What to Expect the First Year (27 page)
Read What to Expect the First Year Online
Authors: Heidi Murkoff
Newborn
Most newborns will probably be able to â¦
⢠Lift head briefly when on the tummy
⢠Move arms and legs on both sides of the body equally well
⢠Focus on objects within 8 to 15 inches (especially your face!)
Most babies will probably be able to â¦
⢠Lift head briefly when on the tummy (tummy time should be supervised)
⢠Focus on a face
⢠Bring hands to face
⢠Suck well
Half of all babies will be able to â¦
⢠Respond to a loud noise in some way, such as startling, crying, quieting
Some babies will be able to â¦
⢠Lift head 45 degrees when on tummy
⢠Vocalize in ways other than crying (such as that adorable cooing)
⢠Smile in response to a smile (a “social” smile)
A few babies will be able to â¦
⢠Lift head 90 degrees when on tummy
⢠Hold head steady when upright
⢠Bring both hands together
⢠Smile spontaneously
Most babies will probably be able to â¦
⢠Smile in response to a smile
⢠Notice own hands
⢠Respond to a loud sound in some way, such as startling, crying, quieting
⢠Grasp and shake hand toys
Half of all babies will be able to â¦
⢠Vocalize in ways other than crying (cooing, for instance)
⢠Lift head 45 degrees when on tummy
Some babies will be able to â¦
⢠Hold head steady when upright
⢠While on the tummy, raise chest, supported by arms
⢠Roll over (tummy to back is usually first)
⢠Pay attention to an object as small as a raisin (but make sure such objects are kept out of baby's reach)
⢠Reach for a dangling object
A few babies will be able to â¦
⢠Lift head 90 degrees while on tummy
⢠Bring both hands together
⢠Smile spontaneously
⢠Laugh out loud
⢠Squeal in delight
⢠Follow an object held about 6 inches above baby's face and moved 180 degrees (from one side to the other), with baby watching all the way
Babies gather lots of new skills every month but typically hold on to last month's achievements (and the month before last, and so on). So assume that your baby's skill set will incorporate those “will probably be able to” items from previous months in addition to brand new ones acquired this month.
Most babies will probably be able to â¦
⢠Lift head 45 degrees when on tummyâassuming baby has been given enough tummy time to practice
⢠Kick energetically and straighten legs when on back
⢠Bring hands to mouth
Half of all babies will be able to â¦
⢠Lift head 90 degrees when on tummy
⢠Smile spontaneously
⢠Laugh out loud
⢠Follow an object held about 6 inches above baby's face and moved 180 degrees (from one side to the other), with baby watching all the way
⢠Hold head steady when upright
⢠While on tummy, raise chest, supported by arms
⢠Reach for a dangled object
⢠Pay attention to an object as small as a raisin (but make sure such objects are kept out of baby's reach)
Some babies will be able to â¦
⢠Roll over (tummy to back is usually first)
⢠Squeal in delight
⢠Bring both hands together
⢠Reach for an object
⢠Turn in the direction of a voice, particularly mommy's or daddy's
A few babies will be able to â¦
⢠Bear some weight on legs when held in standing position
⢠Keep head level with body when pulled to sitting
⢠Razz (make a wet razzing sound)
⢠Say “ah-goo” or similar vowel-consonant combination
Premature infants generally reach milestones later than other babies of the same birth age, often achieving them closer to their adjusted age (the age they would be if they had been born at term), and sometimes later.
Most babies will probably be able to â¦
⢠Lift head 90 degrees when on tummy and turn head from side to sideâassuming baby has been given enough tummy time to practice
⢠Lift head when held in your arms at your shoulder
⢠Anticipate being lifted
⢠Laugh out loud
⢠Follow an object in an arc about 6 inches above the face for 180 degrees (from one side to the other), with baby watching all the way
Half of all babies will be able to â¦
⢠Quiet down at the sound of a soothing voice or when held
⢠While on the tummy, raise chest, supported by arms
⢠Keep head level with body when pulled to sitting
⢠Roll over (tummy to back is usually first)
⢠Pay attention to an object as small as a raisin (but make sure such objects are kept out of baby's reach)
⢠Reach for an object
⢠Squeal in delight
⢠Turn in the direction of a voice, particularly mommy's or daddy's
Some babies will be able to â¦
⢠Say “ah-goo” or similar vowel-consonant combinations
⢠Razz (make a wet razzing sound)
A few babies will be able to â¦
⢠Bear some weight on legs when held in a standing position
⢠Sit without support
⢠Object if you try to take a toy away
Most babies will probably be able to â¦
⢠Hold head steady when upright
⢠While on tummy, raise chest, supported by arms
⢠Keep head level with body when pulled to sitting
⢠Roll over (tummy to back is usually first). Babies who spend little time on their tummies during playtime may reach this milestone later, and that's not cause for concern.
