Child Development

Mommies and daddies!

You’ve already witnessed your little one’s first breath, held them in your arms for the first time, heard their cry, and changed their soiled diaper. But there will be much more to come, and new developments will happen so quickly that it can take time to keep up.

A baby’s first year is an exciting time full of milestones; say HELLO to the WONDERS of the baby stage. This guide will help you know more about your growing baby’s steps.

But before I begin, always remember that babies love the sound of your voice, so talk to them and cuddle them as much as you can.

The first month

Your newborn baby continues to develop after birth. Sleeping and feeding are all that matters to your newborn in the first month. Although most babies will probably cry a lot at this moment, crying can indicate hunger and a dirty nappy, and sometimes crying has no reason.

The second month

This is when you will witness the magical smiles (usually at six weeks). Of course, your baby will still be crying, but the smile makes all the crying worthwhile. At this stage, your baby will gain weight pretty fast. They will also make lots of new sounds and gurgles and start to put their heads up and push their arms upward.

The third month

The worst of crying should be over by now, and the cuteness overload starts to kick in by the third month; your baby will know your voice and try to respond to you when you talk to them. They will also learn how to grasp toys and try to put things into their mouth.

The fourth month

From 4 months, your baby will be perfecting the milestones they have already achieved. They will have more control over everything they do, such as their coordination, vision, touch, and hearing. The best part is that they can copy your expressions and communicate better.

Your baby’s physical skills will develop; they will learn to roll from tummy to back, push down on legs when you hold them and make them stand. Some babies may even start crawling in the next few months.

The fifth month

By this month, your baby’s weight may have doubled from the weight at birth. Your fifth-month-old will soon be sitting up on their own, learning to roll from tummy to back and then back to belly. They can quickly bring any object to their mouth, especially their feet. Of course, they will be interested in your food, but breast milk and formula should be their main diet for 6 months.

The sixth month

Six months is an exciting time for both parents and babies. This month marks your baby’s first step into solid food. Apart from eating, your baby can learn to sit up briefly without support, blow raspberries, express emotions, respond to words, and recognize their name.

The seventh month

A seven-month-old baby may not be ready for hot tea parties, but they are eager to socialize more. They may now be fond of playing peek-a-boo, sitting on their own for long periods without support, enjoying different flavors of solid food, recognizing and responding to emotions, and putting objects into their mouths (babies love garbage cans, don’t say I didn’t warn you)

The eight-month

By the eight-month, your little explorer will be moving around a lot. They may learn to rock back and forth on their hands and knees or drag themselves along the floor, getting ready to crawl. Some babies may even cut their first teeth around this age.

The ninth month

Buckle up! Your little one is on the move. By now, your baby should be able to handle finger foods and start understanding the meaning of words. They may also learn how to pull themselves up to a standing position.

The tenth month

Most of the time, you will most likely be chasing your little one as they learn how to pull themselves up onto the furniture or objects around a room. They may also learn how to shake their head when you say NO.

The eleventh month

An eleventh-month-old would have developed communication skills. So get ready to hear them say mama and dada for the first time. Oops…Dada always comes first!

They will also communicate by nodding, pointing, grunting, and waving. They may even start understanding the word NO and Don’t Touch.

The twelfth month

Yippee!

Congratulations, mommas and dadas!

You are now the parents of a toddler…Yay!

During the twelfth month, they will be a lot of throwing, pushing, banging objects, and dropping them. Your sweet pea may also learn to say simple words like NO, HI, and BYE. Your little cruiser might also learn to stand briefly without support and take a step or two.

That’s it! Dearest mommies and daddies, enjoy your time with your little ones, as some of us still miss those precious moments!