Milestones: Birth to 6-Months-Old
Parenting has been one of the wildest adventures you've been on so far! Late nights, early mornings, it's all starting to run together. What day of the week is it again? But you wouldn't trade it for anything! Now your baby's growing and you're wondering what milestones you should be watching for. We've compiled a list from trusted sources for you!
Want a printable?
We can do that too! Follow our blog because at the end of this baby milestones series we will add a free printable so you can check off the list, have a list to carry to the pediatrician's office, and something for the baby book if that's your thing!
0-3 Month Milestones and Normal Infant Behaviors In the beginning, your baby will do a lot of pooping, peeing, eating, more eating, sleeping, some crying, and more eating! That's pretty normal behavior for a newborn. A little stretch here and a few aha moments there, but for the most part, mom and baby are still functioning as one unit! Here are milestones you should expect to see by the end of the third month of your baby's life.
will focus on black-and-white or high-contrast patterns
focuses about 8 to 12 inches away
begins cooing and smiling
moves arms and legs to show excitement
recognizes some sounds (hearing is fully matured by this time)
turns head towards a sound or voice
the scent of his/her mother’s breastmilk is recognizable
prefers to look at human faces
while lying on tummy can move head side to side
open and closes fists
will make eye contact
brings hands to mouth
reaches for things
beginning baby babble
follows the movement of things back and forth with their eyes
can lift and hold head up when lying on his/her tummy
can push up briefly while lying on tummy
will swipe at an object dangling in front of them while on their tummy
settles down or smiles in response to sounds or voices
calms with rocking, holding, touching, and soft sounds
uses different cry for different things like (hunger, pain, tired)
may turn toward familiar sounds and voices
opens and closes hands
uses a hand to swat (likely doesn't have control yet)
4-6 Month Milestones and Normal Infant Behaviors
My oh my how your baby has grown! They've reached almost all of the newborn milestones, or the majority of them and are on to bigger much cooler things now! Developing new skills and mastering milestones takes a lot of work for an infant. At bigger milestones like rolling, sitting up, crawling, and walking you may seem some regression in sleep. This is normal and once your grasshopper has mastered the art they will likely find their new groove! Here are some milestones your baby should reach around the end of their sixth month of life!
rolls from tummy to back and back to tummy
is using both hands to check out or touch toys
rocks back and forth on knees
maybe begin crawling, backward crawling, and army crawling
uses hand and eye coordination to grab a toys
grasps and shakes hand toys like rattles
puts toys or objects into their mouths using both hands
can pass things from one hand to the other hand
likes to play with people and may cry if you stop
accepts entire weight with his/her legs while standing with support
will reach for a toy while on their tummy
begins to use consonant sounds like "ma ma ma and da da da"
begins to copy sounds
will take turns making sounds with you
makes noise with their mouth for attention (like baby babble)
lies on back and reaches for their feet
begins taking a real interest in getting to things outside of their reach
can transfer a toy from one hand to the other while on his/her back
Generally happy when not hungry or tired
begins showing interest in food as you eat
recognizes faces and things from a distance
begins to recognize familiar from unfamiliar faces
holds head up steady and unsupported If you begin solids:
will open mouth or focus as they see a spoon approach their mouth
can begin to move the food from front to back of the mouth
When to Bring Things to Your Pediatrician's Attention
Your baby is growing and learning things quickly. If you miss some of these milestones or arent'really sure they've done all of these things that's okay! More than likely your baby will hit most of these milestones. But, if at any time you think something may be abnormal, even if you can't explain it, but have a feeling you should absolutely contact your pediatrician. If your pediatrician is unable to answer your questions fully and address your concerns respectfully in a satisfactory way please seek a second or even third opinion.
You are your child's advocate.
There is no right or wrong way to birth or parent your babies and there's no one more invested in them than you! Sometimes things are easily overlooked in a 20-minute pediatrician visit. It's ALWAYS better to err on the side of caution when it comes to your children.
Follow us on the book of faces or check back bi-weekly for our next blog in the Milestones Series!
Happy Birth and Parenting!
~Elizabeth Luke