Could anything bring you more joy than to see your baby smile for the first time? How about when she stands for the first time? Or talks? There is a whole range of developmental milestones that your baby will reach within her first year of life. Giving your baby copious love, affection and gentle encouragement will help her along the way. Here are 5 important milestones that will be a source of interminable joy for both you and your baby.
Eye Contact. At 6-8 weeks your baby will begin to make eye contact with you. This is one of the most thrilling milestones a parent will experience. Not only because of the intimacy and bonding it fosters, but also because it indicates that your baby’s neurological growth is proceeding normally.
Social Smile. This does not refer to the smile your baby appears to make when she breaks wind. That’s simply a reflex. At about 3 months, your baby will start to exchange smiles with you. In other words, it’s a reciprocal smile that is a genuine, joyful response to your smile, and it indicates an ability to experience different emotional states. How wonderful! What’s more, it shows that various parts of the brain are developing on track. For instance, it indicates that your baby is able to see short distances, and that she is capable of recognizing and acknowledging external stimuli.
Cooing. During the first several weeks of life, your baby communicates by crying (as you’re well aware of, to be sure). At around 8 weeks or so, however, the part of the brain responsible for speech (front temporal lobe) begins to come alive. When cooing, your baby is using the back of the throat to make various vowel sounds, and they’re all adorable (e.g., ah, oh, ooh, etc.).
Pulling Up and Standing. At about 9 months, your baby will begin pulling herself up to a stand. This is a prelude to walking and more independence. This shows in no uncertain terms that your baby’s torso and leg muscles are gaining strength and stability. Before too long, you’ll be chasing her all around the house.
First Words. For many parents, this is far and away the most joyful milestone their baby reaches. It’s the genesis of our most powerful and expressive form of interpersonal communication. At around 12 months, your child will begin to say her first words. Of course, these are normally monosyllabic words or word fragments (e.g., “mo” for more) limited to basic objects in your little one’s sweet little world. Before too long she will be a certified chatterbox.
The first year of your baby’s life is a time of marvelous surprises and ineffable joy for the whole family. Try not to bet too stressed out about whether she’s reaching the various milestones right on time, though. Remember, experts agree that what constitutes normal development has very wide parameters. A little love and encouragement goes a long way. Meanwhile, enjoy that miraculous bundle of joy.
