Time seems to fly by when you have a baby on your hands, so typical
development milestones may feel as though they happen overnight when you're a
new parent! While every child is different, most babies and children will meet development
milestones at a similar time, something which could be helpful for new parents who want to know what they can expect in advance.
So if you can hear the patter
of teeny-tiny feet in the near future, here are some of the things you could expect
to see in their first year.
When a baby is born, they tend to only be able to focus on objects 8 to 10 inches in front of them. Most of what they see is blurred but they can distinguish light, shapes and movement. By the end of month 1, however, most babies will start to see more clearly. In fact, by this developmental stage, most babies will prefer the human face to other shapes.
Parents may also notice the difference in their movements as many babies begin to lift their heads for short periods by the end of their first month of life.
Many parents look forward to the milestone of the first
smile. This is something that often happens in the second month, as well as
laughing and more gurgling and cooing sounds. Around this stage of development,
parents may notice babies moving a little more as many infants begin to lift
their head up and may even be able to bear their weight on their legs with
support.
By the end of the third
month, many babies start to become more sociable and may smile more often and
responsively. They also often begin to move a little more independently and
parents may notice them reaching for objects, grasping toys and kicking their legs.
Many parents may start to get a little more sleep by the end
of month 4 as many babies begin to sleep for longer periods at night. Parents
may also see the signs of the first tooth and may even see their baby roll
over.
Around this stage of development, some babies may begin to
show signs that they are more self-aware as they may recognise and respond to
the sound of their own name. They may even start rolling over from their back to
their tummy.
By month 6, parents may notice that their baby can sit up
with little to no support and can keep their head level. At this stage some
babies may also copy facial expressions and actions.
In the seventh month, some babies start to try and crawl, although
some may take a little bit longer. Many infants can start to imitate speech,
although it may not make much sense yet!
At this stage, parents may
start to notice that their baby shows signs of anxiety when they are removed
from them. They may also start to say 'mama' or 'dada', however they may not
distinguish between the words and each parent just yet.
Many babies may have a more
developed sense of hand-eye coordination and begin to pick up small objects. At
the same time, parents may notice that their baby tries to grab the spoon when
being fed.
Parents may feel as though
their baby is starting to have a better understanding of what they are saying
to them by month 10. Babies may also begin to pull themselves up to standing
and could move around with greater ease with the aid of nearby objects.
Around the eleventh month, many babies will be able to stand
unassisted for a few seconds. They may begin to take a few cautious steps and
start exploring their surroundings by climbing.
As a 1-year-old, many babies
will make word-like sounds and even respond when they are being spoken to. At
this stage some infants might begin to take their first steps, although it is
perfectly normal for many children to take a little longer for this. Some even
manage it early!
While some infants will fit
in with these milestones, many will take things at their own pace and do things
earlier or later than expected.
Some parents may begin to
think about life insurance as they watch their children meet development
milestones, and at Compare Cover, we provide the tools for new parents to compare
life insurance quotes using our life insurance calculator.
