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

”.Though a baby won’t appreciate a knock-knock joke for a few years yet, she quickly learns the punch line on the end of rhymes such as round and round the garden and will begin to smile and laugh in delicious anticipation of the tickle payback.Babies under a

,” says Dr Evelyn McGregor, Lecturer in Child Development at Edinburgh University.2 Smile and your baby smiles with youIt’s one of the most wonderful moments – when your baby beams a great big smile back at you. It’s a fundamental interaction and a huge

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

1 Baby BallTry kicking a large, light ball back and forth between you and your toddler as if you were passing a football. Encourage her to kick it back to you and experience her satisfaction when she learns to aim accurately and hears you praising

Before they learn to communicate in other ways, babies need to cry in order to try to convey all sorts of different emotions and needs. Sometimes the reason will be an obvious physical requirement and a feed, sleep or nappy change will solve

A happy and content child is what every parent wishes for, so we spoke to Dr. Harvey Karp the author of The Happiest Baby on the Block and The Happiest Toddler on the Block, to find out his thoughts on nurturing happiness.What are the most important

his Bob the Builder sweatshirt for something, well, a little more glamorous. Experts believe that most preschool boys experiment by trying on girls’ clothing at least once during these early years. It’s a natural part of toddler curiosity to explore