Development of Your Baby ( 1- 12 Months) A Guide.

1–4 months

Physical

 Head and chest circumference are nearly equal to the part of the abdomen.  Head circumference increases approximately 2 cm per month until two months, then increases 1.5 cm per month until four months.  Increases are an important indication of continued brain growth.  Continues to breathe using abdominal muscles.  Posterior fontanel.  Anterior fontanel.  Skin remains sensitive and easily irritated.  Legs.  Cries with tears.  Has six to ten baby teeth.  Gums are red.  Eyes begin moving together in unison (binocular vision). Motor development  Rooting and sucking reflexes are well developed.  Swallowing reflex and tongue movements are immature;inability to move food to the back of the mouth.  Grasp reflex.  Landau reflex appears near the middle of this period; when baby is held in a prone (face down) position, the head is held upright and legs are fully extended.  Grasps with entire hand; strength insufficient to hold items. Holds hands in an open or semi-open position.  Movements are large and jerky.  Raises head and upper body on arms when in a prone position.  Turns head side to side when in a supine (face up) position;can not hold head up and line with the body.  Upper body parts are more active: clasps hands above face, waves arms about, reaches for objects. 4–8 months Physical  Head and chest circumferences are basically equal.  Head circumference increases approximately 1 cm per month until six to seven months, then 0.5 cm per month; head circumference should continue to increase steadily, indicating healthy, ongoing brain growth.  Breathing is abdominal; respiration rate depending on activity; rate and patterns vary from infant to infant.  Teeth may begin to appear, with upper and lower incisors coming in first. Gums may become red and swollen, accompanied by increased drooling, chewing, biting, and mouthing of objects.  Legs may appear bowed; bowing gradually disappears as infant grows older.  Fat rolls ("Baby Fat") appear on thighs, upper arms and neck.  True eye color is established. Motor development  Reflexive behaviors are changing:  Blinking reflex is well established  Sucking reflex becomes voluntary  Moro reflex disappears  When lowered suddenly, infant throws out arms as a protective measure.  Swallowing reflex appears and allows infant to move solid foods from front of mouth to the back for swallowing.  Picks up objects using finger and thumb (pincer grip).  Reaches for objects with both arms simultaneously; later reaches with one hand or the other.  Transfers objects from one hand to the other; grasps object using entire hand (palmar grasp).  Handles, shakes, and pounds objects; puts everything in mouth.  Able to hold bottle.  Sits alone without support, holding head erect, back straightened, and arms propped forward for support  Pulls self into a crawling position by raising up on arms and drawing knees up beneath the body; rocks back and forth, but generally does not move forward.  Lifts head when placed on back.  Can roll over from back or stomach position.  May accidentally begin scooting backwards when placed on stomach; soon will begin to crawl forward.  Looks for fallen objects by 7 months  Plays ‘peek-a-boo’ games  Cannot understand “no” or “danger” 8–12 Months Physical  Respiration rates vary with activity  Environmental conditions, weather, activity, and clothing still affect variations in body temperature.  Head and chest circumference remain equal.  Continues to use abdominal muscles for breathing.  Anterior fontanel begins to close.  More teeth appear, often in the order of two lower incisors then two upper incisors followed by four more incisors and two lower molars but some babies may still be waiting for their first.  Arm and hands are more developed than feet and legs (cephalocaudal development); hands appear large in proportion to other body parts.  Legs may continue to appear bowed.  "Baby Fat" continues to appear on thighs, upper arms and neck.  Feet appear flat as arch has not yet fully developed.  Both eyes work in unison (true binocular coordination).  Can see distant objects (4 to 6 m or 13 to 20 ft away) and points at them. Motor development  Reaches with one hand leading to grasp an offered object or toy.  Manipulates objects, transferring them from one hand to the other.  Explores new objects by poking with one finger.  Uses deliberate pincer grasp to pick up small objects, toys, and finger foods.  Stacks objects; also places objects inside one another.  Releases objects or toys by dropping or throwing; cannot intentionally put an object down.  Beginning to pull self to a standing position.  Beginning to stand alone, leaning on furniture for support; moves around obstacles by side-stepping.  Has good balance when sitting; can shift positions without falling.  Creeps on hands and knees; crawls up and down stairs.  Walks with adult support, holding onto adult's hand; may begin to walk alone.  Watches people, objects, and activities in the immediate environment.  Shows awareness of distant objects (4 to 6 m or 13 to 20 ft away) by pointing at them.  Responds to hearing tests (voice localization); however, loses interest quickly and, therefore, may be difficult to test informally.  Follows simple instructions.  Reaches for toys that are out of reach but visible  Recognizes objects in reverse  Drops thing intentionally and repeats and watches object  Imitates activities like playing drum