| Your baby just came home from the hospital. | | | | Next, she'll start to roll over. She's building her |
| Now what? I remember when my husband and I | | | | abdomen and back muscles and its time to test |
| brought home our first. We were definitely | | | | them out. Also around this time, about four to six |
| nervous. Parents' intuition? What was that? We | | | | months, she'll start drooling so have plenty of bibs |
| were clueless. It didn't help that we couldn't dilute | | | | handy. She's teething. Her teeth can start to pop |
| the powered baby formula either. We ended up | | | | out as early as four months! |
| buying the ready made cans to give to him! | | | | Around six to seven months, you'll notice him |
| Seriously though, the first year may be | | | | take off. Watch out - he's crawling! He's also |
| intimidating and time consuming, but as you watch | | | | learned his name so use it often. He likes to hear |
| your baby grow and hit his or her milestones, its | | | | it. Games like patty-cake and peek-a-boo still |
| also very rewarding. | | | | make him smile, but he's off to explore lands |
| One of the earliest milestones she will reach is | | | | unknown such as your kitchen and computer |
| smiling. Between four to six weeks, give or take, | | | | room. Now's when your baby proofing earlier |
| she will recognize mom, dad, and family members. | | | | pays off. |
| A gentle tickle of the chin around this time will get | | | | From nine-to-twelve months, she's crawling, |
| her smile muscles working and soon she'll light up | | | | exploring, and learning to stand. She loves to |
| when she sees you enter a room. Now's a good | | | | babble. She may even have mastered a "Mama" |
| time to baby proof before she gets mobile, | | | | or "Dada." She may also be a little shy when left |
| because trust me, she will - soon. | | | | with the babysitter or when meeting new people. |
| Smiling is a sign of a healthy, happy baby. If you | | | | It's normal around this time. |
| notice she's crying more than smiling, seems | | | | By his first birthday, he should be cruising the |
| colicky, or doesn't seem interested in engaging | | | | furniture, ready to take his first steps. Not only is |
| you at this early age, by seeking you out with her | | | | he smiling, but he should also be able to express |
| eyes, let your pediatrician know and discuss your | | | | some basic emotions like fear, anger, and |
| concerns with them. | | | | pleasure. He's refining his motor skills and moving |
| Shortly after he starts to smile, you might notice | | | | objects from hand to hand. He may not be able |
| he's trying to raise his head. Give him plenty of | | | | to blow out his candles on his birthday cake, but |
| tummy time. He may get frustrated at first, but | | | | he'll eat the cake. |
| soon you, and him, will be grinning about his | | | | These are just some milestones that are |
| accomplishment. During the first three months, | | | | important for baby to accomplish by her first |
| he's getting familiar with his surroundings. He's | | | | year. So what is a developmental delay? It's when |
| visually alert and is very interested in watching the | | | | a child doesn't reach a milestone by the upper |
| world around him. Along with tummy time, he | | | | range of what would be considered normal. |
| enjoys simple games like patty-cake and | | | | Milestones fall into five different categories: gross |
| peek-a-boo. Games like this encourage his smile | | | | and fine motor skills, language, thinking, and social |
| and laugher, too. | | | | skills. If she's not walking by one, there's no need |
| Once she's mastered tummy time and smiling, | | | | to worry as the upper range of what's considered |
| she's onto other things. Around four months, you'll | | | | normal is about fifteen months. If you have any |
| notice that she likes to babble and coo. Go ahead | | | | concerns, the best thing to do is to discuss them |
| and talk back. She loves to hear your voice and | | | | with your pediatrician. |
| she needs to practice her vocal chords. | | | | |