Your Baby's First Year: Month-by-Month Milestones?

Discover the exciting journey of your baby's first year: achievements by each month, changes in physical characteristics, improvements of sensory system, and some recommendations for your baby.

 Important Introduction about Your Baby's First Year: Month-by-Month Milestones?

The first year of baby’s life is a period of great acceleration within which he or she becomes more and more of a person. Taking a first step, first laugh, first letter written, each and every small step counts.

 Being aware of the developmental milestones enables you to help your baby to develop and at the same time appreciate every phase. In this first-year, you will find out month by month what is happening to your baby together with useful and helpful advice.

Your Baby's First Year: Month by Month Check Points?

Month 1: Welcome to the World

Physical Growth

• Weight Gain and Growth: In the first month, there will be constant, slow weight gain which is typically 5-7 ounces per week. They will also increase at roughly about 1. 5 inches in length.

• Sleep Patterns: Despite the fact that newborns are awake for only 8-10 hours a day and sleep 16-17 hours a day, they do not sleep through the night but in 2-4 hours intervals.

• Feeding Routines: Your baby should be fed every 2-3 hours to ensure that he or she gets enough nutrition. It is encouraged that women breast feed, but if this is not possible then most definitely formula feeding is a healthy substitute.

Sensory Development

• Vision: About 8-12 inches is what newborns can see focusing on faces and high contrast objects.

• Hearing: The child begins to distinguish between different sounds, likely the voice of the parents, and may turn their head in the direction they heard.

• Touch: The gentle strokes and skin to skin touch are suitable in comforting as well as establishing a strong bond with the baby.

Month 2: Emergence and Development of Interactions

Social Smiles

• First Smiles: At the age of 6 to 8 weeks, the baby will definitely regain the social smile in reaction to your smile or call.

• Recognition: Babies are able to distinguish familiar faces and may start to refixate with their eyes to follow them.

Improved Coordination

• Neck Strength: Your baby’s neck is becoming a bit more developed and your baby can lift their head for a short period when placed on their tummy.

• Movement Control: The motions of arms and legs grow a lot more purposeful and rhythmic.

Month 3: Stronger and More Alert

Head Control

• Tummy Time: Daily tummy time helps in the strengthening of the neck and shoulder muscles resulting to better head control.

• Sitting Support: Cerebellum: For improved head support when held in sitting position your baby can hold the head more steadily.

Visual Tracking

• Following Objects: Babies are now also able to follow with their eyes mobile objects that are around them an aspect that enhances their concentration.

• Color Vision: Their response to the colors is getting better with the shade of preference being neon or primary colors.

Month 4: Rolling Over

Muscle Development

• Rolling Over: Somewhere in the middle of the fourth month of development babies may be able to flip from their tummy onto their back.

• Push-ups: The second part of locomotor development: During tummy time, babies may start push up on their arms, crawl.

Hand-Eye Coordination

• Reaching and Grasping: Babies will start to sit up and hold objects such as toys to fit their hand, this is major development in motor skills.

• Bringing Hands Together: They will also reach their hand to the mouth and  pick objects using their mouth.

Month 5: Getting Curious

Exploring Surroundings

• Increased Curiosity: Mentally, babies become more active and alert, especially when in the company of people or when moving their heads and arms around.

• Texture Exploration: They like to have something in their hands to touch, which is beneficial to or sensory agenda.

Vocalization

• Babbling: Your baby will start making noises that are similar to speaking such as saying “ba-ba” or “da-da.”

• Responding to Sounds: They will move their heads and look towards the sound and voices, thus developing better awareness of sound.

Month 6: Halfway There

Sitting Up

• Sitting with Support: By six months, a number of babies are able to sit down without assist while holding on their hands.

• Independent Sitting: Some may even sit independently albeit for some short time.

Solid Foods Introduction

• Readiness Signs: Some behaviors that indicate that the baby is ready for solids are able to sit with support, demonstrates interest towards food and has the ability to mop the back of the mouth with the tongue.

• First Foods: Introduce first foods should be gradually from single-ingredient purees such as rice cereal, avocado, sweet potatoes, etc. To avoid affecting the child severely, the parent should introduce one food at a time.

Month 7: Get Moving

Crawling Begins

• Crawling Styles: Actually there are several ways children crawl which include the normal crawl, crawl like moving on the belly or army crawl.

• Crawling Benefits: Crawling increases muscle tone and coordination; helps to develop the sense of space.

Fine Motor Skills

• Passing Objects: Babies are much more coordinated, they are able to transfer an object from one hand to another with much ease owing to the development of fine motor skills.

• Pincer Grasp Practice: They learn to use the pincer grasp, with the thumb and the index finger in order to be able to pick up small objects.

Month 8: Hands Part 1: Exploring

Pincer Grasp

• Grasping Skills: The two handed grasp also becomes more developed, and babies can grip small objects like cheerios with there fingers.

• Self-feeding: It becomes essential especially in self-feeding while also helping and enabling the child to examine objects in detail.

Object Permanence

• Understanding Presence: They can now develop basic thoughts such as things continue to exist when they cannot be seen, thus games like ‘it is behind you’.

