1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 4 Months 5 Months 6 Months 7 Months 8 Months 9 Months Birth 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 4 Months 5 Months 6 Months 7 Months 8 Months 9 Months 10 Months 11 Months 12 Months 13 thru 18 Months 19 thru 24 Months

Baby Steps: Growth & Development

By now, most babies are gurgling and cooing, and holding their heads up for short periods of time. Many are also smiling and laughing, and their movements are becoming smoother. You may even see your baby lifting his/her head and shoulders in a motion that looks like a mini pushup.3

At this age, your baby probably enjoys playing with other people and he/she may cry when the playing stops. They would rather look at people than objects, and they may study faces a lot. He/she may also start to show their first signs of anger.7

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Doing Everything Right: Tips for new moms

  • Don't worry about spoiling your baby with too much attention. Young babies aren't capable of using "negative" behavior to get what they want. All he/she wants are your love and attention, and once he/she knows you're there for them, the need for your focused attention will probably decrease, not increase.8
  • If you're nursing and want to lose weight, don't resort to a liquid diet, which may not give you the calories or nutrients you need. An occasional mealreplacement shake or bar is okay, but a eating a wellbalanced diet, drinking plenty of water and getting regular exercise are better for losing weight gradually and healthfully. Remember too, most women lose the last five pounds or so after they stop breastfeeding.9

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3 “Milestone Charts: What to Expect from Your Newborn to 6-Month-Old” www.babycenter.com

7 “Month-by-Month Guide to Baby's Emotional Development” www.americanbaby.com

8 “Ask the Experts: Am I in Danger of Spoiling My Baby?” www.babycenter.com

9 “Ask the Experts: Are Liquid Diets Safe for New Moms?” www.babycenter.com

The information on this Web site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding you or your child's health.

Consult your physician or dental professional if using another fluoridated product.

Helpful Tips
for Parents

Ponder the Pacifier

Whether or not to use pacifiers is an age-old debate, but the American Academy of Pediatrics gives it the thumbs up through the first year of life. Sucking is comforting, familiar and calming to babies and a pacifier can be the ideal way to provide contentment between feedings.
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Drive Time

You’re always careful to protect your baby from the sun’s harmful rays with sunscreen, clothing and a hat when he’s outdoors. But did you know he also needs protection when he rides in the car for an extended period? The glass in car windows blocks some but not all ultraviolet rays that can cause sunburn, so if possible, move his car seat out of direct sunlight and apply broad spectrum children’s sunscreen to his exposed skin.

Hand in Hand

Are you wondering whether your baby will be right-handed or left-handed? Be patient; it may be months or years before you know for sure. Most babies start showing a preference for reaching for things with their right hands between six and nine months, but it’s not until they’re 18 months or older that they start using their preferred hand more consistently. By age three or four, their handedness should be fairly evident. If it’s not, you may want to talk to your pediatrician.

Source: “How Handedness Develops in Infants,” by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P., www.drspock.com, June 10, 2001