Babies who are born weighing under approximately 3 pounds tend to have developmental delays. A study published in the May issue of “Pediatrics” found that babies who have a very low birth weight showed stronger cognitive development when their mothers were highly responsive to their needs during infancy. Being responsive has benefits for babies of all birth weights, explains Karen Smith, one of the authors of the study. She suggests that parents respond promptly and in a warm and sensitive manner when Baby offers cues such as crying or fussing. It’s also important to pay attention to what your baby is interested in and help him explore that for as long as he is able or interested. For example, if he’s playing with blocks, talk about them with him. Say things like, “This block is blue,” or “See how we can pile them up?” Avoid redirecting his attention to another toy until he loses interest on his own.