01 May, 2019

Major Developmental Milestones in Your Baby’s First Year

Developmental milestones are an important indicator of a baby’s growth. These help parents keep a track of how their baby is progressing and rule out any disorders that are usually noticed in growing children. They must meet these milestones in the first year of their birth to enjoy a healthy growth.

Developmental milestones are broadly categorized into cognitive, physical, and social and emotional. Several milestones can be achieved simultaneously and are crucial in the first one year.

Read on to know more about important developmental milestones that babies reach in the first year of their lives.

Important Developmental Milestones in the Baby’s First Year

Here are some of the important developmental milestones in the first year that indicate normal growth of your little one:

  1. Baby Development from One to Three Months

This is generally referred to as the first development stage of a baby. It is a time when the babies’ bodies and brains are learning to adapt to the world outside the mother’s womb. It may take up to three months until a baby starts to do the following things:

  • Smile – In the early days, a baby might be smiling to herself. But within three months, you’ll find your little one smiling in response to your smiles and trying to get you to smile back at her.
  • Raising her head – By three months, your baby will be able to raise her head and chest when on her tummy.
  • Improved Vision – At this developmental stage, your baby will be able to track objects with her eyes and gradually decrease eye crossing.
  • Better grip – Your baby will have better grip on the objects by the time she’s three months old. She will also be taking swipes or trying to reach for dangling objects, though she usually won’t be able to get them.
  1. Baby Development from Four to Six Months

At this point of time, babies are learning to reach out and manipulate the world around them. They’re learning motor skills and master the use of their hands. They are also discovering their voices when they’re 4 to 6 months old. Here are some things that babies will do at this stage:

  • Rolling over – Babies get more comfortable rolling from front to back or back to front. Usually, they first start rolling from front to back.
  • Sounds – They start to babble i.e. make sounds that may sound like a real language. They also begin to have an unmistakable laugh.
  • Motor Skills – Babies begin reaching out and grabbing objects at this stage. They can also manipulate toys and other objects with her hands.
  • Sitting – By this stage, babies are able to sit up with support and have great head control.
  1. Baby Development from Seven to Nine Months

During the second half of your baby’s first year, they start moving around a lot. After learning that they can get somewhere by rolling over, your baby will spend the next few months figuring out how to move forward or backward. These are some things you should know about baby development from seven to nine months:

  • Crawling- During this time period, your baby may start to crawl. This may include scooting where he propels around on his bottom, or army crawling where he drags himself on his tummy by arms and legs. Some babies never crawl and move directly from scooting to walking.
  • Sitting – By this time, babies learn to sit without any support. They can also learn to pull up to a standing position.
  • Language – Your baby may start to respond to familiar words like his name. He may also respond to words such as ‘No’ by briefly stopping and looking at you, and may start babbling words such as ‘Mama’ and ‘Dada’.
  1. Baby Development from 10 to 12 Months

This is the last development stage in a baby’s first year and brings about quite a transition. Your baby isn’t an infant anymore, and she might look and act more like a toddler. However, she’s still learning a few things such as:

  • Feeding – At this developmental stage, babies learn to begin feeding themselves. They master the ‘pincer grasp’, which means they can hold small objects such as O-shaped cereal between their thumb and forefinger.
  • Movement – Your baby will begin moving around the room on her feet while holding on to the furniture. Some babies may also start walking independently by this age and take their first steps sometime around their first birthday.
  • Language – At this age, many babies start saying one or two words such as ‘Mama’ and ‘Papa’ to refer to the parents. On an average, babies speak at least three spoken words by their first birthday.
  • Pointing – They begin to point at objects in order to get your attention.
  • Pretend play – Many babies start pretend playing by copying you or using object correctly, such as pretending to talk on the phone.

When to see your baby’s Pediatrician

Most parents wonder if their babies are meeting growth or developmental milestones. The answer firstly lies in your instinct. Talk to your doctor about it if you really feel like something’s wrong. This can help you catch the problem right at the beginning and lead to early intervention. It is also important to remember that it doesn’t matter if your baby is not meeting these milestones exactly as prescribed. All that matters is that your child is moving forward in his development.

