The first year of your baby’s life is going to be filled growth and changes. It is important to keep in mind that every experience for your child is a new experience, and never again will your child experience this type of height and weight gain. There are a number of milestones that you can be prepared for as your child makes his way through his first year of life. During the first month, your baby will be mainly reacting to stimulus; crying when he is uncomfortable and eating when hungry. He may be able to lift his head up while lying on his stomach. Within the next two months, he will probably begin to recognize your face and voice, and smile when smiled at. By the time he reaches six or seven months of age, he will probably be able to sit up, roll over and may even begin to crawl. Most items and objects will be explored by mouthing them.
The last five months or so of the baby’s first year will show an astonishing amount of development in most children. Your child will probably be able to move into a sitting position on his own, crawl very quickly and may even stand or take a few steps with assistance. He has learned his first few words and can identify his parents. He may be developing anxiety around strangers, but may also be very curious about new people in his world. He is eating semi-solid foods like mashed or pureed fruits and vegetables, cereal and even well-cooked eggs or pasta. Nearly everything he grasps will be headed toward his mouth, so you will need to be extra carefully concerning small items left where he can reach them. You baby should be allowed to explore his world as much as possible and will benefit most from your playing with, talking and reading to him.
