5-Month-Old: Week 3

You've got to hand it to your baby — his hand control is definitely improving. You may see him rake objects toward himself and try to pick them up. Most 5-month-olds grasp an object for just a short while and then drop it. Yours will spend a long time doing this over and over if you play along by picking up objects and handing them back. Your indulging him in this game is also teaching a basic lesson in cause-and-effect — one he'll learn well, to uproarious giggles, before long.

How your baby's growingYour baby's getting better at spotting very small objects and tracking moving things. At this point, he may be able to recognize an object after seeing only part of it — like his favorite toy peeking out from under the couch. This will be the basis of little hide-and-seek games you'll be playing in the coming months.

He can also follow an object out of his view. Your baby will reach for a block (or another object) on a table if you hold him close to it, and once he's got one, he may just go after a second.

• Learn more fascinating facts about your 5-month-old's development.

Your life: Using a babysitter
Starting to use a babysitter is a big decision. Perhaps the hardest part is finding and choosing someone you like and trust, especially if family members or close friends are unavailable. Asking friends, neighbors, and others who are young parents for references is a great way to locate candidates. Some areas have babysitting agencies through which you can hire a prescreened candidate. Or try the student employment office at a local school or college.

Another option is to swap babysitting time with another parent or couple. Babysitting co-ops are larger, more formalized swapping groups in which a group of friends take turns sitting for one another's kids.

There are a number of important factors to consider when choosing a babysitter, including age, experience, and knowledge of infant CPR and first aid. Asking for references is a good start, as is a thorough interview to help you gauge the sitter's character, personality, and qualifications. Watch the babysitter interact with your baby, too. A preteen or teen who may be too young to stay alone with your baby could be hired as a "mother's helper" — someone to help watch the baby while you work or do jobs around the house.

Once you choose a babysitter, it's wise to ask her to come a little early so you can spend time together. Let her hold your baby while you prepare her by going over your baby's routines. Give her important information, too: contact numbers for getting in touch with you and the doctor, as well as the emergency room in the rare case it might be needed, an escape route from your home, the location of first-aid and emergency supplies, your baby's medical information, and healthcare authorization in case you're unavailable. In terms of compensation, it's a good idea to ask other local parents what the going rate is.

3 questions about: Growth charts

Why do doctors monitor babies' growth?
Your baby's doctor looks for an overall growth pattern by measuring your baby's weight, length (or height), and head circumference and comparing it with both national averages and previous measurements. Sudden changes from this pattern or extreme measurements may indicate a problem with feeding or absorbing nutrients, an illness, or a developmental problem.

What do "percentiles" mean?
Your baby's doctor will tell you that your baby ranks at a specific percentile on a growth chart. It's a way of comparing your baby with the full spectrum of babies. So if your baby is in the 25th percentile for weight, for example, this means that 25 percent of babies the same age and gender in the United States weigh less and 75 percent weigh more.

What if my baby seems ahead or behind?
Don't worry too much if your baby isn't close to average size. Your baby grows at an individual pace. Growth spurts may have him speeding up the chart one month or one year and then leveling back the next. Some babies are naturally larger or smaller because of their genetics. Another reason not to fixate on a number on a growth chart is that your baby's well-being involves a variety of factors, including development, temperament, and activity level, not just growth. If you have concerns, talk to your baby's doctor and she'll be able to tell you whether there's anything to worry about.