Baby This Week: 10 Weeks Old

Your baby is an excellent listener. She recognizes your voice, and she'll show you her pleasure by smiling at the sound of your greetings. She's also excitedly using all five senses to learn about the world. You can actually see how hard she's working to assimilate the new information she's exposed to every day. If something grabs her attention, notice how hard she focuses on it and stares. She's taking it in on many levels.

She's no Shirley Temple yet, but your little one's movements are getting a bit more coordinated. You'll notice that the jerky arm and leg movements of her newborn days have given way to smoother, more circular motions, especially when she's watching people.

Give your baby enough space to stretch and move her arms and legs. Lay a blanket on the floor and let her move as he pleases. These movements can help your baby strengthen and tone her developing muscles. On her tummy, she'll start to push off with her legs — the first step in getting ready to crawl.

Whether you envision your little one sleeping independently in a crib at an early age or sharing a family bed in the coming years, a soothing and predictable bedtime routine will help your child nod off and get the rest she needs. And it's not too early to start.

Your routine can include rocking, singing, a bath, a bedtime story, cuddling with a transitional object (such as a soft blanket or stuffed animal), being carried around the house and saying goodnight to each room — whatever makes sense for your family. The ritual will evolve as your child gets older.

- BabyCenter.com

Mila at 10 weeks.