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Here's Looking
at You, Baby
Why Mirrors Are a Favorite First Toy
By Katherine Bontrager
the baby in the mirror, that there isn't a second baby playing hide-and-go-seek or peek-a-boo."
Dr. Brown says that even shortly after birth, a newborn will focus on a face up close – anything less than a foot away from them – so babies will be fascinated with a mirror image held up close. "As they mature, say by 6 to 8 weeks, babies can mimic facial expressions and see them in the mirror," she says.
Douglas recommends introducing a mirror to your infant as soon as he or she seems capable of enjoying one. "During the early months when she's sitting on your lap, she can enjoy looking into (and chewing on) a handheld baby mirror," she says. "Later on, she can enjoy playing with a baby-safe mirror that is part of a crib gym or mobile. Your baby will learn about cause and effect, motion and facial expresses by observing her own movements and expressions in the mirror. Sometimes the simplest baby toys really are the best."
Even simple interactions with a mirror can develop important skills, Dr. Brown says. "It encourages social engagement and interaction with others," she says. "We all learn to 'read' people's faces and expressions, and babies start this very early on."
The key may be placing a mirror where it best catches your little one's sometimes fleeting interest. "The changing table, crib or car seat are all fine," Dr. Brown says. "When babies aren't mobile or able to use their hands (when they're under 4 months old), you can place the mirrors somewhere close. If you use the plastic mirrors, older babies can hold and grasp them safely."
Simply place a baby-safe mirror anywhere that your infant can enjoy it, Douglas says. "Of course, you'll want to keep your baby's comfort and safety in mind: You don't want her to bump her head on the hard surface of the mirror if she's trying to take a snooze in her car seat in the car," she says.
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