Your baby is born, and every day something new and exciting happens. Baby development stages consist of important milestones – holding the head, turning over, or taking the first step. But everyday little victories are also important and contribute to your baby’s development and strength.
Smiling, cooing, holding a bottle – these activities develop and support healthy growth and development.
From birth to 3 months
Find out what your baby can do at such a tender age. And our helpful articles on choosing the best baby aids, whether it’s a comparison of milk bottles or tips on caring for baby’s skin while bathing, will help you make the right choice and not make a mistake in such an important matter as caring for a newborn.
How big will my baby grow?
All babies are different and develop at their own pace. We’ll give you an average:
- Weight: average gain of about 1½ to 2 pounds each month
- Height: Average gain of more than 1 inch each month
- Head size: average gain of about ½ inch each month.
What can my baby do?
Infants begin to loosen the tight muscle tone of newborns and begin to extend their arms and legs more. Let’s list some common milestones your baby may reach this age:
- Protective reflexes gradually begin to disappear.
- Gradually, your baby begins to hold his or her head as the muscles in the neck become stronger.
- When lying on his/her stomach, he/she turns his/her head to the left and to the right.
- Bring hands or objects to the mouth.
- Looks at his/her hands.
- Observes light, faces, objects.
- Listens to sounds.
- Develops the skill of holding a light rattle or small object.
- Feet come into active motion.
Closer to the end of 3 months:
- Lifts his head and chest when placed on his belly
- Begins to reach for objects with his hands and can grasp a hanging object with his hands.
From 3 to 6 months
This is the time to fully realize: “My baby is growing, changing, and not like the baby we brought home from the hospital”. Most babies eat and sleep more regularly during this time. They also respond more actively to their parents.
How big will my baby grow?
Average of 3 to 6 months:
- Weight: average gain of 1 to 1¼ pounds each month; doubles birth weight by 4-5 months.
- Growth: average growth of ½ to 1 inch each month.
- Head size: average height of about ½ inch each month
What the baby can do:
- Continues to learn how to control his body.
- Fingers and hands are the best way to learn about the world.
- Sounds, actions, and facial expressions are a way to communicate.
By the end of this period, the baby may also be trying to sit up. And near the end of the 6th month, you can start giving your baby something other than milk. So it is worth paying attention to safe utensils and facilitate the preparation of puree with a blender.
From 6 to 9 months
Now that your baby is older, the fun part begins – crawling, being afraid of strangers, and being able to grab and hold objects well.
Here are some changes you can anticipate:
- Sits independently – without support – if you move him to a sitting position.
- May begin to crawl actively.
- Moves object from one hand to the other.
- Uses many gestures, such as pointing, shaking his head, and nodding to communicate.
The variety of foods the baby can eat is increasing. You can now partially freeze purées in suitable baby food trays. And bathing is no longer stressful for you and your baby, so you can choose from a variety of baby baths.
From 9 to 12 months
As children approach toddlerhood, they become good communicators. This makes it a delightful time for parents. You gain an even greater bond with your almost-baby.
Communication is taken to a new level, and your baby, using motor and speech skills, can ask you for help or express his or her emotions. At the same time, you are becoming more and more aware of exactly what your child wanted.
What the child is capable of doing at this age:
- So far, understands more words than he or she can voice.
- Crawls well and quickly.
- Can stand on support.
- Likes to do things over and over again.
- Uses grasping pincers.
- Finds hidden objects.
- Tries to walk with support.
This is a wonderful stage in which both you and your baby discover new horizons. Literally. Your baby can now pull himself up with the help of his hands and try to walk. As your baby becomes more confident in his movements, you can help him and choose a toy that will encourage him to move. Teeth are in the process of active growth, so it is imperative that you take care of and brush the baby’s milk teeth.
From 12 to 24 Months
Your baby’s brain is developing rapidly during this period. Changes in speech, walking, and memory are major markers at this age.
Major changes:
- Expect your baby to grow about 3 to 5 in.
- Weight will change from 3 to 5 pounds.
- Toddlers will begin to remember recent events and actions, understand symbols, imitate, imagine and pretend.
- Around this time, the desire to do things independently will appear.
- Toddlers gain control and coordination and begin to walk confidently. Climbing, running and jumping soon follow.
At this time, you can start potty-training your child. And offer a wider variety of toys, both for moving games and mental training.
