The first year: Developmental milestones
by Lisa Schulman
During the first year, infants respond well to a warm, loving environment. Holding your baby and responding to his cries are essential in building a strong, healthy bond. You cannot "spoil" an infant because babies are incapable of manipulation during these early months. To stimulate your child's intellect and begin developing language skills, talk to your baby as you perform daily activities. Also, babies enjoy having songs sung to them by loving caregivers.
Use these guidelines to offer age-appropriate activities for your baby. Remember, these are just guidelines, and a healthy child may occasionally achieve a milestone later than average. If your child is lagging in several areas, contact your pediatrician for advice.
By the end of month one a baby typically:
Lifts head for short periods of time
Moves head from side to side
Prefers the human face to other shapes
Makes jerky, arm movements
Brings hands to face
Has strong reflex movements
Can focus on items 8 to 12 inches away
May turn towards familiar sounds or voices
Responds to loud sounds
Blinks at bright lights
By the end of month two a baby typically:
Smiles
Tracks objects with his eyes
Makes noises other than crying
May repeat vowel noises, such as "ah" or "ooh"
By the end of month three a baby typically:
Raises head and chest when put on tummy
Lifts head up 45 degrees
Kicks and straightens legs when on back
Open and shuts hands
Pushes down with legs when placed on a hard surface
Reaches for dangling objects
Grasps and shakes hand toys
Tracks moving objects
Begins to imitate sounds
Recognizes familiar objects and people, even at a distance
Begins to develop a social smile
Begins to develop hand-eye coordination
Brings both hands together
Interested in circular and spiral patterns
Kicks legs energetically
Holds head up with control
By the end of month four a baby typically:
May sleep about six hours at night before waking (total sleep typically 14 to 17 hours)
Rolls over (usually stomach to back is first)
Sits with support
Lifts head up 90 degrees
Can follow a moving object for a 180-degree arc
Babbles and amuses self with new noises
Responds to all colors and shades
Explores objects with his mouth
Recognizes a bottle or breast
Communicates pain, fear, loneliness and discomfort through crying
Responds to a rattle or bell
By the end of month five a baby typically:
Pays attention to small objects
Experiments with the concept of cause and effect
Can see across the room
Begins to use hands in a raking fashion to bring toys near
Begins teething process
By the end of month six a baby typically:
Keeps head level when pulled to sitting position
Makes some vowel-consonant sounds
Sits by self with minimal support
Opens mouth for spoon
Reaches for and grabs objects
Rolls over and back
Drinks from a cup with help
Can hold bottle
Copies some facial expressions
Makes two-syllable sounds
By the end of month seven a baby typically:
Can self-feed some finger foods
Makes wet razzing sounds
Turns in the direction of a voice
Plays peekaboo
Imitates many sounds
Distinguishes emotions by tone of voice
By the end of month eight a baby typically:
Chews on objects
Reaches for utensils when being fed
Turns head away when finished eating
May sleep between 11 and 13 hours a night; takes 2 to 3 naps (may vary)
Rolls all the way around
Sits unsupported
Gets on arms and knees in crawling position
Has specific cries for various needs
Babbles enthusiastically
Tests gravity by dropping objects over edge of high chair
Responds to own name
Has different reactions for different family members
Shows some anxiety when removed from parent
By the end of month nine a baby typically:
Reaches for toys
Drops objects and then looks for them
Becomes interested in grabbing the spoon during feedings
Goes from tummy to sitting by self
Picks up tiny objects
Begins to identify self in a mirror's reflection
By the end of month 10 a baby typically:
Understands the concept of object permanence
Gets upset if toy is removed
Transfers object from hand to hand
Stands holding onto someone
Pulls to standing
By the end of month 11 a baby typically:
Says "ma-ma" and "da-da" discriminately
Understands "no"
Claps hands
Waves bye-bye
By the end of month 12 a baby typically:
May take one to two naps daily
Triples birth weight and is 29 to 32 inches long
Bangs two cubes together
Puts objects into containers and then takes them out
Voluntarily lets objects go
Shakes head "no"
Has fun opening and closing cabinet doors
Crawls well
"Cruises" furniture
Walks with adult help
Says "ma-ma" and "da-da"
"Dances" to music
Interested in books and may identify some things
May understand some simple commands
Fearful of strangers
Shares toys but wants them back
May form attachment to an item
Pushes away what he doesn't want
Prefers to push, pull and dump items
Pulls off hat and socks
Understands use of certain objects
Tests parental responses to behavior
Extends arm or leg when getting dressed
Identifies self in mirror
by Lisa Schulman
During the first year, infants respond well to a warm, loving environment. Holding your baby and responding to his cries are essential in building a strong, healthy bond. You cannot "spoil" an infant because babies are incapable of manipulation during these early months. To stimulate your child's intellect and begin developing language skills, talk to your baby as you perform daily activities. Also, babies enjoy having songs sung to them by loving caregivers.
