You have been tracking your baby’s development and growth for the past 9 months while they were in your womb. Now that the baby is born, this does not stop. When your baby is still very young, just a week makes a world of a difference when it comes to development. Let’s have a look at what you can expect in your baby’s first year:
- Newborn (0-1 month):
- Typical birth weight doubles by the end of the first month.
- Baby lifts head briefly when on the stomach.
- Grasps objects reflexively.
- Responds to sound and touch.
- Staring at faces.
- Develops attachments to caregivers.
- Responds to soothing voices.
- Cries to communicate needs.
- Reflexive movements (grasping, rooting, sucking).
- 1-3 months:
- Begins to make smoother movements.
- Holds head up for short periods.
- Follows moving objects with eyes.
- Begins to recognize familiar faces.
- Follows objects with eyes.
- Starts to show interest in surroundings.
- Smiles responsively.
- Begins to show preferences for certain people
- Coos and makes gurgling sounds.
- Begins to imitate facial expressions.
- Begins to control hand movements.
- Attempts to bring hands to mouth.
- 4-6 months:
- Rolls over in both directions.
- Sits with support.
- Begins to show interest in solid foods.
- Begins to understand cause and effect.
- Explores objects with hands and mouth.
- Develops stranger anxiety.
- Shows excitement and joy.
- Laughs and squeals.
- Begins babbling.
- Most babies are capable of sleeping through the night at this age.
- 7-9 months:
- Sits independently.
- Crawls or scoots.
- Begins to pull up to stand.
- Understand simple commands (e.g., “wave bye-bye”).
- Engages in simple problem-solving (e.g., finding hidden toys).
- Expresses preferences for certain toys or activities.
- Shows increased awareness of others’ emotions.
- Responds to simple gestures (e.g., waving).
- Says first consonant-vowel combinations (e.g., “ma-ma”).
- 10-12 months:
- Stands independently or with support.
- Takes first steps (walking).
- Picks up small objects with thumb and forefinger.
- Begins to mimic activities and gestures.
- Understands simple words and phrases.
- Develops more complex emotions (e.g., frustration, affection).
- Begins to show signs of independence.
- Understands and responds to simple commands.
- Says first words and may use gestures to communicate needs.
These milestones provide a general guideline, but it’s crucial to remember that every baby is unique, and development can vary there are also many more developments around sleep and feeding etc., but we will do separate blogs for these topics as there is a lot of detail we can go into. If there are concerns about a child’s development, it’s advisable to consult with a pediatrician for a more personalized assessment and guidance. Regular well-baby check-ups are essential for monitoring growth and development during the first year of life.
Photo by Yuri Shirota on Unsplash
