Baby Development Milestones

 

There is a lot going on this month as your baby grows and becomes more aware of his physical self and the world around him. Here's a look at some of the developments you might be seeing. While each baby develops at his or her own pace, experts can guess when certain milestones are likely to occur. Use this Baby Development Chart as a guide during your little one's first year. If you're curious about your baby's growth, check out these guidelines for a wonderful 52 weeks of development. And don't worry if your baby isn't doing exactly what is outlined in the baby milestone chart; each child grows in a completely unique and individual way. Always discuss your questions and concerns with your pediatrician.

Growth and Physical Development: Stronger Every Day

Thanks to the development of bones and muscles, your baby can now stretch, showing you how tall he is. On average, she is probably growing 1 to 1½ inches per month and gaining 1½ to 2 pounds, although every baby is different. When she was a newborn, many of her movements were involuntary reflexes, but now she may be starting to be more intentional by moving her head, hands, and feet, for example. With the strength of your neck increasing, you will soon be able to hold your head up independently and look at people and things in your field of vision. At the same time, you may notice that your baby begins to reach for nearby objects or follow moving objects with her eyes as her vision improves.

Senses: Basic Components of Communication

There is much to discover little by little. His vision is improving and he is now more sensitive to circular shapes and patterns, including spirals and curls. Faces, especially yours, are among his favorite places.

When it comes to hearing and speaking, your baby has already learned to associate his voice with comfort, comfort, and love. Now, she is probably becoming more aware of your tone and emphasis on certain words, and will try to mimic those sounds. By the age of 3 month milestones, she is learning that conversations are a two-way process and is learning other communication concepts. Notice how he captures her reaction of joy to her babbling and her own delight when she sings or reads to her, for example.

How to Support Your Baby's Development?

Your pediatrician will share a variety of ways you can help support your baby's development. Many of these suggested activities will encourage movement and help your baby master the skills she will need to roll, sit, and hold her head upright, while others will promote cognitive and sensory development. Here are some strategies to consider, along with some 3-month-old activities to try:

·         Strengthen your back and neck muscles. With you close, place your baby on her tummy on a play mat or blanket for short periods of time on her tummy to gain more control over her legs, arms, and head.

·         Promotes hand-eye coordination. Encourage your baby to grasp small objects like toys or your fingers. You will need this skill as you learn how to successfully put your hands to your mouth.

·         Helps visual development. Her distance vision, color vision and tracking skills are improving this month. Help him by introducing stimulating colors, patterns, and textures for him to enjoy in the form of toys, books, colorful mobiles, playmates, and other activities.

 

Feeding Your 3 Month Old Baby

Feeding the 3 month old baby may become less frequent than in the first days of the newborn. Whether their nutrition comes from breast milk alone, or from formula, or some combination of the two, most babies this age can consume more milk at each feed than they could in the previous two months now five to six ounces on average, so his feedings are less frequent perhaps six to eight feedings in a 24-hour period.

How Much Sleep Does a 3 Month Old Baby Need?

At this point, your baby's sleeping habits may be going through some changes. All that growth you've been doing means you can eat more during the day and therefore possibly require less or no nighttime feeding. She is now more alert during the day, which in turn makes her feel sleepier at night. And now, you can take two or three naps during the day, followed by a longer stretch at night. Some babies may be sleeping through the night, but it is important to remember that this does not apply to all babies and that "overnight" often means a period of about five to six hours.

How to Put Your Baby to Sleep

When putting your baby to bed at night or for a nap during the day, follow these guidelines for safe and restful sleep and to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome):

·         Always back

·         Never in bed with you

·         On a firm crib mattress without loose bedding

·         Comfortably dressed at room temperature

·         With pacifier

 

4 Month Baby Development Milestones

Now that you have a 4-month-old baby, life may be a little less hectic as you work through some established daily routines. But, that little guy probably still keeps you on your toes, and that's to be expected! Now, and for the next several months, he will be busy honing his new motor skills and will eventually be able to grab things, roll over, and sit up on his own. The best is yet to come read on to learn more about what to expect this month.

Your baby may be doing any of the following right now:

·         Holding your head independently

·         Putting hands to mouth

·         Sit with support

·         Reach out and grab objects of interest.

Personality: Knowing Your Little One

By the age of 4 month milestones, your baby's increased mobility and cognitive awareness make him feel even more curious about the world around him. They will also likely become more sensitive to your tone of voice. Your soft, gentle voice soothes and reassures him, while a harsher, angrier tone will let him know something is wrong. And it is also likely to mimic your tone in its babbling and babbling. You may be able to imitate certain sounds or syllables long before you can form actual words.

But what if your baby doesn't seem so calm or curious? That is fine too. Sometimes babies who seem shyer need more comfort and attention from their caregivers. Notice if your baby seems overwhelmed, overstimulated, or withdrawn in certain situations, and give him time to get comfortable with new faces or new activities in his life.

Growth and Physical Development: Steady and Strong

Your 4-month-old will likely continue his rapid growth rate about 1 to 1 ¼ pounds per month, but remember that a consistent growth rate is more important than any specific weight or length gain. You may want to learn more about how your pediatrician will use the Baby Growth Charts to track your baby's growth. There is a lot of cognitive and physical development going on right now, and you are probably about to start seeing more deliberate actions from your baby as you learn concepts like cause and effect.

Senses: Development of Distance Vision

The world around your baby is literally coming into focus as his distant vision constantly improves. It may begin to recognize you and other familiar faces from a distance, and it can easily follow moving objects with its eyes from side to side. Your color vision is improving as well, so you may notice that it seems to favor shades of red and blue. Another source of endless visual fascination for your 4 month old baby? The same! An unbreakable mirror is a great toy for babies of this age, as they can see a wide range of colors and shapes, as well as their own movements reflected in them.

 

It is not just your sense of sight that is maturing, but also your language skills, thanks to better hearing and cognitive development. They may be able to imitate some of the rhythms, tones, and patterns of some of the words you say to them, and their cries may sound different based on their various needs. It may sound like baby babbling now, but you are building a solid foundation for a later speech.

5 Month Baby Development Milestones

Let's see what exciting and sometimes challenging changes await you this month.

Growth and Physical Development: Twice the Size

Each baby is different and will develop at their own rate, but in the 5 month milestones of your baby, you may notice that they weigh about twice their birth weight. On average, babies this age will gain about 1 ¼ pounds and grow 0.8 inches long per month. Your baby's healthcare provider will track his growth using baby growth charts to make sure his growth is consistent.

Senses: Your Baby Loves Red and Blue

Your baby's eyesight continues to improve and he can now see much further than before. You may notice that reds and blues are her favorites, as she may prefer to look at those colors. Your little one will probably like to look at more complex patterns and shapes; you will find them really interesting as your eyesight matures, so feel free to display your picture books and posters with intricate and bold designs.

Movement: Building Stronger Core Muscles

Your baby is getting stronger and working to build those all-important core muscles. At this point, you can lift and support your head and chest when lying on your stomach. You will continue to strengthen these muscles while pushing your head and chest up. Maybe you kick your legs excitedly and rock back and forth on your belly. This isn't just that she's cute, it's the way she's developing the strength to eventually roll over and also to start crawling.