GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. Two words on the tip of every parent’s tongue. We research it, we think about it, we lie awake at night worrying about it. How much do you really know about it?
Two kids later and I can tell from personal experience that children can change before your eyes in a heartbeat. If you blink, you can miss it. Here are some of the most important milestones your child will reach in the first year of their life:
First Month:
- Can lift head momentarily
- Turns head from side to side when lying on back
- Hands stay clenched
- Strong grasp reflex present
- Looks and follows object moving in front of them in range of 45 degrees
- Sees black and white patterns
- Quiets when a voice is heard
- Cries to express displeasure
- Makes throaty sounds
- Looks intently at parents when they talk to him/her
Second Month:
- Lifts head almost 45 degrees when lying on stomach
- Head bobs forward when held in sitting position
- Grasp reflex decreases
- Follows dangling objects with eyes
- Visually searches for sounds
- Makes noises other than crying
- Cries become distinctive (wet, hungry, etc.)
- Vocalizes to familiar voices
- Social smile demonstrated in response to various stimuli
Third Month:
- Begins to bear partial weight on both legs when held in a standing position
- Able to hold head up when sitting but still bobs forward
- When lying on stomach can raise head and shoulders between 45 and 90 degrees
- Bears weight on forearms
- Grasp reflex absent
- Holds objects but does not reach for them
- Clutches own hands and pulls at blankets and clothes
- Follows objects 180 degrees
- Locates sound by turning head and looking in the same direction
- Squeals, coos, babbles, and chuckles
- “Talks” when spoken to
- Recognizes faces, voices, and objects
- Smiles when he/she sees familiar people, and engages in play with them
- Shows awareness to strange situations
Fourth Month:
- Drooling begins
- Good head control
- Sits with support
- Bears some weight on legs when held upright
- Raises head and chest off surface to a 90-degree angle
- Rolls from back to side
- Explores and plays with hands
- Tries to reach for objects but overshoots
- Grasps objects with both hands
- Eye-hand coordination begins
- Makes consonant sounds
- Laughs
- Enjoys being rocked, bounced or swung
Fifth Month:
- Signs of teething begin
- Holds head up when sitting
- Rolls from stomach to back
- When lying on back puts feet to mouth
- Voluntarily grasps and holds objects
- Plays with toes
- Takes objects directly to mouth
- Watches objects that are dropped
- Says “ah-goo” or similar vowel-consonant combinations
- Smiles at mirror image
- Gets upset if you take a toy away
- Can tell family and strangers apart
- Begins to discover parts of his/her body
Sixth Month:
- Chewing and biting occur
- When on stomach, can lift chest and part of stomach off the surface, bearing weight on hands
- Lifts head when pulled to a sitting position
- Rolls from back to stomach
- Bears majority of weight when being held in a standing position
- Grasps and controls small objects
- Holds bottle
- Grabs feet and pulls to mouth
- Adjusts body to see an object
- Turns head from side to side and then looks up or down
- Prefers more complex visual stimuli
- Says one syllable sounds like “ma”, “mu”, “da”, and “di”
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- Recognizes parents
Seventh Month:
- Sits without support, may lean forward on both hands
- Bears full weight on feet
- Bounces when held in standing position
- Bears weight on one hand when lying on stomach
- Transfers objects from one hand to another
- Bangs objects on surfaces
- Able to fixate on small objects
- Responds to name
- Awareness of depth and space begin
- Has taste preferences
- “Talks” when others are talking
Eight Month:
- Sits well without support
- Bears weight on legs and may stand holding on to furniture
- Adjusts posture to reach an object
- Picks up objects using index, fourth, and fifth finger against thumb
- Able to release objects
- Pulls string to obtain object
- Reaches for toys that are out of reach
- Listens selectively to familiar words
- Begins combining syllables like “mama” and “dada” but does not attach a meaning
- Understands the word no (but does not always obey it)!
- Dislikes having diaper changed and being dressed
Ninth Month:
- Begins crawling
- Pulls up to standing position from sitting
- Sits for a prolonged time (10minutes)
- May develop a preference for use of one hand
- Uses thumb and index finger to pick up objects
- Responds to simple verbal commands
- Comprehends the word “no”
- Increased interest in pleasing parents
- Puts arms in front of face to avoid having it washed
Tenth Month:
- Goes from stomach to sitting position
- Sits by falling from standing position
- Recovers balance easily while sitting
- Lifts one foot to take a step while standing
- Comprehends “bye-bye”
- Says “dada” or “mama” with meaning
- Says one other word beside “mama” and “dada” (hi, bye, no, go)
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- Waves bye
- Object permanence begins to develop
- Repeats actions that attract attention
- Plays interactive games such a “pat-a-cake”
- Enjoys being read to and follows pictures in books
Eleventh Month:
- Walks holding on to furniture or other objects
- Places one object after another into a container
- Reaches back to pick up an object when sitting
- Explores objects more thoroughly
- Able to manipulate objects out of tight fitting spaces
- Rolls a ball when asked
- Becomes excited when a task is mastered
- Acts frustrated when restricted
- Shakes head for “no”
Twelfth Month:
- Walks with one hand held
- May stand alone and attempt first steps alone
- Sits down from standing position without help
- Attempts to build two block towers but may fail
- Turns pages in a book
- Follows rapidly moving objects
- Says three or more words other than “mama” or “dada”
- Comprehends the meaning of several words
- Repeats the same words over & over again
- Imitates sounds, such as the sounds dogs and cats make
- Recognizes objects by name
- Understands simple verbal commands
- Shows affection
- Shows independence in familiar surrounding
- Clings to parents in strange situation
- Searches for object where it was last seen
Resource Used:
Wong’s Nursing Care of Infants and Children Seventh Ed. Wong, Donna L., et al, 2003. Mayo Clinic Complete Book of Pregnancy & Baby’s First Year. Johnson, Robert V., M.D., et al, Ch. 29-34.
Article by Sr Victoria Black of Protea Nursing Services (proteanurse@outlook.com).