Seeking a baby milestone chart for the first year is a great first-hand parenting experience for fresh parents.
You can all agree that holding your baby for the first time and gently touching that cute face is a priceless moment you share with your little one.
In those moments, many questions might go through your mind, such as “When will my baby say its first word? When will it take its first step?”
Well, search no more! In this article, you can find all the answers about your baby’s developmental stages in its first year!
Baby Milestone Chart by Months
When I was a baby parent, I always felt relieved when I had some relevant guides regarding my baby’s development.
By doing independent research, I also relieved my pediatrician from my constant stress questions and panic attacks.
So, to also destress you (and your pediatrician too), here’s our baby milestone chart for the first year of life.
Keep in mind that every baby is a unique and precious gem. Not every baby fits with the averages on most charts.
Note that if you distinguish major differences between your baby’s development and the averages in the chart, contact a pediatrician.
After all, medical professionals can really come in handy when you’re facing a possible worst-case scenario.
What Month Do Babies Change the Most?
The first year of the baby’s arrival is truly amazing. We see how our tiny little cutie slowly starts growing more and more independently.
According to our trusted medical experts, babies change and grow the most in the first three months.
As babies eat and sleep, their bodies grow, and their little muscles keep getting stronger. It’s buff baby season!
So, as they grow, they are more capable of doing other physical and mental activities, such as walking, running, jumping, etc.
For example, during the first month, babies can have problems holding up their heads but they sure can track objects with their tiny eyes.
The next two months are revolutionary for your baby. It starts to support its head by itself. It’s adorable to see a baby being happy about simple things like this!
Your baby will also start chewing on objects, most commonly its toys or your really expensive furniture, as an alternative.
In this period, you can recognize that your baby has a bigger need for food, timely rest, attention, and parental care.
By the end of the three months, most babies are capable of responding to sounds, recognize people, and start playing.
When Can Babies See?
A few weeks after your baby is born, it can see 8-12 inches away. When I think about it, that’s pretty scary!
Imagine being a newborn and watching your mom or dad blur out in the distance. How did I go through that?
So, during this period don’t stay far away from your baby’s sight, especially if you are talking with your little one.
Your baby will have clear vision at four months old. But, it’ll still have the habit of focusing on mommy’s or daddy’s face.
What Colors Do Babies See First?
I have always been curious about this question, so I suppose you are too (you have to be a curious parent if you’re reading this article).
Babies can make a difference between dark and light even when they’re chilling in the comforts of the womb.
Newborn babies see the contrast between black and white and distinguish some shades of grey, as well as the colors red and green.
When do Babies Clap?
There is nothing more sweet than watching your baby smiling as it claps its little soft hands. I still remember those beautiful moments when I was a baby parent!
Usually, babies start expressing their satisfaction and happiness by clapping hands when they’re around eight months old.
But babies can mimic their parent’s clapping at an earlier age too. So, you can play the infamous game: “Who will make the baby clap first?”
When Can Babies Smile?
It feels like yesterday when I was sitting for hours, watching my baby, waiting for a smile, and even imagining that smile. You’ve probably been there too.
Well, babies will start expressing their joy and excitement through bombs of smiles at about three months.
Before that, your baby might bless you with smirks or little smiley faces. That’s a cuteness overload for sure!
When do Babies Start Laughing?
You have probably wondered yourself when will the contagious baby laugh begin. Well, babies start to laugh out loud at four months.
They react to many stimulations since they communicate through laughing. So, expect your cutie to keep smiling even if its diaper is full in a not-so-funny way.
When do Babies Start Rolling Over?
Seeing your baby roll over is as adorable as it might be dangerous. So, being cautious every day keeps the doctor away!
Anyways, according to medical experts, a baby should start rolling over at about four months of age.
When do Babies Start Sitting Up?
Human babies aren’t giraffe babies. They can’t run right after coming out of the womb! So, they’ll need a lot of parental help, even for sitting up.
A baby goes through different phases in the process of learning how to properly sit up by itself. Those phases include:
- Sitting with some help from parents- 6 months;
- Sitting without support, but might need help getting in the position- 9 months;
- Sitting with absolutely no help from parents- 12 months;
When do Babies Start Crawling?
A baby’s ability to crawl is linked to its motor development. Usually, babies start crawling at seven months. But that’s not a strict average!
Some babies start crawling at six months, others begin at eleven months, and some use alternative methods such as belly crawling or scooting.
When do Babies Start Talking?
The moment we all wait for. What will be our baby’s first word? According to our baby milestone chart, your baby’s first words are some babbled-out sounds at about three months old.
But the real first ma-ma or da-da should come when your little one is about eleven to twelve months.
Some babies can talk clearer than others, but no worries! Your baby is still trying to communicate and will continue to develop its verbal skills.
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