Use these guidelines to offer age-appropriate activities for your baby. Remember, these are just guidelines, and a healthy child may occasionally achieve a milestone later than average. If your child is lagging in several areas, contact your pediatrician for advice.
By the end of month one a baby typically:
Lifts head for short periods of time
Moves head from side to side
Prefers the human face to other shapes
Makes jerky, arm movements
Brings hands to face
Has strong reflex movements
Can focus on items 8 to 12 inches away
May turn towards familiar sounds or voices
Responds to loud sounds
Blinks at bright lights
By the end of month two a baby typically:
Smiles
Tracks objects with his eyes
Makes noises other than crying
May repeat vowel noises, such as "ah" or "ooh"
By the end of month three a baby typically:
Raises head and chest when put on tummy
Lifts head up 45 degrees
Kicks and straightens legs when on back
Open and shuts hands
Pushes down with legs when placed on a hard surface
Reaches for dangling objects
Grasps and shakes hand toys
Tracks moving objects
Begins to imitate sounds
Recognizes familiar objects and people, even at a distance
Begins to develop a social smile
Begins to develop hand-eye coordination
Brings both hands together
Interested in circular and spiral patterns
Kicks legs energetically
Holds head up with control
By the end of month four a baby typically:
May sleep about six hours at night before waking (total sleep typically 14 to 17 hours)
Rolls over (usually stomach to back is first)
Sits with support
Lifts head up 90 degrees
Can follow a moving object for a 180-degree arc
Babbles and amuses self with new noises
Responds to all colors and shades
Explores objects with his mouth
Recognizes a bottle or breast
Communicates pain, fear, loneliness and discomfort through crying
Responds to a rattle or bell
By the end of month five a baby typically:
Pays attention to small objects
Experiments with the concept of cause and effect
Can see across the room
Begins to use hands in a raking fashion to bring toys near
Begins teething process
By the end of month six a baby typically:
Keeps head level when pulled to sitting position
Makes some vowel-consonant sounds
Sits by self with minimal support
Opens mouth for spoon
Reaches for and grabs objects
Rolls over and back
Drinks from a cup with help
Can hold bottle
Copies some facial expressions
Makes two-syllable sounds
By the end of month seven a baby typically:
Can self-feed some finger foods
Makes wet razzing sounds
Turns in the direction of a voice
Plays peekaboo
Imitates many sounds
Distinguishes emotions by tone of voice
By the end of month eight a baby typically:
Chews on objects
Reaches for utensils when being fed
Turns head away when finished eating
May sleep between 11 and 13 hours a night; takes 2 to 3 naps (may vary)
Rolls all the way around
Sits unsupported
Gets on arms and knees in crawling position
Has specific cries for various needs
Babbles enthusiastically
Tests gravity by dropping objects over edge of high chair
Responds to own name
Has different reactions for different family members
Shows some anxiety when removed from parent
By the end of month nine a baby typically:
Reaches for toys
Drops objects and then looks for them
Becomes interested in grabbing the spoon during feedings
Goes from tummy to sitting by self
Picks up tiny objects
Begins to identify self in a mirror's reflection
By the end of month 10 a baby typically:
Understands the concept of object permanence
Gets upset if toy is removed
Transfers object from hand to hand
Stands holding onto someone
Pulls to standing
By the end of month 11 a baby typically:
Says "ma-ma" and "da-da" discriminately
Understands "no"
Claps hands
Waves bye-bye
By the end of month 12 a baby typically:
May take one to two naps daily
Triples birth weight and is 29 to 32 inches long
Bangs two cubes together
Puts objects into containers and then takes them out
Voluntarily lets objects go
Shakes head "no"
Has fun opening and closing cabinet doors
Crawls well
"Cruises" furniture
Walks with adult help
Says "ma-ma" and "da-da"
"Dances" to music
Interested in books and may identify some things
May understand some simple commands
Fearful of strangers
Shares toys but wants them back
May form attachment to an item
Pushes away what he doesn't want
Prefers to push, pull and dump items
Pulls off hat and socks
Understands use of certain objects
Tests parental responses to behavior
Extends arm or leg when getting dressed
Identifies self in mirror
