All babies develop differently, but they all go through some general developmental milestones. These milestones are defined as specific actions or skills that a baby learns to do at specific time points in his life.
Types
Babies go through many types of milestones over their first year of life. Physical milestones include fine and gross motor skills, such as holding small objects and sitting up. Cognitive milestones are skills involved with exploring the world and solving problems. Language development is measured by tracking when a baby starts to vocalize and how he uses language. Social and emotional milestones involve things like smiling and interacting with others.
Significance
Tracking when a baby reaches particular developmental milestones can help parents and pediatricians make sure that the baby is on track with his growth and development in all areas of his life. They are also important because they build upon one another for the development of future skills. For example, a baby must learn to vocalize simple sounds before being able to make words and sentences. A baby who is developing properly may not meet each milestone at the same point as another child of the same age, but will always show a continual progression through the various developmental stages.
Examples
Some specific milestones are ones that parents eagerly anticipate in their children. Most babies first smile between months 1 and 2. They usually can sit without support and imitate some sounds by month 6 or 7. By month 8, the typical child will be saying his first "mama" and "dada."
Considerations
While many parents become concerned if their child does not meet particular milestones in a timely manner, it is important to remember that the milestones are just averages and not necessarily an indication that something is wrong with your baby. In fact, most milestones are given in ranges of time, not a specific age or date. Also, premature babies will reach milestones later than full-term babies. Parents should track their preemie's development based on his due date, not when he was actually born.
Warnings
Despite the individual differences that make babies reach particular milestones at different times, parents can watch out for a few things that may indicate a potential area for concern. In particular, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that parents watch to be sure their baby is meeting most of the milestones for his age and progressing through different stages, since missing too many milestones can be a sign of autism or a learning disorder. Most developmental problems can be treated more easily when caught early.