• Memory Development: This development defines how the mind stores information and the ability to comprehend the surroundings.

Month 9: Standing Tall

Pulling Up

• Standing Support: Children start crawling around and then they start moving by pulling themselves up unto their legs and use the furniture or your hands to support them.

• Strength Building: This activity builds up the muscles of the legs and at the same time helping one develop his or her balance.

Cruising

• Furniture Walking: Babies begin to walk, or as it is commonly referred to as , ‘cruise’ round the furniture, take steps but with support from the furniture.

• Walking Prep: Cruising is an important preparation for independent walking; it contributes to the child’s stability.

Month 10: Communicating More

Babbling to Words

• First Words: Babies may make their first words of what they intend to say which might be ‘mama’ or ‘dada’.

• Word Comprehension: They start to comprehend some of the words and phrases spoken to them, and in response create their actions or noisy.

Understanding Commands

• Simple Commands: Infants may be trained to understand certain orders such as calling the baby’s name or saying no, this shows understanding.

• Gestures: Due to this, they may fan themselves, wave, clap or even make other gestures to show their wants and feelings.

Month 11: Getting Ready to Walk

Balance and Coordination

• Standing Alone: More, babies focus on holding something with both hands and sometimes can even try to walk on their own, or at least start to practice standing up without support.

• First Steps: They may even start walking, this is a term referred to as “toddling.

Social Interaction

• Imitation Play: Infants like mimicking and they can clap hands or play the game of hide and seek.

• Social Skills: They get even more engaged with individuals and express more likes for some toys and particular tasks.

Month 12: First Birthday!

Walking

• Independent Walking: It is generally possible for many babies to walk by the time they are one year of age or as they turn one year.

• Exploration: Walking causes the exploration of new areas and therefore new things are discovered.

Personality and Preferences

• Individual Traits: Twins observe their baby’s and realize some of the features that are peculiar to that baby such as its likes and dislikes and the behaviors exhibited.

• Expressing Emotions: They use a lot more emotions, be it positive such as happiness and excitement or negative such as frustration and curiosity.

Conclusion about Your Baby's First Year: Month-by-Month Milestones?

First year of a baby’s life is the topic which shows that the whole year is the wonderful and full of discoveries. Everything that has been achieved in each of these milestones is a clear sign of their development and your support.  Remember to always embrace and endorse the spirit of every hopeless and dark moment and give every win, no matter how small it may seem. 

Parents should note that, every baby has his or her own developmental patterns thus it is okay for the baby to reach any developmental milestones at the respective age. This time should be enjoyed to the full and numerous cherished moments should be made with this little one.

FAQs about Your Baby's First Year: Month-by-Month Milestones?

What parental developmental milestones should I anticipate in this baby in the first year?

Anticipate things like smiling, rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking. Every baby is different so scolding should differ as well, meanings that calendar days of achievements may not be the same for all.

What can I do for my baby to develop normally?

They include activities such tummy time, talking and reading to the baby, and giving the baby safe and age appropriate toys. Let the child roam free and always assure him/her of love.

What if some of the milestones that I have ticked off have not been met by my baby?

If there is something that worries you concerning your baby’s development, it is recommendable to speak with the pediatrician. They can advise and if needed, most probably, they can recommend you to see a specialist.

Are check-ups relevant today or are they just a waste of money?

Get your baby checked up frequently since the pediatrician will be able to observe how your baby is growing. They also give hope to redress some grievances and or get professional advice from the supposed experts.

Which of the activities can benefit my baby?

Tummy time, reading, singing, and playing with toys that have grasping and movement are some of the activities to be performed. Others include game such as; this little piggy and peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake among others.

At what age should I be worried that my baby is not developing properly?

If ever your baby loses some developmental milestones that he or she has once achieved or appears to have a step back in terms of development or milestones, or even if you see some obvious delay, you should consult with your pediatrician.

Month	Milestones
Month 1	Turns head towards sounds Starts to follow objects with eyes Brings hands to mouth
Month 2	Smiles at people Can hold head up and begins to push up when lying on tummy Follows objects and recognizes people at a distance
Month 3	Babbles and coos Brings hands to mouth Recognizes familiar faces and objects at a distance
Month 4	Pushes down on legs when feet are on a hard surface May be able to roll over from tummy to back Holds and shakes toys, swings at dangling toys
Month 5	Rolls over in both directions Begins to sit without support Responds to own name
Month 6	Sits without support Responds to others’ emotions and often seems happy Begins to say consonant sounds (jabbering with “m”, “b”)
Month 7	Crawls backward before moving forward Tries to get objects that are out of reach Enjoys social play
Month 8	Stands while holding on May crawl Moves objects from one hand to the other
Month 9	Stands, holding on Can get into sitting position Sits without support
Month 10	Pulls to stand Cruises (walking while holding onto objects) Understands "no"
Month 11	Stands alone Begins to use objects correctly (drinks from a cup, brushes hair) May take a few steps
Month 12	Walks a few steps without holding on May stand alone Says simple words like "mama" and "dada"