What to Expect in Your Baby’s First Quarter: Baby Developmental Milestones
Babies grow fast, and for parents, that growth stirs mixed emotions. Time flies by in an instant; one moment you’re holding your baby for the first time, and the next, you’re watching them eat solid food or take their first steps. In just a year, a lot can happen, especially when it comes to their development milestones. At some point, you may have searched the Internet to see whether your baby’s development was on track when they first rolled over or took their first steps.
Your baby’s development has probably been part of your conversation with other parents, and you may have found yourself comparing milestones. While it’s helpful to know whether your baby’s development is on track, it’s important to remember that every baby is unique. Some milestones may be reached earlier, or it may take longer. This is usually not a cause of concern, but if your parent tells you that your baby may be experiencing delays in infant development milestones, it is best to consult a doctor.
What are baby developmental milestones?
Baby developmental milestones are skills or actions that babies can typically do at certain ages. Pediatricians assess whether your baby is developing appropriately through physical exams, observations, and interactions they do, and how babies move, respond, and engage to these. They are also the ones who will advise you on whether your baby needs screenings or tests to check for developmental delays. There are different types of developmental milestones depending on your baby's development.
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Motor milestones are the physical and movement milestones.
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Cognitive milestones are the ways a baby thinks, learns, and solves problems.
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Social and emotional milestones are how the baby expresses emotions and interacts.
- Language and communication milestones are the sounds and nonverbal communications that the baby makes.
Baby Monthly Milestones
1st Month
The first month is also referred to as the “fourth trimester” because the baby is still transitioning from being in the womb for months to being out in the world. With them still transitioning, it’s normal that your baby’s movements are uncoordinated, as it is driven by instinct and survival reflexes now that they’re not in the womb anymore. They can recognize scent and voice, especially their parents’. This is because their hearing has developed since they were in the womb, which explains why they kick and react when their parents are talking to them. Newborn babies also love to look closely at faces, even though their vision is developing. The early eye contact they do helps support an emotional connection. Also, babies startle at loud sounds, which is a normal response that shows their hearing and nervous system are reacting appropriately.
2nd Month
In your baby’s 2nd month, there are developments in how they have more control over their head and neck muscles, enabling them to hold their head up for short periods of time. This is noticeable during tummy time, which is a good indication that they are slowly getting stronger in preparation for future milestones such as rolling and sitting. Babies are becoming more aware of the people around them as they show interest by talking to or interacting with them. They smile at people as they respond to familiar faces, voices, and interactions. At 2 months, babies can coo and gurgle as forms of communication. In return, as parents, responding with talk or a smile will help encourage early conversations.
3rd Month
As your baby grows, their body is getting stronger and more alert. This is evident during their tummy time when it’s noticeable that they can raise their head and chest by pushing up with their arms. Having strong upper-body strength is vital for being able to roll over and sit after some months. As their vision and brain develop, they begin to watch faces more intently and study expressions and movements with curiosity. This is a sign that they are becoming more focused and starting to learn about emotions and social cues. They also show excitement during playtime, as seen in how they move, smile, or make sounds, indicating that they enjoy playing and interacting. With hearing as the first sense to develop, babies at 3 months are more clearly responsive to voices, especially familiar ones. Hearing their voices will make them turn their heads, quiet down, or react intently, indicating that this is a sign of communication and bonding.
Every baby has their own pace for developmental milestones, and the things mentioned above are just general guides. If you have any concerns about your baby’s development, it’s best to consult your pediatrician for a more guided and detailed explanation of your baby’s individual needs. As your baby does new things each month, it is important to capture them in pictures or videos to see how they grow over time. It will serve as a good memory tracker as they experience more developments.