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Monitoring the Physical Infant
Developmental Stages
The physical infant developmental stages form a five piece puzzle.
Thankfully, we can complete this puzzle without a PhD in Biology.
These infant development stages are perhaps the easiest of all the infant milestones to track.
There are five things that are
important in physical development. Those five puzzle pieces are:
- Head circumference
- Length
- Weight
- Vision
- Teething
There is often confusion between the stages of motor skills development and the physical
infant developmental stages. Motor skills involve
learning to use muscles effectively.
This means rolling over, reaching for toys, and learning to walk. Baby's
mind is learning to give instructions and her muscles are learn to obey.
In contrast, these infant developmental stages are dealing with the physical changes a baby will go
through in the first year.
Head circumference is the most important tool doctors use to measure infant growth. This is because doctors use
those measurements to ensure the brain is growing at a healthy rate (which is obviously very important!).
It is easily tracked on a Growth Chart.
I can easily weight and measure length, but getting a "measurement crown" on my squirmy 6-month-old is out
of my league. I gladly leave that to the professionals. Instead, I take the measurements they take and add
it on my own personal Growth Chart, placing it inside a health file for Elena.
I have compiled all the milestones together in a free checklist for my friends and visitors in the Infant Milestone Marker. You can request this
free checklist here. It goes through all the milestones (not just the physical infant developmental stages).
Zero to Three Months
Weighing Baby
At Home
To weigh your baby at home, first weigh yourself (or your husband) and then again, holding your infant.
Subtract the two and...
ta da!
...your baby's weight!
Weight
He will gain an average of 4.5 to 6 pounds (or 2 - 2.7 kg) before the end of the third month.
Length
He will grow about 3 - 4.5 inches (or 7.6 - 11.4 cm) longer.
Vision
At birth, he will only be able to see about 8-15 inches away - just enough to see your face. What he does
see will be mostly black and white. He will
be able to sense light, shapes and movements, but most things will be blurry.
Your face will be the most
exciting thing for him, so make sure it's available often! Slowly, he will begin to gain control over his
eyes and cease occasionally cross-eyed looks. By the third month, he will be able to focus them enough to track items.
Three to Six Months
Weight
She should have doubled her birth weight by the end of the sixth month.
Length
Babies usually don't grow as much during this quarter. It tends to pick up again around the 6th to 7th month.
Vision
She is beginning to understand depth perception, which helps her motor skills develop.
By this time, she's an expert at identifying primary colors and is beginning to be sensitive enough to
notice pastels.
Teething
Some babies may start teething as early as four months. Watch for excessive drooling, fussiness, and endless chewing.
Six to Nine Months
Soft Spot
His soft spots (called fontanels) are beginning to grow together. It may take up to 18 months for them to completely
fuse together. The presence of the fontanels enabled her skull to make the treacherous journey through the
birth canal.
Vision
Her eyes are almost adult-like in clarity and depth perception. She probably prefers looking at items close up, but her
vision is getting strong enough to recognize people and objects across the room. Her eyes are near to their
final color.
Teething
She is most likely ready to start eating solid food (but definitely not steak and potatoes).
Nine to Twelve Months
Weight
His should have tripled his birth weight by now.
Length
He has probably grown about 10 inches (25.4 cm) since birth and is most
likely between 28 or 32 inches long (71.1 - 81.3 cm).
I am continually amazed at the physical changes that will occur in the first year of Elena's life.
To look at her little face now and know that in a year she'll be wearing those "giant" 12 months clothes!
Following these infant developmental stages in the Milestone Marker makes it seem like they last a
bit longer than they actually do - getting as close to "slowing down the clock" as I possibly can.
Related Articles
Infant Reflexes: Baby Boot Camp
Infant reflexes develop in the boot camp of the womb to help your baby survive after birth. They are a
great indicator of development and create a wonderful opportunity for motherly interaction.
 read more...
Baby's List of Gross Motor Skills
This "ultimate" list of gross motor skills can help you identify the earliest signs of a developmental
disability in your infant. If you had to choose just one of all the infant milestones to track,
this is the one.
read more...
Using Infant Sign Language to Boost Development
Teaching your infant sign language is an easy way to stimulate your baby's mind and broaden his ability to share
about the world around him. That communication translates into fewer tantrums and more smiles.
read more...
All the photos on this page can be found at www.flickr.com and
were used
according to licensing requirements.
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