Smiling (8 weeks)
Your baby has an adorable grin, but your husband says, "That's just gas." Is he right? It depends on how old your little grinner is. An infant can't produce what's called a social smile until about 8 weeks. It takes that long for his nervous system and vision to develop enough to see you and produce a smile in response.
Your baby has an adorable grin, but your husband says, "That's just gas." Is he right? It depends on how old your little grinner is. An infant can't produce what's called a social smile until about 8 weeks. It takes that long for his nervous system and vision to develop enough to see you and produce a smile in response.
Smiling is a baby's first social skill -- he's picking up on how
relationships work -- as well as a signal of emotional growth. Your
baby is showing you he can distinguish between different emotional
states; he's aware that the happy feeling he gets when he sees you isn't
the same as the sad feeling he has when you're not around.
Rolling over (2 or 3 months)
During tummy time (which you should supervise), your baby may lift herself into a push-up position and then start to rock back and forth or kick her feet. Then, if she's strong enough, those movements will send her rolling over. (She may get startled and cry the first time!) Flipping from back to front often takes until around 5 months because it requires more coordination and strength. You don't need to coach your baby to roll, though; just make sure she has a safe place to try it out if she wants to.
During tummy time (which you should supervise), your baby may lift herself into a push-up position and then start to rock back and forth or kick her feet. Then, if she's strong enough, those movements will send her rolling over. (She may get startled and cry the first time!) Flipping from back to front often takes until around 5 months because it requires more coordination and strength. You don't need to coach your baby to roll, though; just make sure she has a safe place to try it out if she wants to.
Grabbing (3 or 4 months)
After the first few months, babies begin to gauge where things are in space, and they can plan an action, such as grabbing a pacifier. By simply dropping something and picking it up, your baby's learning that he can manipulate things with his hands, and he's learning more details about how his toys work. He can make the rattle produce a sound, for instance, which teaches him cause and effect. Being able to grab things means he can engage more in play -- whether by himself or with you.
After the first few months, babies begin to gauge where things are in space, and they can plan an action, such as grabbing a pacifier. By simply dropping something and picking it up, your baby's learning that he can manipulate things with his hands, and he's learning more details about how his toys work. He can make the rattle produce a sound, for instance, which teaches him cause and effect. Being able to grab things means he can engage more in play -- whether by himself or with you.
Hugging (5 months)
Your baby will
quickly learn to hug Mom, Dad, and other people she's comfortable around
-- as well as her stuffed gorilla, the cat, and anything else she
adores -- by watching others hug and getting hugged herself.
Not all babies are wild about hugging, though. Some are naturally
more affectionate, while others are just too busy exploring their
environment to stop for a cuddle. So try not to take it personally if
your baby isn't wrapping her arms around you. She might be more
receptive to physical affection before naps, at bedtime, or while you're
looking at a book together.
Playing peekaboo (6 months)
What is
it about this game that makes your baby crack up no matter how many
times you play? When a baby understands the concept of object permanence
-- that even though he can't see your face, it's still there behind
your hands or his blankie -- he gets a thrill from knowing that at any
minute your smiling face will pop back into view.
A few months later, he'll be able to play along by hiding himself. How to increase the fun:
1. Sit close enough that your baby can see your eyes. It'll keep him focused on what you're doing.
2. Ask, "Where's Mommy?" Your voice will reassure him that you're still there.
3. Vary the length of time you're hiding and play with the tone of
your voice to make the game more stimulating for him (and less
monotonous for you!).
Sitting up (8 months)
Once your baby has enough balance, arm strength, and head, neck, and lower-body control, she'll be able to sit up and take in a whole new world. At this point, her improving eyesight will allow her to see objects outside her direct line of vision -- and she'll try to pull herself up to get a better look.
Once your baby has enough balance, arm strength, and head, neck, and lower-body control, she'll be able to sit up and take in a whole new world. At this point, her improving eyesight will allow her to see objects outside her direct line of vision -- and she'll try to pull herself up to get a better look.
At first, she won't be able to sit up for long on her own and may
need to put out her hand for balance. To motivate your baby to sit well,
dangle or set her favorite toy in front of her, then slowly move it
from side to side to encourage her to reach for the toy and rely solely
on her torso and legs for balance. She'll be sitting without help in no
time!
Crawling (6 to 10 months)
Now that your baby's sitting up by himself, it won't be long before he's looking to broaden his horizons. He'll probably start by repositioning himself, from sitting to being on all fours. Then he'll test his arms: When he figures out that they can support him, off he'll go. Some babies start to move without doing the typical hands-and-knees crawl. Yours might shuffle across the floor on his bottom, slither on his belly, or even roll. To encourage him, clear some space. Then place things he likes (including yourself) just out of reach. And be sure to keep him safe by childproofing the house. Take a tour on your hands and knees, and remove anything your baby shouldn't get into.
Now that your baby's sitting up by himself, it won't be long before he's looking to broaden his horizons. He'll probably start by repositioning himself, from sitting to being on all fours. Then he'll test his arms: When he figures out that they can support him, off he'll go. Some babies start to move without doing the typical hands-and-knees crawl. Yours might shuffle across the floor on his bottom, slither on his belly, or even roll. To encourage him, clear some space. Then place things he likes (including yourself) just out of reach. And be sure to keep him safe by childproofing the house. Take a tour on your hands and knees, and remove anything your baby shouldn't get into.
Pulling up (8 months)
Until now, your baby has depended on you to help her get up on her feet. But at around 8 months, her torso and leg muscles will be strong enough for her to stand up on her own. It's also when she'll realize that she can: Her confidence has been boosted by her ability to roll over, sit up on her own, and crawl.
Until now, your baby has depended on you to help her get up on her feet. But at around 8 months, her torso and leg muscles will be strong enough for her to stand up on her own. It's also when she'll realize that she can: Her confidence has been boosted by her ability to roll over, sit up on her own, and crawl.
At first, she'll look for things to pull up on -- the side of the
crib, the arm of the sofa, your leg -- so be sure to remove objects
that aren't safe or sturdy enough for support, or that have sharp edges
she can fall on. And while she may not need to grab your fingers to get
up anymore, she won't know how to bend her knees to sit until she's
about 10 or 12 months.
Walking (10 to 18 months)
First steps represent a huge developmental leap. Walking requires muscle strength, coordination, balance -- and a certain level of emotional maturity, too. After all, when you're crawling, your center of gravity is just a few inches off the ground. To walk you need to have a bit more confidence. That's why some beginning walkers are content to cruise along the furniture for weeks. The more eager hike away and never look back.
First steps represent a huge developmental leap. Walking requires muscle strength, coordination, balance -- and a certain level of emotional maturity, too. After all, when you're crawling, your center of gravity is just a few inches off the ground. To walk you need to have a bit more confidence. That's why some beginning walkers are content to cruise along the furniture for weeks. The more eager hike away and never look back.
On the most basic level, walking frees up your child's hands to carry
items while he moves about independently. By incorporating everything
he's learned from all the other milestones -- about space, objects, and
people -- he can now bring you things. This turns a purely physical
skill into a game, as well as a rich social interaction. For instance:
He comes over to you with his little toy duck and you say, "Thank you."
You quack a few times (to his delight), and then he takes his duck away
and you say, "Bye-bye, duck."
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