Infancy refers to the period of time from your baby's birth to her first birthday. This period is full of firsts, including her first smile, first word and perhaps even her first step. These and other developmental milestones indicate that your child is gaining the basic skills she needs to interact with others and to begin to assert her independence.
Identification
Milestone checklists for infants provide a generalized time line for what you can expect during your baby's first year of development. Use milestones to gauge your infant's progress against normative guidelines, but remember that there are developmental fluctuations from child to child. Your baby might achieve certain milestones earlier and others later than published norms. Even though variations are normal, consult your child's doctor if you have concerns about your baby's developmental progress.
Types
Your baby's developmental milestones fall into several categories, including gross motor, fine motor, sensory, language and social skills, according to Medline Plus from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Gross motor relates to the control and use of larger muscles, such as those in the neck, torso, arms and legs. Progress in fine motor skills indicates control and development of smaller muscles, such as those in the fingers, face and toes. Sensory growth refers to increased development of taste, touch, sounds, sight and smell. Language development in infants encompasses beginning sounds, first words and understanding some language used by others. Your infant's growing ability to interact with others indicates early social development.
Earlier Months
By the end of the third month, infants develop a social smile, imitate movements and expressions, raise their head during tummy time, grasp and shake baby toys, follow moving objects, babble and look toward noise sources, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
After seven months, babies respond to others' expressions, enjoy interactive play, respond when their names are called, answer sounds with sounds, roll from front to back and back to front, transfer objects from hand to hand, support their body weight with their legs and develop full color vision, adds the CDC.
At Age 1
At the end of the first year, your baby might seem shy or anxious with strangers, cry when separated from his parents, test your response to his behavior, repeat sounds or gestures for attention, pick up and eat finger foods, imitate gestures and respond to simple requests. He can also likely speak a few simple words, pull up to stand, bang objects together and try to imitate scribbling, according to the CDC. Other milestones include the ability to find hidden objects, taking a few steps, an expression of fear toward loud noise or unexpected movement and putting toys or other items into a container, adds the CDC.
Promotion
You can encourage your infant's healthy development by talking and singing to her during routine activities such as diaper changing and feeding times, according to the National Network for Child Care. You can also help by imitating your baby's sounds, placing colorful objects within her sight or reach, placing her on her tummy during active, awake times, meeting her needs promptly, playing peek-a-boo and exposing her to colorful picture books, adds the National Network for Child Care.
References
- Medline Plus: Infant and Newborn Development
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Important Milestones: By the End of Three Months
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Important Milestones: By the End of Seven Months
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Important Milestones: By the End of One Year
- National Network for Child Care: Infant Development
