Normal Development in the First Year

Grand Traverse Children's Clinic, P.C.

3537 W. Front St.<= /st1:address>, Ste. G

Traverse City, MI 496= 84

(231) 935-8822

<= /span>

Normal Development= in the First Year

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Normal Development: Newborn

Here's what you might= see your baby doing between the ages of 0 and 2 weeks old.

Reflexes

• Reflexive actions: crying, grasping, yawning, swallowing, sucking, blinking, coughing, gagging, sneezing. <= /p>

• Grasps whatever is placed in hand.

• Sucks whatever is placed in mouth. <= /span>

• Is startled by su= dden noises and movements.

Movement

• Jerky, mostly uncontrolled motions.

• Waves arms, kicks= legs, wiggles and squirms.

• Cannot turn body = or support head without assistance.

• Cannot sit without support.

• May turn head fro= m side to side while lying on back. =

• May raise head br= iefly while lying on tummy.

Sleep/Wakefulness

• Usually sleeps fr= om 17 to 20 hours per day.

• Cries and fusses = about 1 to 4 hours per day.

• Is alert and quiet about 2 to 3 hours per day. <= o:p>

Vision

• Cannot focus clearly.

• Sees best at 8 to= 10 inches.

Interactive Behaviors and Senses

• Smiles spontaneou= sly and unselectively.

• Discriminates bet= ween some smells.

• Begins to turn in direction of sound.

• Begins to disting= uish the human voice from other sounds. <= /span>

• Is more sensitive= to high-pitched voices, especially mother's voice.

• Is best calmed by= a soft, rhythmic voice.

• Cries a lot.

• Makes tiny gurgli= ng sounds when content.

• Senses parent's emotional state from the touch.

• &= nbsp; Shows preference for the human face.

Normal Development= : 2 Weeks Old

Here's what you might= see your baby doing between the ages of 2 weeks and 2 months.=

Movement

• Movements gradual= ly become smoother and more controlled.

• Lifts chin for a = few seconds when lying on tummy. =

• Cannot support he= ad without assistance.

• Grasps whatever is placed in hand.

Vision and Hearing

• May follow some m= oving objects with eyes.

• Explores surround= ings with eyes. =

• Turns in directio= n of some sounds.

Interactive Behaviors

• Gives more precise meaning to crying (hunger, discomfort, excitement).

• Cries when left a= lone; usually stops when picked up.

• Makes variety of gurgling and cooing sounds when happy and content.

• Makes eye contact= .

• May quiet down in response to human face. =

• Responds positive= ly to being held and comforted.

• &= nbsp; May smile socially at familiar faces and voices, especially mother's voice.

Normal Development= : 2 Months Old

Here's what you might= see your baby doing between the ages of 2 and 4 months.

Daily Activities

•     Crying gradually becomes less frequent. <= /o:p>

•     Displays greater variety of emotions: distress, excitement, delight.

•     May begin to sleep through the night.

•     Smiles, gurgles a= nd coos, particularly when talked to. <= /span>

•     Shows more distre= ss when an adult leaves.

•     Quiets down when = held or talked to.

•     Cannot conceive o= f an object existing if it cannot be sensed.&nb= sp;

Vision

•     Focuses better, b= ut still no more than 12 inches.

•     Follows objects by moving head from side to side.

•     Prefers brightly colored objects. <= /span>

Hearing

•     Knows difference between male and female voices.

•     Knows the differe= nce between angry and friendly voices. <= /span>

Motor Skills

•     Movements become increasingly smoother. <= /o:p>

•     Lifts chest momen= tarily when lying on tummy.

•     Holds head steady= when held or seated with support. =

•     Discovers hands a= nd fingers.
•     Grasps with more control.
•        &= nbsp;      May bat at dangling objects with entire body.&= nbsp;

Normal Development= : 4 Months Old

Here's what you might notice your baby doing between the ages of 4 months and 6 months of age.

Daily Activities

•     Is active, playfu= l, and gregarious.

•     Reaches and grasp= s some objects.
•     Shakes rattle when placed in hand.

•     Carefully studies objects placed in hand. =

•     Puts everything i= nto mouth.

•     Plays contentedly= with fingers and hands.

•     Usually sleeps th= rough the night. =

•     Acknowledges bott= le gleefully. =

•     Laughs and giggle= s while playing and socializing.

•     Basks in attention. =

•     Just begins to re= alize objects exist even when out of sight.

Hearing

•     Turns head purpos= efully in response to human voice. <= o:p>

•     Smiles and coos w= hen talked to. =

Motor Skills

•     Rolls from side t= o side.

