Q: Sometimes my baby now seems more interested in his toys than me! Is this something to worry about?
A: Your baby’s interest in exploring objects is a major developmental milestone. By 7 months of age, babies are now capable of more focused attention on objects than ever before. Up to this point, parents are often a baby’s preferred “toy.” However, it is very common at this age to see your baby beginning to shift attention toward an interesting toy or object, like a board book. He will grasp and touch it with his hands, mouth it, and examine it with his eyes. It’s not even unusual for babies to even turn away from parents in order to focus more attention on their toy. At this stage, your “job” is to “get” what your baby is trying to explore, and join in and support his exploration.
However, if your child seems to be totally uninterested in social play and interaction and prefers to exclusively explore objects on his own, then it is important to seek the consultation of a child development specialist to be sure your baby can enjoy both exploration of objects and building relationships with loved ones.