Homepage

Waterbirths

Homebirths

Bottle Feeding

Breast Feeding

Info Sheet

Nappy Changing

Bathing

Contact

Why?

Websites

Stop Crying

Smart Baby

Schedule

Quotes

Links

Healthy Baby

Boy Growth Chart

Girl Growth Chart

Fun Story

Development

Crying

Bonding


The 1st Month

Physical
Mental
Language
Social
  • arm and leg movement are reflexes
  • head flops if not supported
  • can see things about 10 inches away
  • stares at object but does not reach
  • loves skin-to-skin contact

 
  • prefers to look at high contrast patterns and faces
  • alert 1 out of every 10 hrs
  • begins to trust caregiver
  • most behavior is reflexive
  • will cry if understimulated or overstimulated
  • responds to voices
  • small cooing begins
  • likes it when you talk to her
  • enjoys eye contact
  • smiles at faces
  • recognizes parent's voices


The 2nd Month

Physical
Mental
Language
Social
  • muscles relax and twitch less
  • can lift head 45 degrees
  • hands start to unfold
  • can briefly hold rattle
  • tracks moving objects

 
  • starts to make associations - cry gets a need met
  • protests if needs aren't met
  • wants visual stimulation
  • gurgles, coos, and squeals
  • exhibits emotions
  • responsive smiling
  • communicates moods
  • studies faces
  • your baby's personality become more obvious


The 3rd Month

Physical
Mental
Language
Social
  • can stretch limbs all the way out
  • can roll back to side
  • holds head up to search
  • plays with hands
  • can hold rattle longer
  • swipes with arms
  • can briefly bear weight on legs
  • learns cause and effect
  • discovers hands & feet
  • likes detailed high-contrast images
  • begins extended vowel sounds
  • starts to laugh
  • has different cries for different needs
  • makes eye contact
  • smiles at faces
  • knows difference between parents and strangers
  • stops crying when you come in the room

 

The 4th Month

Physical
Mental
Language
Social
  • can stand up with help
  • rolls front to side
  • lifts head 90 degrees
  • sits with arms propped
  • reaches for objects

 
  • forms mental images of what your baby expects when giving a cue
  • is aware that people and things have labels (dadda)
  • starts to explore things by tasting them
  • changes shape of mouth to change sounds
  • sputters
  • laughs hard when tickled
  • greets caregiver
  • social gestures-moves arms to signal "pick me up"
  • likes social interaction


The 5th Month

Physical
Mental
Language
Social
  • rolls over from front to back
  • grabs toes
  • can wiggle forward on floor
  • reaches with a good aim
  • transfers objects from hand to hand
  • shows interest in colors
  • pushes away disliked actions (wiping nose)
  • displays expression of decision-making
  • babbles (ba-ba)
  • tries to mimic sounds
  • turns head toward speaker
  • watches your mouth movements


6-9 months

Physical
Mental
Language
Social
  • can sit unsupported
  • rolls over both ways
  • can stand if leaning on other object
  • points at objects
  • picks up small objects with thumb and finger
  • reaches accurately
  • can feed herself
  • can drink from a cup
  • gets up on all fours and rocks
  • studies objects
  • concentrates on one toy at a time
  • analyses what to do with her toy
  • understands the nesting of objects
  • understands an object might behind something
  • longer and more varied sounds
  • experiments with diffents volumes and pitches of sounds
  • makes 2-syllabled sounds
  • mimics facial expressions
  • exhibits moods with varied sounds and body movements
  • may be shy or afraid of strangers
  • responds to her name
  • raises arms to signal her wanting to be picked up
  • likes her reflection

9-12 months

Physical
Mental
Language
Social
  • masters crawling
  • can stand when supported
  • climbs on furniture
  • walks with help

 
  • start to understand phrases (like "come here")
  • wants to explore things by touching everything
  • builds, stacks and disassemble
  • says simple words ("dog", "hot")
  • understands "no"
  • mimics sounds like tongue-clicking, raspberries, and cough
  • enjoys mimicking
  • points to things she want
  • feels pride (especially when praised)
  • likes games (peek-a-boo


12-15 months

Physical
Mental
Language
Social
  • walks alone
  • can climb up stairs
  • can grip a crayon
  • can run
  • bounces to music
  • favors one hand
  • understands a word in context
  • understands cause and effect
  • starts pretending
  • remembers
  • likes to sing
  • says several words
  • says "no" and shakes head
  • can follow simple direction
  • copies and imitates
  • likes to look at books together
  • starts to exhibit a temper when angry
  • waves good-bye
  • laughs at funny things


15-18 months

Physical
Mental
Language
Social
  • can walk backwards
  • tries to kick a ball
  • dances, trots, prances
  • can walk in circles
  • scribbles
  • can throw an object

 
  • learn by exploring
  • separation anxiety is less strong (remembers caregivers when out of sight)
  • can match shapes
  • says 10-20 words
  • puts shorts words together "no-no", "bye-bye"
  • makes first sentenc
  • responds to verbal requests without signals
  • loves it when you babble back to he

18-24 months

Physical
Mental
Language
Social
  • can jump
  • climbs (out of highchair and crib)
  • can take clothes off
  • opens doors

 
  • can understand 2-step directions
  • can draw circles and lines on paper
  • says 20-50 words
  • makes 3-word sentences