Keep in mind that all babies are different and every baby grows at his own pace. There is no precise time that most of these skills first appear. If your child hasn’t reached a milestone by the month suggested above, it may not always mean development problems. See your doctor if you feel really concerned. We have some of the best doctors at KIMS Cuddles who can help you through pregnancy and even beyond in the first years of your little one’s life.

*Information shared here is for general purpose Please take doctors’ advice before taking any decision.

SIMILAR ARTICLES

blog featured image

27 December, 2022

Tips for dealing with postpartum vaginal discharge

Lochia, or the vaginal discharge that a woman’s body produces following childbirth, is expected to last for a few days to weeks after delivery. After birth, the rapid flow of blood and mucus begins. For the first 2-3 days after birth, the bleeding will be severe and contain blood clots. However, after a few days, the flow will gradually decrease to spotting before stopping entirely. When the uterus recovers after a few weeks, the flow colour can change from dark red to brown, then yellowish-white. It’s an unavoidable and inevitable occurrence, and the only thing you can do is wait for it to end. It continues to decrease in volume before entirely ending. Here are a few essential tips to keep you prepared for this postpartum vaginal discharge.  Pile up with sanitary napkins and replace them regularly. You’ll need big pads with a lot of absorption potential in the first few days. Maintaining strict sanitation and keeping your private parts washed will help you prevent more postpartum infections. To keep away the infections, avoid having tampons or menstrual cups. Empty the bladder regularly, even if you don’t have the urge. This will relieve you.  Medications that thin the blood, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, should
blog featured image

17 November, 2022

Taking care of mental wellbeing during pregnancy

Pregnancy often is a happy and joyous phase to treasure and cherish. It brings a mix of feelings for you, and not all of them are good. Few thoughts might even trigger the mental health that might disturb you so much during and after the pregnancy. It’s just as important to look at your mental wellbeing and health during pregnancy as your physical health.  For your safe and happy pregnancy, a happy lifestyle is crucial. However, it is good to notice your mood drifts to identify the problems in the early stages.  What can you usually experience?  While mood swings are common during pregnancy, continuous and long down moments are not good. Take a look at the durations you are down.  Feeling fear or anxiety all the time about your baby or pregnancy.  Having negative thoughts about your life, pregnancy and relation  Feeling burdened with unknown pressure in your mind can relate to the stress of pregnancy but requires attention.  Common mental problems experienced during pregnancy  Depression during Pregnancy “During pregnancy, the symptoms of depression such as changes in sleep, appetite, and energy levels are often difficult to distinguish from the regular experiences of pregnancy.“ says Diana Carter, MBBS Xanthoula Kostaras, BSc. In her recent publication, she mentioned that up to 70% of women report
blog featured image

20 November, 2021

5 easy ways to reduce stress during pregnancy

No matter how happy you are about your pregnancy, stress during the pregnancy phase is unavoidable. Most of the time, it is because of the hormones that play around. But there are a lot of other factors that account to stress. Managing stress during pregnancy is an efficient way to enjoy your pregnancy period.  Knowing the changes and accepting them happening to your body will help you best during this phase. However, know more efficient ways to reduce stress during pregnancy.  Here are the 5 easy ways to reduce stress during pregnancy.  Eat well and sleep well must be a routine  Nothing can replace the best benefits of proper food and sound sleep. Ensure that you follow a balanced diet with all the necessary supplements that your body needs and take enough rest. A night of proper sleep will make your day brighter and keep you comparatively in a cheerful mood. Rest when you are tired. Do not overdo during pregnancy. A perfect routine for food and sleep will ease up your hormones.  Surround yourself with positive energy. Talk to your friends and family. Pregnancy can put you through a lot of thoughts. It will make you think about the least possible negativity. Well, these are the instincts of the mother to safeguard her child. So
Loading booking..