⢠Pay attention to an object as small as a raisin (but make sure such objects are kept out of baby's reach)
⢠Squeal in delight
⢠Smile spontaneously
⢠Reach for an object
⢠See across the room
Half of all babies will be able to â¦
⢠Bear some weight on legs when held upright
⢠Say “ah-goo” or similar vowel-consonant combinations
⢠Razz (make a wet razzing sound)
⢠Play with toes when on back
Some babies will be able to â¦
⢠Pass a cube or other object from one hand to the other
A few babies will be able to â¦
⢠Sit without support
⢠Pull up to standing position from sitting
⢠Stand holding on to someone
⢠Object if you try to take a toy away
⢠Work to get to a toy out of reach
⢠Look for a dropped object
⢠Rake with fingers a tiny object and pick it up in fist (but keep all dangerous objects out of baby's reach)
⢠Babble, combining vowels and consonants such as ga-ga-ga, ba-ba-ba, ma-ma-ma, da-da-da
Most babies will probably be able to â¦
⢠Play with toes
⢠Roll over
⢠Help hold bottle during feedings
⢠Say “ah-goo” or similar vowel-consonant combinations
Half of all babies will be able to â¦
⢠Bear some weight on legs when held in standing position
⢠Sit without support
⢠Coo or babble when happy
⢠Razz (make a wet razzing noise)
Some babies will be able to â¦
⢠Stand holding on to someone or something
⢠Object if you try to take a toy away
⢠Work to get a toy that's out of reach
⢠Pass a toy or other object from one hand to the other
⢠Look for a dropped object
⢠Rake with fingers a tiny object and pick it up in fist (keep all dangerous objects out of baby's reach)
⢠Babble, combining vowels and consonants such as ga-ga-ga, ba-ba-ba, ma-ma-ma, da-da-da
⢠Recognize books and the rhymes in those books
A few babies will be able to â¦
⢠Creep or crawl (more likely if baby has had plenty of tummy time, but crawling is not a “must-do” milestone)
⢠Pull up to standing position from sitting
⢠Get into a sitting position from tummy
⢠Pick up a tiny object with thumb and finger (keep all dangerous objects out of baby's reach)
⢠Say “mama” or “dada,” but without meaning
Most babies will probably be able to â¦
⢠Sit in a high chair
⢠Open mouth for a spoon
⢠Razz (make a wet razzing sound)
⢠Coo or babble when happy
⢠Smile often when interacting with you
⢠Explore by mouthing objects
⢠Turn in the direction of a voice
⢠Bear weight on legs (and possibly even bounce) when held in standing position
Half of all babies will be able to â¦
⢠Sit without support
⢠Object if you try to take a toy away
⢠Work to get a toy that's out of reach
⢠Look for a dropped object
⢠Rake with fingers an object and pick it up in fist (keep all dangerous objects out of baby's reach)
⢠Pass a toy or other object from one hand to the other
⢠Babble, combining vowels and consonants such as ga-ga-ga, ba-ba-ba, ma-ma-ma, da-da-da
⢠Play along in a game of peekaboo
⢠Recognize books and the rhymes in those books
Some babies will be able to â¦
⢠Creep or crawl (though babies who spend little time on their tummies during playtime may reach this milestone laterâor skip straight to cruisingâand that's not cause for concern)
⢠Pull up to standing position from sitting
⢠Get into a sitting position from tummy
⢠Stand holding on to someone or something
A few babies will be able to â¦
⢠Clap hands or wave bye-bye
⢠Pick up a tiny object with thumb and finger (keep all dangerous objects out of baby's reach)
⢠Feed self a cracker or other finger food
⢠Walk holding on to furniture (cruise)
⢠Say “mama” or “dada” without meaning
Most babies will probably be able to â¦
⢠Bear weight on legs (and even bounce) when held in standing position
⢠Roll from tummy to back and from back to tummy
⢠Reach for utensil when being fed
⢠Feed self a cracker or other finger food
⢠Find a partially hidden object
⢠Rake with fingers an object and pick it up in fist (keep all dangerous objects out of baby's reach)
⢠Look for a dropped object
Half of all babies will be able to â¦
⢠Stand holding on to someone or something
⢠Get into a sitting position from tummy
⢠Pass a cube or other object from one hand to the other
⢠Object if you try to take a toy away
⢠Work to get a toy that's out of reach
⢠Play along in a game of peekaboo
Some babies will be able to â¦
⢠Creep or crawl (though babies who spend little time on their tummies during playtime may reach this milestone laterâor skip straight to cruisingâand that's not cause for concern)
⢠Pull up to standing position from sitting
⢠Pick up a tiny object with thumb and finger (keep all dangerous objects out of baby's reach)
⢠Say “mama” or “dada” without meaning
A few babies will be able to â¦
⢠Clap hands or wave bye-bye
⢠Walk holding on to furniture (cruise)
⢠Stand alone momentarily
⢠Understand “no” (but not always obey it)
Most babies will probably be able to â¦
⢠Get into a sitting position from tummy
⢠Work to get a toy that's out of reach
⢠Respond to own name
⢠Smile at self in mirror (though not knowing that image is their own)
⢠Follow your gaze when you look away
Half of all babies will be able to â¦
⢠Pull up to standing position from sitting
⢠Creep or crawl (though babies who spend little time on their tummies during playtime may reach this milestone laterâor skip straight to cruisingâand that's not cause for concern)
⢠Stand holding on to someone or something
⢠Object if you try to take a toy away
⢠Pick up a tiny object with thumb and finger (keep all dangerous objects out of baby's reach)
⢠Say “mama” or “dada” without meaning
⢠Play peekaboo
Some babies will be able to â¦
⢠Walk holding on to furniture (cruise)
⢠Stand alone momentarily
⢠Clap hands or wave bye-bye
⢠Understand “no” (but not always obey it)
A few babies will be able to â¦
⢠Stand alone well
⢠Play ball (roll ball back to you)
⢠Drink from a cup independently
⢠Say “dada” or “mama” with meaning
⢠Say one word other than “mama” or “dada”
⢠Respond to a one-step command with gestures (“Give that to me,” said with hand out)
Most babies will probably be able to â¦
⢠Stand holding on to someone or something
⢠Pull up to standing position from sitting
⢠Object if you try to take a toy away
⢠Say “mama” or “dada” without meaning
⢠Play along in a game of peekaboo and other anticipation games
⢠Exchange back-and-forth gestures and sounds with you
Half of all babies will be able to â¦
⢠Walk holding on to furniture
⢠Clap hands or wave bye-bye
⢠Pick up a tiny object with thumb and finger (keep all dangerous objects out of baby's reach)
⢠Understand “no” (but not always obey it)
