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

Your baby's laughter is now a common and joyful sound. He/she can hold her head steady, and they recognize your face and scent. Some babies squeal, gurgle and coo more, recognize their moms' voices and do mini pushups. A few can turn toward loud sounds, bring their hands together or bat at toys, and roll over.3

Emotionally, baby is trying to start "conversations" by smiling at you and gurgling to get your attention. He/she often returns your smiles by opening her hands wide, lifting her arms and moving her legs. He/she may also try to imitate your movements and facial expressions.7

Back to Top

Doing Everything Right: Tips for new moms

  • Even if your baby doesn't understand the words, reading to them helps him/her develop an ear for the cadence of language. Vary the pitch in your voice by using accents and singing to make it even more stimulating.
  • Talking is another way to encourage your baby's development right now. Use a variety of words and sounds, and identify objects to them as you walk, shop and play. Believe it or not, they're storing all this new information in his/her memory.10
  • If your baby resists taking medicine, add a little sugar or juice in an oral syringe or spoon to make it taste better. Don't mix medicine in a bottle of milk or a cup of juice, though. If he/she doesn't drink the whole thing, they might not get the right dose of medicine.11
  • Drinking lots of water is good for your general health, especially if you're breastfeeding, which can cause your body to shed excess fluid. Try to drink at least eight, eightounce glasses of water a day, as well as any time you feel thirsty.12

Back to Top

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

10 “Your 3-Month-Old's Development” www.babycenter.com

11 “Giving Medications Safely and Effectively” www.babycenter.com

12 “Diet for a Healthy Breastfeeding Mom” 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.
More

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