You’ve been anxiously waiting for the arrival of your new-born baby for the last 9 months, and you are wondering about baby development:
-how will he react to his new surroundings?
-when will she sleep for more than 2 hours?
-what can you expect in the following year?
-an so many other questions…..
Each baby is different. Your baby’s rate of growth, appearance, and personality, will all be unique to him or her. As you embark on this journey with your new baby, take time to enjoy their presence in your life.
And here are some of the milestones to watch for in the first year of your baby’s development:
First Month: During this time, you may not see too much growth, but the baby’s tiny body is going through many changes, adjusting from life in the uterus.
-your baby might have swollen breasts in the first few days after birth (this is normal even in boys, and it’s a result of the mother’s hormones passed to the baby in the uterus).
-jaundice (yellow coloring of the baby’s skin and white of the eyes) might appear a few days after birth, and it should disappear within a week
-babies love to be held, caressed, rocked, kissed, patted, massaged and carried: make sure you take time to do these things, as they will help you bond with your little one.
-your baby will sleep at least 12 hours a day (usually longer), in up to 4.5 hours at a time, staying awake long enough to be fed, or up to 2 hours before going back to sleep.
Second Month: During this time, most babies begin communicating their moods and preferences with smiles, and can recognize their parents.
-baby enjoys fuzzy blankets, satin blanket edges, warm breezes, and stuffed toys
-babies will “discover” their own hands, and will try to grasp objects
-baby loves the entertainment of watching his or her face in a mirror placed close to the crib, or near a blanket on the floor
-your baby’s nursing time will become more predictable
Third Month: This month, your precious little one will follow your voice around the room with fascination, and will sometimes “talk” back to you: what a delight!
-baby may roll over in one direction, and begin holding her head up
-baby will start following colored objects moved about 6″ to 8″ from their face
-you’ll se the first hints of their personality
-some babies will begin sucking their thumb
Fourth Month: They can now roll themselves over and bear their weight on their legs. Many can also sit up, reach for objects (uh-oh!), and some raise their chest, supported by their arms, when they lies on the stomach.
-baby laughs out loud
-squeals when happy
-turns toward the sound of a familiar voice
Fifth Month: Oh, what a wonderful time this is: your baby is preparing to take on the world, and is happy most of the time.
-recognizes parents and siblings
-experiments by making new sounds
-intently study their hands
-it’s time to get your baby some nice toys, but make sure they are age-appropriate (one-piece toys work best). Crib gyms and play gyms are great at this age, as well as mirrors and noise-makers.
Sixth month: Your baby starts to be more social this month. He will recognize his name, and turn his head in the direction of the person using his name.
-their reflection in the mirror will fascinate babies at this age
-as baby begins teething, there will be a lot of drooling
-some babies start sitting
-their hands and arms are more coordinated
-this month your baby needs to start getting solid food
Seventh Month: This month your baby starts to test his independence and see how far he can go with you. He’ll start to feed himself with his fingers. Your patience will be tested with his dinner thrown on the floor and he’ll delight your heart by playing peek-a-boo.
-baby will enjoy looking around at every object he can find, staring at new objects. Try blowing some soap bubbles her way and watch as she tries to grab the elusive little objects
-baby may delight you by saying mama or dada
-your baby can now sit without any support
-play time is becoming very important: make sure both mom and dad spend time playing with the little one
Eight Month: Your baby is more mobile now and will start to crawl or pull his/her body everywhere. Stay alert to where your baby goes. They will find all manner of things to pop into their mouth.
-by now your baby developed their own way to communicate with you: now is the best time to set limits on their behavior
-baby may gat attached to a soft, cuddly animal or blanket. Let them have that: it’s a security some babies need
-as your baby’s world starts to expand, they may develop shyness or a fear of strangers
-sleep should get more regular too
Ninth month: During this month, baby will reach for toys, try to grab the spoon during feedings, and in general, become quite a bit more active.
-he or she will be waving goodbye to the delight of the grandparents-will be able to pick up things using opposable thumbs
-will also start to look for things that have been dropped, like favorite toys.
Tenth Month If not walking by now, your baby will at least be able to stand while holding on to something.
-he will also be able to move from crawling to a sitting position, and will be quite mobile! Now is the time to sweep and dust carefully
- so that your baby’s bottom and belly stays clean. Safety gates are a necessity now also, as stairs
or sharp corners are a very real danger.
-the concept of object permanence has now been mastered – which means that your baby understands that a toy still exists even if it is out of sight. This means that he or she will cry for a favorite toy or “lovey” now if it is removed.
Eleventh Month Baby is much more curious now, and responds well to new sounds, colors and shapes.
-story time is much appreciated, and he or she will enjoy cuddling on your lab while being read to.
-babies now understand and can mimic simple gestures, and can say simple words
-now is the time to start teaching limits – if your baby picks up a forbidden object, tell him to bring it to Mommy or Daddy. Baby should understand simple requests such as this, but may not want to abide by them! If you are persistent in teaching simple rules, soon your baby will learn and respect her boundaries.
-meal time will end up in tub time during this month also, as baby learns to feed himself and makes messes in the process.
Twelfth Month Happy Birthday to your little one! They have come a long way in terms of mental, social and physical development in this year.
-by now, baby should enjoy stacking objects, and filling and emptying containers
-short play sessions with other children are a good idea now, and can teach baby a great deal about sharing and other social skills
-baby will have tripled his/her birth weight by now, and will be 29-32” long
-now is the time that baby will start to test parental responses to misbehavior, and will begin to examine his limits. The word “No” will definitely become part of baby’s vocabulary! Baby can now also pull off his hat and socks.
Babies are a wonderful reminder of how precious life is! Enjoy your child’s first year of life – it will go by quickly.
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