Benchmarks of a baby’s growth serve as critical pointers towards their overall wellness and health. They are instrumental for caregivers and medical professionals in assessing the baby’s development and recognizing any potential lags or problems that might require attention.
Infant development varies, yet certain universal developmental stages are typically achieved at specific ages. Below are a few typical milestones that one may observe in a baby’s growth journey:
First three months:
Raises head when on tummy
Tracks moving items with eyes
Grasps and swings toys
Displays smiles and produces cooing sounds
Identifies known faces
Starts to vocalize
Months 4 to 6:
Flips over in both directions
Sits with assistance
Reaches for and holds toys
Starts passing objects from one hand to another
Acknowledges their name
Produces vowel sounds
Months 7 to 12:
Sits without support
Either crawls or shuffles
Stands with help
Vocalizes with various tones, imitating speech intonations
Signals towards things with index finger
Begins to display basic gestures, like shaking head for ‘no’
Months 13 to 18:
Walks on their own
Starts to stack blocks
Displays curiosity in elementary pretend play
Points at body parts when named
Mimics simple words
Starts using more words or signs
Months 19 to 24:
Runs and kicks a ball
Constructs towers with four or more blocks
Complies with easy instructions
Indicates images in books
Independently uses a spoon and cup
Uses two-to-three-word sentences
Remember, these milestones are just approximations and not every infant will reach them simultaneously. Each child is distinct and develops at their own speed. If you’re worried about your baby’s progress, it’s always a good idea to seek advice from your child’s doctor.