Family Doctor 2007 - (Page 194) pregnancy & newborn FIRST-YEAR DEVELOPMENT From goo-goo to mama: Your child’s first year So many developmental milestones occur in your baby’s first year of life. Here’s a monthby-month guide to how he will transform from a helpless little bundle to a small person with a range of skills. By Barbara L. Bittner Y our child’s first year is an amazing thing to witness. He’ll go from being helpless and completely dependent to someone who can feed himself and crawl (or walk) and who will get into everything. Here are just a few more things you can expect during those first precious months. 1 month. Your child may lift his head and should respond to sounds. He’ll move his arms and legs, but the movements will be jerky and random. He may be able to track objects with his eyes, but only if they’re very close. Most 1-month-old babies sleep 16 to 17 hours during the day. 2 months. By this time, your baby may be able to make a few sounds, such as gurgling and cooing. He also should hold his head up for a short time, and he should be able to follow objects with his eyes. Many babies also smile for the first time at 2 months. He also may discover his hands and feet, which can make diaper changes a challenge! 3 months. Your baby may laugh for the first time at about 3 months. He can also hold his head steady and can recognize your face. He’ll start sleeping less and, if you’re lucky, he may even start sleeping through the night. 4 months. At this time in his life, your baby will need to eat less frequently, usually going about 4 hours between meals. When he’s on his stomach, he should be able to lift his head and shoulders off the floor and push up with his arms. Some babies are even able to roll over from front to back. If you hold him up, he should be able to bear some weight on his legs. He’ll also start reaching At 2 months, your baby discovers his hands and feet. He is probably fascinated by them! “Turning toward sounds and voices is a big milestone for baby at 6 months.” 194 familydoctor 2007
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