A new baby is one of the biggest milestones of your life. As she / he grows, there will be several moments that will bring smiles to you and excitement for her / his progress. Just like your pregnancy was an exciting time of learning and discovering, so will your baby's first year. Caring for a newborn baby can be both rewarding and exhausting, there is so much to look forward to. The baby milestones for the first year are good measures to study development of your infant too. How your child plays, learns, moves etc. are crucial to tell you or the paediatrician about how she is growing and developing. So read carefully; this list of first-year "firsts" - the most anticipated baby milestones will help you spend correctly in baby shopping stores…
- Smiles
The first major thing a baby will do is smile. Though some parents also notice their baby smiling earlier, it is usually at two months that babies smile as a response. They could be reacting to a parent's voice, or even touch. Sometimes, active babies may even smile at the sight of their parents. This is a huge reward that will make all those sleepless nights seem so worth it.
- Laughs
The only natural progression to little glimmers of smiles is full-fledged laughs. By almost four months, you can expect to hear what will possibly be the most endearing sound that you will hear. That sound will be your baby's laughter. And you know what, it is really easy to get the apple of your eye to laugh. Gentle tickling, silly faces, weird sounds you make and peek-a-boo are sure to set off bouts of laughter and squeals and giggles.
- A Full Night's Sleep
This is perhaps the one milestone most parents will look forward to. Truth be told, it is unrealistic, and even unhealthy for a newborn baby to sleep all night. But this tough period only lasts about 4 to 6 months. Most babies will sleep through the night once they are around 6 months old. Hallelujah!
- Sitting Up
The world looks rather different when you are constantly lying down. By the time they are 5 or 6 months old, most babies can sit up with support. Buy some sturdy bolsters from baby shops online or children stores in Dubai. Your baby will be wobbly while sitting unaided initially - and this is the same reason why you should not leave your baby unsupervised when she is able to sit up. Babies can usually sit alone steadily by 7-9 months.
- Crawling
By the time your baby is 8 or 9 months old, you yourself will probably lose a lot of weight chasing after your infant. Because by this time, most babies crawl using both hands and feet. Though, how they crawl can be pretty different. Some babies will also creep or wriggle instead.
- Waves 'Bye-Bye'
Saying "bye-bye" is not just a cute trick - it is actually expressing their emotions. By the time they are 9 or 10 months old, most babies begin to recognise sounds, gestures, and meaning. They will start responding to "bye-bye." They will, by this time, also utter 'Mamma' or 'Papa', if you are lucky.
- Eats Finger Food
Just when you are beginning to get tired of spoon-feeding your baby, she / he will give you respite by reaching out for their food. Between 9-12 months, the motor skills of your baby begin to develop. This means they will reach out for things - stuff toys, baby objects etc. This also includes finger foods! Also, at this age, babies like to explore their environments - including taste and texture. There will be a tendency to put everything in their mouth. So when you buy kids stuff, keep the safety aspect in mind.
- Standing Up
By the time they are 12 months old, most babies begin to stand briefly without support. They also take small steps while holding on to furniture or other objects. This 'cruising' is where baby walkers also come in handy. In fact, in the weeks or months before they begin to walk (or wobble) independently, babies may spend a lot of time practicing how to walk. So when you buy kids furniture, factor this point in - keep enough floor space for your baby to move around freely.
- The First Step
This probably is the most anticipated and celebrated of all baby milestones for the first year. There is no other moment that is so eagerly anticipated by the family. The first steps of a baby are probably the most photographed as well. The average age by which babies start walking ranges from 9-17 months. By 13 months, babies definitely start trying.
While we have listed out baby milestones for the first year, it is most important to keep in mind the fact that all babies are different. They develop differently. Which is why delays in a baby's development or milestones should not be met with panic. Just keep your paediatrician in the loop and stay in touch with the Elli Junior community for more tips and lessons on parenting.