•     Holds up chest wh= en lying on tummy.

•     Supports head whe= n held in sitting position.

•     Sits with support= for longer periods.

•     Enjoys using the = legs in kicking motions.

Vision

•     Focuses clearly.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>

•     Fascinated with m= irror image.

Normal Development= : 6 Months Old=

Here's what you might= see your baby doing between 6 and 9 months of age.

Daily Activities

•     Adores playing wi= th balls, rattles, and squeaky toys.

•     Usually sleeps th= rough the night. =

•     Usually begins teething. <= /p>
•     May prefer some f= oods to others. =

•     May enjoy playing= with food.

•     Loves games like "peek-a-boo," "patty cake," and "fetch."

Language Development

•     Babbles and squea= ls using single syllables. =

•     Loves to jabber.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>

•     May recognize own name.

Emotional Development

•     May show sharp mo= od changes.
•     Displays especial= ly strong attachment to mother. =

•     Develops deeper attachment to father, siblings, and other familiar people.

•     Distinguishes chi= ldren from adults.

•     Smiles at other children. <= /p>
•     May show fear of strangers. =

•     Continues to be intrigued with mirror image. =

Motor Skills

•     Rests on elbows.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>

•     Begins to sit alone.

•     Sits in high chair.

•     Continues to use motions leading to crawling. =

•     Makes jumping mot= ions when held in standing position.

•     Reaches with one hand.

•     Bats and grasps dangling objects. =

•     Holds objects bet= ween thumb and forefinger.

•     Passes objects fr= om one hand to another. <= /span>

Normal Development= : 9 Months Old        =

Here's what you might= see your baby doing between the ages of 9 and 12 months.

Daily Activities

•     Continues to enjoy banging, waving, and throwing toys.

•     Scrutinizes toys = and other objects.

•     Becomes absorbed = in toys and games.

•     Explores food with fingers.
•     Initiates play.

Motor Skills

•     Goes from sitting= to lying position unassisted.

•     May pull self to standing position.

•     Stands holding on= to furniture. =

•     Tries to move one= foot in front of the other when held upright.

•     May try to crawl = up stairs.

•     May begin to walk= with assistance.

Language Development

•     Imitates the risi= ng and falling sounds of adult conversation.

•     Imitates more spe= ech sounds, but does not yet understand them.&= nbsp;

•     Repeats sounds ag= ain and again. =

•     May begin to say "mama" or "dada" appropriately.

Emotional and Behavioral Development=

•     Continues to resi= st doing what does not want to do.

•     Begins trying to imitate some parent behaviors.

•     Loves showing off= for family audience. <= /span>

•     May cry when pare= nt leaves the room.

•     May resist diaper= ing.

Normal Development= : 12 Months Old

Here's what you might= see your baby doing between 12 months and 15 months old.

Daily Activities

•     Usually follows a definite daily pattern. =

•     Opens cabinets, p= ulls tablecloths.

•     Usually examines = an object before putting into mouth.

•     Likes to feed self.

Language Development

•     Expresses complete thought with single syllable ("da" means "I want that").

•     Shows definite understanding of a few simple words.

•     Utters a few words ("mama", "dada", "ball", "dog").

•     Loves rhythms and rhymes.

Emotional and Behavioral Development=

•     Shows more negati= vism (may resist naps, refuse certain foods, throw occasional tantrums).

•     Continues to pref= er people to toys.

•     Has developed a d= eep attachment to a few familiar people.

•     Loves to make par= ents laugh.

•     Shows somewhat le= ss stranger anxiety. =

•     May give up somet= hing on request.

•     Displays a sense = of humor.

Motor Skills

•     Usually walks with assistance; may walk without assistance.&n= bsp;

•     Crawls rapidly.

•     Stands alone.

•     Seats self on floor.

Each child is unique.= It is therefore difficult to descr= ibe exactly what should be expected at each stage of a child's development. While certain attitudes, behaviors= , and physical milestones tend to occur at certain ages, a wide spectrum of growth and behavior for each age is normal. These guidelines are offered as a way of showing a general progressi= on through the developmental stages rather than as fixed requirements for norm= al development at specific ages. It is perfectly natural for a child to attain some milestones earlier and other milestones later than the general trend.&n= bsp; Keep this in mind as you review these milestones.

If you have any conce= rns related to your child's own pattern of development, check with your pediatrician or family physician.

Written by Donna Warner Manczak, Ph.D., M.P.H. and Robert Brayden, M.D.

This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis = or treatment by a healthcare professional.