Infant Milestones to Mark
Being aware of the infant milestones is vital to understanding your baby's current development and future
behavior.
You need to be able to catch those "windows of opportunity" in your infant's life.
Knowledge of the infant developmental stages helps you guide your child along the path of becoming a
healthy and functioning adult.
You want your baby to grow
not too fast...not too slow...
but at just the right pace.
This "mothersense" lets you to see into the future and identify either those areas where your newborn
is excelling, or areas where he needs a little nudge.
Worst case scenario, you can bring it up to your
doctor at the next well baby visit. Either way, your baby benefits!
What are the Infant Milestones?
A milestone is a significant stage or event in a persons life. Your baby will hit more milestones
in this first year than at any other time in his life.
There are 5 sets of developmental stages to watch for in the first year.
{Photo by Nico Maessen}
I have found the easiest way to track all these infant milestones is in a Baby Binder (a notebook that organizes all my
medical information for my baby).
How Often Do You Track the Milestones?
You can track your baby's development on a weekly basis, but that may be asking for
a panic attack. What if he's a week behind? two weeks?
In the big picture that's nothing, but tracking
weekly may tempt you to be overly concerned.
For the most part, observe the milestones quarterly and occasionally monthly. Briefly check what's coming up (using the
Infant Milestone Marker) and then make a note when they occur.
Chances are, your Baby Binder will be more accessible
than your Baby Book. You can always transfer the results over later on.
If Your Baby Seems Behind
First of all, take a deep breath. Some children may be slower in some areas, but super fast in others. Is your infant extremely active but slow to speak?
Most often these things even themselves out. Be patient.
If it seems not to be improving after a few weeks, mention it to your pediatrician.
Become an expert on your baby. She is wonderfully unique and will develop at her own pace.
Influencing Your Baby's Development
Mothers (and others) can have a huge influence on their infant's development. Here are some tips on
how to encourage this growth:
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