triumph, held up for my inspection, and then carefully placed into his mouth for further examination. “Don’t eat it!”, I say as he clamps down on a cardboard cut-out. This baby loves his shapes. Not that that surprises me. He’s a boy, so his Y chromosome

Best toys for babies1. A Baby GymWhen: From birthWhat it does: Encourages and improves hand-eye coordination; tactile stimulation; and visual development. Babies quickly learn that if they “act”, certain toys “react” and the mirrors, soft toys

Most babies love to suck: it’s a proven way to soothe and comfort a fretful baby, but there can be drawbacks. You may want to think twice about giving your baby a dummy, especially if he’s a boy. It could stunt his emotional development by robbing

from a tummy position is good for muscle development. Older children should still sleep on their side or back, as lying on their front can place stress on the back and neck.3 Soft shoesDon’t buy shoes as soon he can walk. Children under two should wear

baby should smile in response to a pleasing event, such as the appearance of a favourite toy. According to paediatric specialist Dr Nigel Spate, your baby should be giving a responsive smile by six weeks – and if she’s not, you need to tell your doctor

to develop memory and think for herself.By the age of three, your toddler will have developed around 1,000 trillion connections between the cells in her brain, which is around twice as many as the average adult!

fear of water is a common quirk of babyhood, especially around 15 months. Some children fear that they’ll be sucked down the plughole.More development tips by Junior:Five ways to soothe a stressed babyFive ways to teach children manners

she opens her presents. Tell her to smile, say thank you, and then you can return the toy later.5 Praise good mannersPraise her when she is polite and if you need to correct a slip in her manners, try to do so in private.More development tips by Junior

Opt for a suncream that has a high sun-protection factor (SPF). Try Lavera’s organic SPF20 Baby and Child Sunspray (£18.50 for 200ml at So Organic). And remember, apply suncream even when it is cloudy.4 Dress for comfortNatural fibres, such as cotton, help

-up to their environment, twins share lots of similarities and so it's unsurprising that they may have similar thoughts. However, it's important to allow them room to develop their own individual personalities. Spending regular time on their own with either you or your