Newborn Development Milestones: Tracking Your Baby's Growth and Progress

Welcoming a newborn into your life is an exhilarating experience filled with moments of joy, wonder, and sometimes, a bit of anxiety. One of the most important aspects of parenting is understanding and tracking your baby's developmental milestones. These milestones are crucial indicators of your baby’s growth and progress. When you understand these milestones, you can track your baby’s progress and talk to your pediatrician about any delays that may happen. Dr. Aldo Bejarano at AFB Pediatrics in Pasadena, TX, can explain newborn care and the milestones that your baby will hit.

Tracking Newborn Milestones

When your baby is finally here, you’ll want to make sure that they’re healthy and all their needs are met. One way to make sure all is well is by tracking their developmental milestones. It’s important to talk to your pediatrician in Pasadena, TX, about newborn care and what milestones you can expect at each stage of development.

In the initial weeks, your newborn will focus on adjusting to the new world outside the womb. You’ll notice them exhibit natural reflexes like sucking, crying and cooing, and starting to make brief eye contact. This is especially true during feeding.

As your baby grows, their milestones will become bigger and more significant. At two to three months, they’ll start to develop social smiles and motor skills. You may notice your baby will begin to smile in response to your interactions, marking a significant social milestone. Improved neck muscles allow your baby to lift and hold their head during tummy time, an essential exercise for motor development. Your baby will start to grasp objects, showing early signs of hand-eye coordination.

Around four to six months, your baby will increase their physical and cognitive abilities. Babies typically start rolling from their tummy to their back and vice versa, a key physical development milestone. Your baby will begin to experiment with sounds, leading to the development of speech. Listen for repeated consonant sounds like “ba-ba” or “da-da.” Babies will start to reach for and explore objects with their hands and mouths, learning about their environment through touch and taste.

Around nine months, your baby will start to crawl or sit without support. From ten to twelve months, you can expect your child to stand and start saying their first words!

Contact Our Pediatrician Today

Make sure you know how to care for your baby and what milestones you can expect. Contact Dr. Aldo Bejarano at AFB Pediatrics in Pasadena, TX, to learn more about newborn care and developmental milestones. Call for more information and to schedule your appointment today at (832) 386-9200.