Baby's first year development.

During the first year of life your baby responds best to a warm, loving environment. Holding your baby and responding to her cries are essential in building a strong, healthy relationship - bonding with your baby. Remember, you can't "spoil" a baby.

Use these guidelines to offer age-appropriate activities for your baby.

These are just guidelines, and a healthy baby may achieve a milestone later than average. If your baby is lagging in several areas, contact your pediatrician.

By the end of month one a baby typically:

* Lifts head for short periods of time
* Moves head from side to side
* Prefers the human face to other shapes
* Makes jerky, arm movements
* Brings hands to face
* Has strong reflex movements
* Can focus on items 8 to 12 inches away
* May turn towards familiar sounds or voices
* Responds to loud sounds
* Blinks at bright lights

Baby health - First year development

By the end of month two a baby typically:

* Smiles
* Tracks objects with his eyes
* Makes noises other than crying
* May repeat vowel noises, such as "ah" or "ooh"

By the end of month three a baby typically:

* Raises head and chest when put on tummy
* Lifts head up 45 degrees
* Kicks and straightens legs when on back
* Open and shuts hands
* Pushes down with legs when placed on a hard surface
* Reaches for dangling objects
* Grasps and shakes hand toys
* Tracks moving objects
* Begins to imitate sounds
* Recognizes familiar objects and people, even at a distance
* Begins to develop a social smile
* Begins to develop hand-eye coordination
* Brings both hands together
* Interested in circular and spiral patterns
* Kicks legs energetically
* Holds head up with control

By the end of month four a baby typically:

* May sleep about six hours at night before waking (total sleep typically 14 to 17 hours)
* Rolls over (usually stomach to back is first)
* Sits with support
* Lifts head up 90 degrees
* Can follow a moving object for a 180-degree arc
* Babbles and amuses self with new noises
* Responds to all colors and shades
* Explores objects with his mouth
* Recognizes a bottle or breast
* Communicates pain, fear, loneliness and discomfort through crying
* Responds to a rattle or bell

By the end of month five a baby typically:

* Pays attention to small objects
* Experiments with the concept of cause and effect
* Can see across the room
* Begins to use hands in a raking fashion to bring toys near
* Begins teething process

By the end of month six a baby typically:

* Keeps head level when pulled to sitting position
* Makes some vowel-consonant sounds
* Sits by self with minimal support
* Opens mouth for spoon
* Reaches for and grabs objects
* Rolls over and back
* Drinks from a cup with help
* Can hold bottle
* Copies some facial expressions
* Makes two-syllable sounds

By the end of month seven a baby typically:

* Can self-feed some finger foods
* Makes wet razzing sounds
* Turns in the direction of a voice
* Plays peekaboo
* Imitates many sounds
* Distinguishes emotions by tone of voice

By the end of month eight a baby typically:

* Chews on objects
* Reaches for utensils when being fed
* Turns head away when finished eating
* May sleep between 11 and 13 hours a night; takes 2 to 3 naps (may vary)
* Rolls all the way around
* Sits unsupported
* Gets on arms and knees in crawling position
* Has specific cries for various needs
* Babbles enthusiastically
* Tests gravity by dropping objects over edge of high chair
* Responds to own name
* Has different reactions for different family members
* Shows some anxiety when removed from parent

By the end of month nine a baby typically:

* Reaches for toys
* Drops objects and then looks for them
* Becomes interested in grabbing the spoon during feedings
* Goes from tummy to sitting by self
* Picks up tiny objects
* Begins to identify self in a mirror's reflection

By the end of month ten a baby typically:

* Understands the concept of object permanence
* Gets upset if toy is removed
* Transfers object from hand to hand
* Stands holding onto someone
* Pulls to standing

By the end of month eleven a baby typically:

* Says "ma-ma" and "da-da" discriminately
* Understands "no"
* Claps hands
* Waves bye-bye

By the end of month twelve a baby typically:

* May take one to two naps daily
* Triples birth weight and is 29 to 32 inches long
* Bangs two cubes together
* Puts objects into containers and then takes them out
* Voluntarily lets objects go
* Shakes head "no"
* Has fun opening and closing cabinet doors
* Crawls well
* "Cruises" furniture
* Walks with adult help
* Says "ma-ma" and "da-da"
* "Dances" to music
* Interested in books and may identify some things
* May understand some simple commands
* Fearful of strangers
* Shares toys but wants them back
* May form attachment to an item
* Pushes away what he doesn't want
* Prefers to push, pull and dump items
* Pulls off hat and socks
* Understands use of certain objects
* Tests parental responses to behavior
* Extends arm or leg when getting dressed
* Identifies self in mirror

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