As a first-time father, I watched everything my oldest child did with fascination, but also a little worry. OK, sometimes a lot of worry. Was our son where he was supposed to be developmentally? Things change so much during those first two years, we wondered if he was reaching the milestones he was supposed to reach on time. My wife and I had read the baby books and talked to our pediatrician about everything, and she repeatedly reassured us everything was fine. But one the most reassuring things that she told us, and that we have kept in mind for our other two kids, is that a child reaches the important milestones during those first two years on his own schedule. So, relax and enjoy the ride. It's over way too fast.
Sitting Up
By six months of age, a child should be able to sit up if someone pulls her up and then holds her hands. By one year, she should be able to sit up well on her own. Being able to sit up without help will make it easier for your baby to sit in a highchair, eat finger food and drink from a sippy cup.
Crawling
Before your child reaches his first birthday, he'll probably be crawling all over the place. He may even be pulling himself up to a standing position by a couch, ottoman or other sturdy support. But if your baby is not crawling by eight or nine months, don't be too concerned. Some babies just skip right over the crawling phase and go right to standing and walking. To help encourage crawling, place an item he wants just out of reach when he's on his tummy so he'll be inclined to move toward it.
Walking
A baby's first steps are usually those where her hands are held securely by someone as she takes those unsure steps or where she holds onto a couch and does a little side-step down the length of the couch or over from the couch to a chair or coffee table. As she gets a little more adventurous, she may be willing to take some steps without anything else to hold onto. This early walking period can begin anywhere from nine to 18 months for most babies, but again, remember that your baby may be an early walker or may be taking her time as she enjoys being carried everywhere for a while.
Talking
Communication between a parent and a 1-year-old, compared to that with a much younger child, is significantly different. Usually, at the age of 1, a baby can recognize family members' names and maybe his own name. He may also be saying his first word or two, often a commonly used word such as "Ma," "Pa," "ball" or a version of "bottle." Once a baby starts knowing and forming certain words, his speech skills will usually develop rapidly, especially if he is getting reinforcement of language skills at home and at daycare.
Considerations
While every baby is on her own schedule for reaching these milestones, it's especially important to remember that premature babies may reach certain milestones on their own timetable. The March of Dimes suggests watching for milestone moments on a schedule based on your baby's due date rather than the actual day she was born.
