Baby Growth Milestones and Common Signs of Delay in Baby Growth

From holding your little angel in your arms for the first time to hearing the first ‘mama,’ parenting is a journey full of emotions and joy. The newborn grows at a rapid rate, and before you know, your baby starts walking and speaking. It is such a sweet time to see the baby grow stronger each day. But how do we know that the baby is growing at a standard rate just like any other baby should?

Baby Growth Milestones

Baby growth milestones or child development stages are the theoretical milestones during the growth phase of a child. This is just the technical definition. Even the simple gestures like rolling on the back or reaching out for toys are examples of growth milestones. But of course, these vary with the age of your baby. These are the basic skills that can be identified easily as the baby grows. Just like we talk about various types of development or maturity in adults, the same goes for the babies. The growth milestones can be classified into: 1.Motor development 2.Language development 3.Social or emotional development

First to the Third Month

The first month after a baby is born is such a delightful time for the parents and the entire family. Everyone feels grateful, and the baby is the center of attraction for everyone, and they just can’t get enough of their sweet blessing. However, amidst all the joy, you should be a little observant of the growth milestones. The growth milestones for the baby in the first to the third month include: 1.Jerky and quivery hand movements 2.Keeping hands in tight fists 3.Bringing hands to the face 4.Focusing on objects 8 to 12 inches away 5.Moving head from side to side while lying on the stomach or when touched on the cheeks or stomach 6.Recognize some sounds, like parents’ voices 7.Sucking immediately when the mouth or lips are touched 8.Preferring human faces rather than other patterns 9.Preferring black-and-white patterns over the colored ones Most of the babies go through these milestones by the time they are one month old.

Third Month to Sixth Month

By the time the baby is three months old, parents usually get accustomed to parenting. They get used to waking up to a crying cute doll-like baby. At this age, babies are usually so lively and beaming with joy. They also gain some weight around this time. But this is not the only growth milestone that your baby is supposed to go through at this time. The growth milestones for the baby in the third to sixth month include: 1.Raising the head and chest when lying on the stomach and supporting the upper body with arms. 2.Grabbing and shaking small toys 3.Following moving object with eyes 4.Observing human faces closely. 5.Hand and eye coordination 6.Recognizing familiar objects and faces from a distance 7.Babbling and imitating some sounds 8.Smiling at the sound of parents’ or grandparents’ voices 9.Stretching legs out and kick when lying on stomach or back 10.Crying when left alone

Baby Growth at Glance

Seventh Month to Eleventh Month

At this time, your little angel can start to sit up! It might feel that time is really passing at a fast rate, and from a delicate newborn, the baby turns into a chubby teddy bear and is adored by everyone around him or her. By this time, it becomes very important to keep track of the growth milestones. The growth milestones for the baby in the seventh to the eleventh month include: 1.Rolling from the stomach to back and vice versa 2.Sitting up 3.Reaching for objects with hand. 4.Supporting entire body weight on legs when held upright 5.Developing full-color vision and mature distance vision 6.Transferring objects from one hand to the other easily. 7.Using voices to express simple emotions like joy and displeasure 8.Responding to their own name 9.Babbling chains of consonants when asked to repeat 10.Exploring various objects with hands and mouth 11.Playing simple games like peek-a-boo. 12.Enjoying mirror images and reflections

Baby Growth at Glance

One Year Old and above

And before you even realize, you’re prepping up for your child’s first birthday! The baby is now a goofball full of energy and glee. Besides picking the perfect first birthday gift, closely observing the growth milestones is equally important. The growth milestones for the one-year-old baby include: 1.Sitting without any assistance. 2.Crawling 3.Getting into a hands-and-knees position 4.Forming a pincer grasp using the thumb and forefinger 5.Walking while holding onto some support, and possibly a few steps without any support 6.Uttering simple words like “dada” and “mama” and imitating other simple words 7.Use exclamations 8.Responding to simple verbal requests 9.Exploring objects by shaking, banging, throwing, dropping 10.Learning to use simple objects like cups, hairbrushes, etc. 11.Finding hidden objects 12.Identifying simple objects through images and pointing out at the correct ones when asked to do so

What If My Baby Is Not Going Through the Growth Milestones on Time?

All the babies follow the same growth progression, i.e. they undergo the same growth milestones, But the point to note here is that no two babies will go through a particular milestone at the same time. All the babies take their own time to go through different milestones. There’s a range of time over which the babies are supposed to go through the particular milestones. So, if you feel that your baby has not started sitting or speaking while other babies of the same age do, there’s probably nothing to worry about. The baby might be just enjoying the growth process and your heavenly embrace. But, it’s always a good idea to be fully assured. You can consult a professional if you feel that your baby is not hitting the growth milestones in time.

Common Signs of Delay in Baby Growth

1.Delay in rolling over, sitting, or walking 2.Poor head and neck control, head moving to the side when not supported 3.Stiffness in muscles 4.Muscle spasms 5.Awkward body position 6.Clumsiness 7.Delay in speech 8.Difficulty in swallowing Seeking Professional Help In case you notice any of the signs of delayed development, try talking to a paediatrician. The best way to deliver all the information to the paediatrician is to note all the signs and small details. This is the best way to provide all the information so that the expert can suggest the right treatments or therapies. In case the paediatrician diagnoses the baby with some health condition, do not delay in seeking medical help. After all, it’s about the health and development of your precious baby. Even the paediatrician can also connect you with some institutions which can provide the necessary treatment or therapy.

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