During the first year, your infant progresses from the newborn to the toddler stage. Your baby is already developing skills that will help her master walking, express herself and even strengthen the muscles that she will eventually use to grip a pencil. You can encourage healthy development by interacting with your infant using language and play, and by encouraging movement.
Identification
You can use a milestone checklist to help you gauge your child's developmental progress. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides an interactive milestone checklist on its website. Infant milestones, however, are meant to give you a general idea of what to expect during your baby's first year, and shouldn't be considered fixed signs of progress. Each child is different and each infant develops at her own pace. If you have concerns about your infant's development, you should visit your child's pediatrician.
Types
Infant milestones can be categorized as physical development, social and emotional development, and cognitive and intellectual development, according to the National Network for Child Care. Physical development refers to increased control of gross and fine motor movements. Social development for babies refers to increased interactions with others, and emotional development concerns the expression of feelings such as fear or excitement. Cognitive or intellectual development signifies progress in thinking and/or language skills.
Physical Development
Gross motor skills refer to the control of larger muscles such as the neck, arms and legs. Fine motor skills indicate control of smaller muscles such as fingers, toes and wrists. You can encourage physical development by giving your baby opportunities to strengthen and control large and small muscles. Allow your infant to spend short periods of time on his tummy during active times of the day to help him gain control of his head movements. Encourage reaching and grasping as your child grows to help her master small motor movements.
Social and Emotional Development
Your infant learns to trust you when you respond to his cries and meet his needs. When you cuddle and play with your baby, you establish a foundation for how she interacts with others, according to the CDC. You can aid healthy social and emotional development by responding patiently to your infant's needs, using words such as "you're hungry" or "you need a clean diaper" to describe reasons for discomfort or anxiety and by spending quiet time bonding with him.
Cognitive Development
Cognitive development encompasses the "learning process of memory, language, thinking and reasoning," according to the CDC. According to the CDC, your infant is learning by listening, understanding and recognizing the names of people and things, which is vital to language development. Encourage cognitive development by talking, reading and singing to your baby, mimicking her sounds and interacting with her during active times of the day, adds the CDC.
