Infant Development

Do you wonder what your infant should be doing at this age? This is a summarized guide of where your infant should be in his or her development. If your child does not meet these standards, give it another month or two before you get alarmed. If you are very concerned talk to you pediatrician about the problems you are concerned about.

At two months old, your baby should be starting to smile, make noises and begin to laugh. The frequency of these things should increase with time. Your baby should be able to lift its head and chest up when laying on their stomach. Keep in mind that when they start doing this, they can only do it for very short periods of time. In the next couple of months your baby will begin trying to roll over, sit up with support, and hold onto a rattle. Remember that not all babies are the same, and some babies will take longer to learn these things than others.

At four months old, your baby should be able to roll over from their front to their back, support weight on their legs, sit with support, and hold onto a rattle. Your baby will start to imitate sounds, and reach for things. Four months of age is usually a good time to start adding infant cereal to their diet, so talk to your pediatrician to see if they think your baby is ready. In the next couple months, you should be able to start adding baby food to their diet as well. Always start out with just fruits and vegetables, and add desserts later.

Most babies take two to three naps each day, and sleep through the night. If your baby has been sleeping in a bassinet or with you, now is a good time to get them into a full sized crib, preferably in their own room.

At nine months, your baby should be starting to pull themselves up to stand, sit without support, stand up holding onto things, crawl imitate sounds, wave goodbye, and begin to show anxiety over strangers. In the next few months your baby should be trying to say mama and dada, and walk with the help of mom or dad.

At this stage, your baby is curious about how things work, and usually like to play patty cake, and peek a boo, and being read to. Reading to your baby is excellent for stimulation of the brain. Most babies take 2 short naps though out the day, but don't be alarmed if they do not. My children fought sleep tooth and nail, and usually only took one nap through the day, if at all.

At twelve months old, or one year, your baby should be getting ready to walk on their own. Look out! Next thing you know they will be running. By now, baby should be saying mama and dada and begin to use a spoon on their own. If you haven't child proofed your home by now, you better do it quick.

I hope that this information is as helpful to you as it was for me. Remember that not all babies are the same, and each baby learns things in their own time. Also remember to enjoy these precious times now, because they aren't babies for long.