Baby Development – First Year's Precious Milestones
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.
******* DISCLAIMER: The information on this Web site is for
reference only and is not intended nor implied to be a
substitute for professional medical advice. Although the
site's creators and contributors aim to provide the most
accurate information, it is your responsibility to verify the
validity of any information contained herein. Please check
with your infant's pediatrician if you suspect a health
problem or medical condition.
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