Your baby's first year is an exciting time. At first, she sleeps most of the time and has little control over her body's movements. Crying is her only way to communicate. By the time she's a year old and enters the toddler stage, she'll be smiling, chattering away --- maybe even with a few words you can recognize --- and able to get around on her own by crawling or walking.
Physical Development
Your infant's muscles develop rapidly during his first year. Soon the kicking and flailing he does in his crib will lead to rolling over. About 6 months, he might start crawling and sitting up on his own. Some infants even take their first steps before their first birthday. In addition to this gross motor development, your infant's fine motor skills will take off, too. He'll learn to grasp toys and pick things up between his thumb and forefinger, so by the time he's 1, he'll even be able to feed himself --- but be prepared for a mess. On average, infants will triple their birth weight in the first year.
Social Development
At first, your infant will sleep much of the day, and it may seem as though she's not aware of her surroundings when she's awake. It won't be long before she's making eye contact with you and other caregivers, looking around with interest at her environment and cracking that first precious smile. By 7 months or so, your infant may be interested in really playing with you in simple games of peek-a-boo or handing toys back and forth. She'll start to laugh and engage her "audience," aware of when she's being observed. About that time, separation anxiety can kick in, and your little one will cry when she's handed to an unfamiliar person. This is normal but can last several months or even into her second year.
Verbal Development
In his first weeks, your infant will cry to let you know he needs something. A wet diaper, empty belly or not enough sleep can cause the tears to start. By 6 months, he'll start babbling --- making silly sounds that sound as if he's trying to talk to you. By the time he's a year old, he'll be able to imitate simple sounds such as "mama" and "dada" and can respond to simple requests such as "wave bye-bye." He recognizes common words and can point to the objects they represent. He may even be able to say some actual words.
No Two Infants are the Same
Infants develop at different rates. If your baby was premature, her developmental age may not match up with her chronological age at first. For example, if she was 2 months premature, your baby at 6 months may be ready to reach only the 4-month developmental milestones. Many preemies catch up with their peers within the first year. Some babies seem to get the motor skills part of development more easily than other areas, while other infants seem content to learn to speak early and take their time learning to walk. Your infant's pediatrician will ask questions about her development at each checkup, and if there's a concern, it can be addressed early on.
