of your baby's reach.)

As your baby interacts even more with his world, his first fear may occur this month — a fear of strangers. This fear, which often includes fear of grandparents and other relatives, is normal. By this time, most babies have developed an awareness and recognition of key people around them, and a mistrust and fear of those who are not familiar.

Although this fear goes away with time and is nothing to worry about, it usually helps to introduce your baby to new people slowly.

There’s no need to worry if your baby's feet seem flat or bent, his legs are bowed, or his toes point inward. Fortunately, these conditions are very common. Your health care professional will make sure that your baby’s legs and feet are developing normally. Most minor leg and foot conditions are outgrown during childhood.