Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
DC
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Top parenting stories this week
Baby's Developmental Milestones
From crawling to saying his first words, learning when to expect your baby's major developmental milestones can help you adjust to his changing needs.
by: Nancy Ripton
In This Article
Developmental Milestones
- At birth, a baby can only see things at a distance of between nine and 14 inches.
- Ages four to six months are a huge time of social growth for your child.
- By six months, your baby shouldn't be sedantary for more than an hour at a time when awake. To encourage crawling, try placing interesting objects just out of reach.
- Talking to your baby is one of the best ways to encourage development.
- By one year, your baby will understand simple words, including his name.
e all want our kids to have the brains of Einstein, the coordination of Michael Jordan and the grace of a prima ballerina, but just because your baby reaches a milestone ahead of schedule doesn't mean he's headed for greatness. (If he's a little slower getting there, that's usually no biggie either.) Tracking milestones can be helpful in gauging appropriate playtime, providing a safe environment and exposing potential problems. Here's how to monitor your baby's progress:
What is a milestone?
Milestones are developmental stages that happen in all healthy children without having to be taught. They involve a range of skills including: communication, language, social, plus large and fine motor skills. Achieving a milestone a few weeks late is completely normal, but if your child misses a milestone by a month, you should see a pediatrician. Chances are nothing is wrong but, in rare cases, missed milestones can help you recognize developmental problems that benefit from early diagnosis.
