Your baby’s first year will be full of exciting moments of growth and development. These milestones will come so quickly that you’ll soon wonder where your newborn baby went. Here’s a list of what to expect in your baby’s development during the first year. Make sure to soak in these sweet moments and keep the camera ready and your baby book handy! These are moments you will want to document. Keep in mind your child might reach some milestones earlier than other children, while they reach others later on. If you have concerns about your baby, be sure to talk to your pediatrician.
Babies develop at their own speed. This is especially true for babies born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy). These babies might need more time to reach their milestones. The age your baby is expected to reach certain milestones is based on his adjusted age, which is based on your child’s due date. If your baby is 6 months old, but was born two months early, his adjusted age is 4 months. Most children catch up to the normal range by the time they are 2 years old.
Baby’s first smile: 2-3 months
You won’t be able to stop grinning when your little one gives you his first smile. At around 2 to 3 months old, babies will start smiling in response to your smile and things around them. Yes, newborn smiles are sweet, but intentional smiles that are in response to other things mean so much more. Your heart will melt with each and every grin.
Sleeping through the night: 6 months
One of the milestones parents looks forward to most is that glorious day when they wake up and realize their baby slept through the night. A full 8 hours of sleep is heavenly! You might run into Baby’s room to make sure she’s okay only to find her in a sweet slumber. Doctors refer to sleeping through the night as uninterrupted sleep for 6 to 9 hours. For most babies, this happens around 6 months old, but some babies master sleeping through the night closer to 4 months, and others might not sleep through the night until 1 year old. To help your child sleep through the night, implement good sleep habits like creating a consistent bedtime routine.
Rolling over: 4 months
Rolling over is the first milestone that makes your baby mobile. Most babies start rolling from tummy to back at around 4 months old. With enough practice, your little one will be rolling from back to tummy around 5 to 6 months. Before you know it, your baby will be able to get where he wants to go, just by rolling around. Don’t be surprised to find your little one on the other side of the room in just a few minutes from rolling his way there. This is a good time to babyproof and make sure choking hazards are out of reach.
Sitting up: 6 months
At about 6 months old, your baby will move into the next phase of mobility, sitting up. Most babies will be able to sit up with a bit of assistance from Mom and Dad or by being propped up with pillows. A little time and practice are needed for your baby to be able to sit up on her own without you positioning her first. By 7 to 9 months, Baby should be a pro at sitting up independently.
Crawling: 7 months
By around 7 months, you will see your little one start crawling. Babies on the move employ several different crawling styles—it will be fun to see which one your baby chooses to get around. He might start with a scoot on his bottom that turns into an army crawl and finally into the classic crawling position. Some babies might skip crawling altogether and go straight to stranding, cruising and walking. With your baby on the move, make sure you put up all your baby gates to keep the tiny traveler away from stairways and other hazardous areas of the house. It’s also a good idea to babyproof any low cabinets and keep breakable items out of Baby’s reach.
First Words: 9-12 months
Your heart is likely to burst with joy when you hear your little one say, “Ma-ma” or “Da-da” for the first time. This tends to occur between 9 months and a year, although some babies start talking as early as 7 months old. “Da-da” is usually a little easier for babies to say, so mamas, don’t be upset if “Da-da” is the first word. Baby will also learn a few simple words like “no,” “ugh oh” and “bye-bye” around this time.
First Steps: 12 months
At around 1 year old, your baby will really be on the move! Mom and Dad revel in the excitement when they see their little one take those first steps on her own. Most babies begin walking around 1 year old, but some may walk as early as 10 months. Others might not take first steps until closer to 14 months old. Once your little one reaches this milestone, she will seem more like a toddler and less like a baby.
For a complete list of developmental milestones in baby’s first year, visit the American Academy of Pediatric’s website, www.aap.org.
Regan Lyons is a freelance writer who lives in St. Joseph, MO, with her husband, 5-year-old daughter and soon-to-be newborn baby girl.
As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.