A baby begins interacting with her environment more and more as she grows older. Significant changes in social development can occur from month to month. Emotionally, a child becomes more attached to the familiar faces in her world, especially her parents, over the course of her first year.
One Month
At the age of one month, a baby is still getting used to her surroundings, but she does interact with others to some degree. A one-month-old baby often turns toward a familiar voice, according to Healthy Children, a website operated by the American Academy of Pediatrics. A baby at this age will also prefer to look at a human face over all other patterns in her environment.
Three Months
By three months of age, a baby's social and emotional development has advanced considerably. According to the National Network for Child Care, a three-month-old baby will communicate feelings through sound and movement. For example, a cry or facial expression can signal fear, discomfort or hunger. Healthy Children reports that his imitation of sounds and movements show a desire to socialize with others. Parents may also notice that their baby develops a social smile that is displayed when others are around.
Six Months
By the time a baby reaches the age of six months, she is more expressive and social than ever. Her facial expressions will reveal that she recognizes familiar people, says the NNCC. When she's having fun, laughs and squeals abound; during periods of annoyance or frustration, she'll let out a scream to communicate her feelings. She also continue to experiment with making sounds, and her babbling will begin to resemble the sing-song conversations going on around her.
Twelve Months
In the second half of a baby's first year, huge leaps in communication occur. He can recognize the names of family members and familiar objects and even understands basic commands. Many babies also say their first word at this age, according to the NNCC. Emotionally, a 12-month-old displays a significant attachment to parents, sometimes even crying when they leave him, says Healthy Children. He'll also start to be more aware of his surroundings, causing him to be apprehensive or anxious around strangers.
Considerations
Parents should pay attention to any possible delays in social and emotional development in their child. If a delay is suspected, see a pediatrician right away. The NNCC reminds parents, however, that a premature baby should be allowed extra time to mature and develop. In general, the number of weeks a premature baby was born before his due date should be subtracted from his "real" age to determine his expected development. For example, a baby born one month early should reach the 6-month developmental milestones at the age of 7 months.
References
- Healthy Children: Developmental Milestones--1 Month
- Healthy Children: Developmental Milestones--3 Months
- Healthy Children: Developmental Milestones--7 Months
- Healthy Children: Developmental Milestones--12 Months
- National Network for Child Care: Developmental Milestones--A Guide for Parents--The First Year
