Every parent worries about whether or not their child is developing at the proper pace. From learning to walk to learning to talk, you might worry that your baby is falling behind from time to time. But the truth is, babies will develop at different paces, but there are some milestones that they should hit by a certain age.
At Inch By Inch Child Care Center in Bedford, we offer an infant program that can help your little one grow and develop a variety of different skills. We work with our infants to help them hit those important milestones and focus on the areas that they need the most help in. Our staff can help your baby develop and hit those milestones, while allowing them to grow at their own pace.
In this blog, we are going to talk about some of those milestones and when your baby should be reaching them! One thing to note is that these milestones are just general guidelines as to when a baby should be developing certain skills. If your child is a little late with their development, you do not need to worry. Your baby’s pediatrician will be able to evaluate their development and assess if there are any concerns. Learn more and be sure to check out our infant program now!
The First Month
In the first month of your baby’s life, you may not expect them to develop or hit many milestones. While your baby will be hitting more milestones later in life, there are a few that they should be reaching within the first month of their life. These include:
Focusing on objects eight to 12 inches away
Showing more interest in human faces than shapes
Showing more interest in high-contrast and black-and-white patterns
Making jerky movements with the arms
Bringing hands near the face
Moving head from side to side while laying on the belly
Hearing fully
Responding to familiar sounds
Making tight fists with hands
The Third Month
The third month is often a big month for development. Your baby will likely begin to develop many more skills and become more aware. By the end of the third month, your baby will be able to do more and understand more. These milestones include:
Beginning to lift their head
Starting to lift their shoulders during tummy time
Turning their head toward sounds
Recognizing your face
Being comforted by touch
Stretching and kicking legs while laying on the back or stomach
Pushing down on legs when the feet are on a firm surface
Grabbing and shaking toys
Following moving objects with eyes
Recognizing people and familiar objects at a distance
Beginning to babble and imitate sounds
Enjoying playing with others
Starting to use hand and eye coordination
Recognizing and reacting to parents’ voices
Making eye contact
The Seventh Month
We are going to skip a few months and take a look at the milestones that your little one will likely be reaching after the first seven months of their life. Not all of these milestones will be reached in the seventh month, some will be reached in the earlier months that we are not covering! These milestones include:
Beginning teething
Reaching for toys
Looking at things in the distance
Seeing colors better
Laughing and giggling a lot
Beginning to roll from stomach to back and back to stomach
Sitting up with assistance
Putting all their weight on legs when being held upright
Responding to their name
Using voice to express joy or displeasure
Enjoying peek-a-boo
Struggling to get objects that are out of reach
Babbling in a chain
Exploring objects with hands and mouth
The Twelfth Month
By the time your baby reaches one year old, there are many milestones that they are likely to hit. This is an exciting time for you and your baby as they begin to develop many skills and continue to grow. The milestones your baby should hit by their first birthday include:
Sitting without assistance
Recognizing different shapes
Understanding object permanence
Beginning to understand words like “Dada,” “Mama,” and “no”
Starting to push themselves to the hand and knee position
Beginning to crawl
Starting to lift themselves into a standing position
Picking things up with a thumb and pointer finger
Looking and listening at the same time
Beginning to use objects correctly
Exploring objects in many different ways
Beginning to walk while holding furniture
Using simple gestures
Understanding of one-step commands
These are some of the milestones that your baby should hit throughout the first year of their life. Remember that every baby is different and develops at a different pace. If you want to help your child with their growth and development, be sure to schedule a tour at Inch By Inch Child Care Center in Bedford!
