Newborn
Follow these milestones to see how your baby aligns with these stages of development.
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Week 0-1
Can see objects about 20-30 centimetres away from the face
Loves to look at faces although vision is still blurry
May move head from side to side while looking at mom
May use the palmar or grasp reflex to momentarily hold onto an object (1-2 seconds) when placed in the palm of the hand
Can lie on tummy for about 1 minute and might lift head momentarily
Week 1-2
According to BabyCenter, your baby will move in and out of several different states of sleepiness, quiet alertness and active alertness
You communicate with your baby through your voice and touch while she communicates her needs through crying, making sounds and momentarily making eye contact
Let your baby experience a variety of movements in different positions to stimulate the vestibular system
May copy you when you stick out your tongue
Week 2-3
Can lie on tummy for 1-3 minutes, tummy time strengthens the muscles necessary for future skills such as pushing up on arms, rolling over, sitting and crawling
May lift head and move it from side to side
Interested in hanging mobiles and may wave arms in its direction
Week 3-4
Holds onto your finger when placed in hand
Uses sounds such as cooing, grunting or gurgling to interact
Kicks legs during nappy change
Talking to your baby will develop future language and communication skills
1-2 Months
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Week 4-5
Lifts head and turns it from side to side while lying on tummy
Can lift and support head for a few moments
May track a slow-moving object or toy
Pump legs while changing nappy
Week 5-6
Interacts with sounds from the environment using coos, lip smacks as well as arm and leg movements
Will turn head towards direction of familiar sounds, especially familiar voices
Starts paying attention to faces
Can hold onto an object when placed in the palm of the hand, will drop object but not by opening the hand voluntarily
Week 6-7
Swipes at objects
Starts smiling
May reach and swipe towards an object
May reach out to an object placed in front of her while positioned on tummy
May notice own hand movements and bring hands together in the midline to observe
Lifts head while sitting supported on momna’s lap
Week 7-8
Attempts to imitate a sound made by the parent
May imitate a cough
May roll from back onto side
Is attracted to high contrasting colours like black and white
2-3 Months
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Fine motor skills
Observes own hand movements and brings hands together in the midline to put in mouth
May reach out and grab hold of a rattle/rubber teething ring/squeaky toy presented in the midline
Gross motor skills
Keeps head upright in supported sitting
Shows limited head lag when pulled from a lying to a sitting position
May roll from side onto back and from back onto side
Starts to push off with legs and push up on arms when positioned on tummy
Communication and language development
Will watch your mouth as you communicate
Demonstrates unique cries for different needs
Loves to watch parents make funny faces (facial expressions) and silly noises for entertainment
Social and emotional interaction
Holds out hands and arms to be picked up
Cognitive Development
Knows the difference between familiar voices and sounds
Is able to locate a sound and will turn head towards it
Shows interest in multi-coloured objects and a variety of shapes
Self-help and imitation skills
May imitate raspberry sounds or blow spit bubbles
Invest in a good bedtime routine:
o Bath
o Massage
o Bottle/Feed
o Reading/Singing a song
o Bed
3-4 Months
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Fine motor skills
Brings hands together in midline to put in mouth
Is able to open and close fingers
Is able to hold onto an object or toy like a rattle or rubber teething ring
May swat or grab hold of an object or toy
Clutches and pulls on clothing
Gross motor skills
Waves arms and pumps legs
Is able to lift head 45-90 degrees while lying on tummy
Rocks back and forth in supported sitting
Holds head steady when body is in an upright position
Rolls from side onto back and from back onto side
Communication and language development
Uses gurgling sounds to communicate
May react to parent with squeals of delight
Enjoys being carried around in familiar surroundings while parent is pointing at and naming objects
Enjoys looking at pictures of familiar objects like a bottle, teddy or mobile
Social and emotional interaction
Might show some separation anxiety and be uneasy with strangers
Starts to smile and even laugh out loud
May search for parent in room and make eye contact, then react excitedly when finding parent by smiling and moving arms
Enjoys looking at/observing other babies
Cognitive Development
Enjoys looking at pictures of faces or looking in the mirror
May start playing peek-a-boo, pulls cloth from face when asked: Where are you?
Self-help and imitation skills
May move or change facial expression during lighter sleep cycles
Settling into a sleeping, feeding and awake-time routine means sleep will change to longer intervals
These Developmental Milestones, ranging from birth to 36 months, are a combination of my own experience and knowledge as well as guidelines from THE BABY CENTER.