Every new parent observes their baby carefully to make sure that they are doing the things that they should be doing during their 1st year. Are they rolling over, trying to walk or talk when they ought to be? Are they advanced or are they behind schedule? Be prepared for your family and friends to ask you these questions, they want a report.
Gender predictor of baby
Bear in mind that every child is different and will progress at their own rate. However most babies do progress within time frames enough of the time, to give us an indication of when they should be doing what. It is always best to talk with your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your baby’s growth. It is always best to look at your baby’s development over time, rather than get concerned if your child does not do everything a baby ‘should do’ at a given point in time. But here are some general parameters you can go by:
Newborns: According to the American Academy of Pediatrics babies should be responding to sounds by startling, blinking, crying or being calmed, by one week. They should be able to fix on your face, and begin to follow movement with their eyes. You will help them grow by talking, cuddling, playing and cooing with them.
Month 1: Your child may seem a bit fussier at this phase; they are probably staying awake for more than 1 hour at a time, and sleeping longer (three-5 hours at a time). They will probably start to raise their heads as well. You can help by holding and cuddling them when they are upset.
Month 2-3: This is when you may experience their 1st smile (that is not associated with gas). This is a cognitive developmental milestone, when they can see the world, and influence it by their actions. If you coo at your child, they will begin to respond to that stimuli. Your baby will start to lift their upper body and head. Give your child stimuli at this time, by laughing and singing to them.
Month 4-5: This is when your baby may start to coo more, reach for things and roll from their tummy to their back. If you are going to establish a bedtime schedule for your child, this is the time to begin.
Month 6: By this time many babies are sitting up without help. They are starting to develop their motor skills by grabbing objects, and putting them in the mouth, or moving them from hand to hand. Your baby may want to try drinking out of a cup at this stage.
Month 7-9: Things get going now. Your baby will be much more vocal at this stage, and may be attempting to form words. They will start to crawl and pull themselves up to a upright position. Your child is continuing to improve his fine motor skills. They may also have their ‘first’ tooth about months 8-nine. To promote growth at this point, reading and playing games with baby is recommended.
Month 10-12: Many babies will be walking by now, but it does take some babies up to 15 months. They will be saying a few other words (in addition to mama, and da da), searching for hidden items, wave bye bye, and feed themselves with their hands.
Have a wonderful time with your child during the 1st year. No two babies are the same, use these tips only as a guideline to assist you. Your child will learn all of the skills, and grow at their own rate with your help and encouragement. If you are concerned, always consult with your pediatrician.