Blending developmental milestones information of Dr. Sears' The Baby Book the American Academy of Pediatrics' Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to age 5, Touchpoints by Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, and Child Development, 2nd Ed. by A. Christine Harris,
the first three months is split into weeks (zero
to four weeks,
five to eight weeks, and
nine to twelve weeks) to more clearly illustrate your child’s accomplishments. The skill inventory is not exhaustive nor are the milestones within each subheading necessarily in the order of achievement or importance. This is also not meant as medical advice, just mom-to-mom sharing the general guide of development.
As you study each chart, notice that babies develop from the "top-down" and "inside-out", meaning your baby gains control of his/her head before the arms or legs (top-down) and gains control of the arms before the fingers ("inside-out"). Appreciate your baby's uniqueness and individual schedule. Your child may focus on one skill while letting the others plateau for a time. Do not get into the confusing habit of comparing your baby to others. Consult your pediatrician with your concerns for medical advice, not your neighbors and friends.
Feel free to
print this out in chart form (.pdf format) to post on the fridge. That way you can note when you notice your baby mastering a skill and slide it into his/her scrapbook (that you
may have time to work on when your "baby" is 15!).
Watching the zero to four-week-old develop:
During your baby's first month, keep your eyes peeled for these behaviors and skills as you enjoy getting to know your baby. Large Muscle (or Large/Gross Motor) Development: Fetal position favored May attempt to lift head while on tummy Involuntary/reflexive muscle movements Vision restricted to 8-10 inches, still blurred Moro reflex (startles spontaneously), more common when lying on back Rooting reflex (whether breastfed or not), especially when something brushes against cheek Stares vaguely at surroundings
Small Muscle (or Fine Motor) Development: Fists clenched Mostly involuntary movement
Lingual (or Verbal) Development: Social and lingual development often intertwine as the young child uses his/her growing lingual development to capture attention. These skills have been listed under their separate headings when appropriate, but may be listed under each when applicable. Insistent cries (may begin to have fussy period around suppertime each day lasting to 12 weeks of age)
Social (or Irresistible Charm!) Development: Smiles in sleep "Molds" body against person holding him/her Distinguishes parents' voices (especially Mom’s) from others No routine to eating, sleeping, waking
Intellectual (or Cognitive) Development: Learns trust through parents’ consistent, patient response to cries Quietly alert (best time for learning and interaction, not for getting the dishes done)
for about one hour of every ten hours
How do I please my zero to four-week-old? Breastfeeding Walking/being carried while in
sling
or in arms White noise (recordings of rain, ocean waves, static-type noises) Loud ticking clock (imitating sounds from womb) Skin-to-skin contact/gentle baby massage Feeding on demand/not scheduled feedings Being sung/talked to/hearing parents’ voices Eye-to-eye contact (vision best 8-10 inches from face)
Various Warning Signs/Contact your pediatrician if your baby: Sucks poorly and has few wet diapers (should soil 6-8 disposable or 8-10 cloth diapers in 24 hours) Shows no blinking reflex in brightly lit areas Makes very little arm/leg movement or seems very stiff, very loose (or loses muscle tone) Constantly trembles lower jaw (when not excited, cold, or crying) Is consistently nonresponsive to loud sounds Has more than 6-8 exceptionally loose, watery bowel movements (not to be confused with typically loose
breast milk stools) -- suggests dehydration along with dry mouth and decrease in wet diapers Has two rectal temperature readings above 100 degrees F (37.8 degrees C)
Watching the five to eight-week-old develop:
Large Muscle Development: Arms and legs begin to relax and move more fluidly as muscle twitches/reflexes lessen Head still wobbly but can lift it 45 degrees for a few seconds when on tummy
Small Muscle Development: Begins to unclench hands and swipe aimlessly May hold (soft!) toy when placed in hand for several seconds
Lingual Development: Coos, squeals (believed to be in response to simply feeling good, rather than external stimulation) Fussy period may be continuing (to 12 weeks -- This, too, shall pass, Mom and Dad!)
Social Development: Smiles responsively! (It’s not “gas” anymore!) Reads/responds to parents’ moods Maintains eye contact/loves faces Can track moving objects with eyes Likes to be held/cries if put down Stays awake longer when interacted with
Intellectual Development: Trust grows by making associations– gives cues (like mouthing objects/hands), expects consistent response (feeding) Distressed if needs are not met Differentiates between people, sounds, and objects Watches hands when they come into view
How do I please my five to eight-week-old? Nursing (If you had a rough start, it should be getting easier now with "experience".) Carry/wear in a
sling
as much as possible Gentle infant massage/stroking bare skin Beautiful music (classical, instrumental, new age nature-type sounds) Examining mobiles/toys with contrasting colors (red, white, black patterns) Skin-to-skin on Daddy’s bare chest A warm bath with Mommy or Daddy
Various Warning Signs/Contact your pediatrician if your baby: Is not responsive (does not smile) at the sound of your voice Does not notice his/her hands (They are still poorly controlled, but usually finds them interesting when they come into view) Has a rectal temperature over 101
degrees F
Watching the nine to twelve-week-old develop:
Large Muscle Development: Rolls from back to side Arms/legs move freely Bears weight on legs for short time Holds head steady and higher than bottom (for up to 10 seconds) while on tummy looking around Sits with support
Small Muscle Development: Begins hand fascination -- sucks fingers, plays with hands Hands open as grasp reflex disappears -- will hold toy longer, grab hair/anything placed in hand Will swipe at toys/jungle gyms Explores own body with hands (especially face, mouth)
Lingual Development: Laughter begins, may seem forced (my daughter's sounded like forced coughing!) Makes vowel sounds, "eee", "aaah", "oooh" Shrieks loudly/enjoys hearing own voice Fussy time usually begins to lessen now
Social Development: Smiles easily Laughter begins, may seem forced Shrieks loudly/enjoys hearing own voice Varies cries to communicate needs
Intellectual Development: Cause/effect understanding begins (touch dangling toy, it moves) but still some confusion (ex.: if he/she kicks and dog barks, may believe he/she caused dog to bark) Long-term memory builds as baby waits for expected response Stops sucking to listen Differentiates between speech and other sounds
How do I please my nine to twelve-week-old? Breastfeeding Walking/being carried in
sling or in arms Chest-to-chest contact Swiping at toys/shaking rattles Would rather play propped up than lying down Face-to-face interaction with caregivers
Various Warning Signs/Contact your pediatrician if your baby: Does not attempt to track (follow with the eyes) a nearby moving object Fails to reach for, grasp, and hold items Neglects to smile at people Does not hold up head
