Developmental milestones are an essential part of tracking your baby's growth and progress and are best used to help you gather information to talk about with your healthcare providers. From motor skills to language development and cognitive abilities, these milestones offer valuable insights into your baby's development journey. Understanding what to expect and how to support your baby can make a significant difference for new parents.
One of the first sets of developmental milestones often noticed by parents are the gross motor ones, like rolling. Strength to roll is gained through many small movements, like those used during tummy time, when your baby is trying to support their own head.
Around 3 to 4 months, many babies start rolling over from their tummy to their back. This movement strengthens their neck and back muscles, which are essential for future milestones like sitting up and crawling. Around 6 to 7 months, as your baby grows and gains more strength, you'll see them trying to sit up on their own.
This is an exciting time, but also one where supervision during sleep becomes even more crucial. While babies are learning these big skills, their sleep can become more disturbed. Some even start to roll over during sleep unexpectedly, increasing their chances for positional asphyxia. Using a wearable baby monitor like the Snuza Pico 2 can be helpful during this stage. Its abdominal movement monitoring provides an added layer of reassurance, especially if your baby tends to move around a lot during sleep.
At first, your baby will communicate primarily through crying, which can be hard to interpret, at least initially. From about 4 to 6 months, babies start cooing, smiling, babbling, and copying sounds that you make. To encourage language development, you can talk to your baby, narrating your day with them, telling them what’s happening around them, and involving them in family chats.
Reading to tiny babies might feel like it’s not achieving much, but research shows that children — even babies! — who are read to develop language much earlier than those who aren’t read to. Plus, it’s an enjoyable way to talk to your baby, if just chatting to them feels a bit weird to you.
Around 8 to 12 months, you might notice your baby becoming more curious, exploring objects around them, and trying to figure out how things work. Cognitive milestones involve your baby's ability to think, learn, and solve problems.
Engaging in interactive play and providing age-appropriate toys can stimulate their cognitive development. Here are some toys and games to play with your baby to stimulate them at this stage of development:
As they explore, ask open-ended questions, and encourage them to problem-solve on their own. For example, "Can you find the circle shape?" or "How does the drum sound?"
Supporting your baby's development involves more than just observing milestones. It's about creating a nurturing environment where they can grow, explore, and learn at their own pace.
Regular check-ups with healthcare providers, engaging in activities encouraging movement and exploration and ensuring a safe sleep environment are all crucial aspects of supporting your baby's development.
Understanding and supporting your baby's developmental milestones is an ongoing process that requires patience, observation, and engagement. By being aware of what to expect and how to support each milestone, you can help lay a solid foundation for your baby's future growth and development. With the right tools and resources, like the Snuza range of baby monitors, you can navigate this journey with confidence and peace of mind.
Interested in more sleep and parenting insights? Take a trip down memory lane with our curated selection of articles from months past. These timeless pieces offer valuable tips and advice that are still relevant today. Whether you're a new parent or looking to refresh your knowledge, there's something for everyone in our archives.