Birth to 12 Months
Pro Parenting Guide for Birth to 12 Months
When assessing an infant from birth to 6 months I look for the following developmental milestones:
(scaled down for parent understanding and give a general overview). A good reference screening tool I use is Developmental Assessment of Infants and Children, 2nd Edition)
During feeding time
- While feeding the baby in the semi upright position does the baby form a tight seal when drinking from the bottle or breast with no liquid leaking from their mouth?
- Does the baby show any signs of gagging, coughing or choking?
- Does the baby look at me for a few seconds while feeding?
- Is the baby relaxed and calm during feeding time?
- Does the baby cry when hungry? Tired?
During playtime
- Is the baby making any noises, cooing, crying, brief smiling, giggling establishing eye contact?
- When placed on their back can the baby look at objects on both sides? Moving their head left to right and right to left all the way?
- Can the baby grasp a rattle in each hand and move rattle, bringing their hands to mouth, extending both arms to reach for an object? Kicking legs when excited?
- On their belly are they starting to lift their head?
- Is the baby starting to show signs of rolling side to back? Back to side? (4 months)
- Can the baby take weight through their legs when held up right?
- Can the baby sit up? (can be supported by an adult)
When assessing an infant from 6 to 12 months I look for the following developmental milestones:
During feeding time: While seated in a high chair
- Is the baby able to hold their bottle?
- Open their mouth when the bottle or spoon is presented?
- Starting to move their tongue around when baby food is placed in the mouth?
- Closing their lips when swallowing food?
- Showing facial expressions when tasting different foods?
- Trying to grab at food placed on the table? Self feeding finger foods (at first with the whole hand then with pincer grasp by 12 months)
- Is the baby maintaining more eye contact?
During play time:
- Are there a variety of noises and facial expressions; cooing, giggling, gurgling?
- Is the baby interactive? Shows excitement when play by kicking their legs or moving their arms?
- Does the baby react to noises by turning their head? Briefly stops when parent calls their name?
- Does the baby explore objects? Looks at toys they are holding, bangs the toy? Shakes it? Intentionally drops it?
- Does the baby bang two blocks together? Transfer a block from one hand to the other?
- Is the baby’s general demeanor one of calmness? Happy? Inquisitive?
- Motor skills; on their belly lifting their head higher and starting to reach for objects, starting to sit alone (6 months), standing up holding on taking steps (8-9 months), crawling (10 months), starting to walk (12-14 months). These are general guidelines.
Just a little FYI taken from the American Academy of Pediatrics I find useful
Feeding:
- Newborns: breastfeeding 10-12 times (over 24 hrs) per day moving to 8-10 times per day over the next several months. Try to avoid artificial nipples until latch is established. Formula 24-27 oz, every 3-4 hrs over 24 hours.
- 1 month: 24-27 oz, every 3-4 hrs over 24 hours
- 2-3 months: 26-28 oz, every 3-4 hrs over 24 hours
- 4-6 months 30-32 oz per day, tapering down to 5-6 feedings a day
Introduction of food: Feed sitting up in highchair
- 6-9 months: start feeding cereal then move to baby food. Introduce one flavor at a time of baby food for 3-5 days before moving to the next to check for allergies. May introduce 100% pure juice no more than 4-6oz per day (I prefer diluted). When babies can sit up they can hold teething biscuits. Healthy snacks 2-3 times per day.
- 9-12 months: babies move from gumming to chewing food. When moving from baby food adult food is important to mash the food and keep it soft to prevent choking. Mash the same types of vegetables and fruit that the baby has been eating. For example, if the baby eats peas mash up adult peas, the same goes for fruit. I initially stay with the same types of foods that were given as a baby. Some more solid fruits may need a blender like apples. You can also mash pasta and sauce. I recommend meats be given in very small sizes (mashed initially) until there is actually chewing. I usually use the visual ½ the size of a dime.
Sleeping:
- According to AAP infants (2-4) weeks should not be allowed to sleep more than 4 hours without a feeding
- 3 months baby can sleep through the night
- 4-12 months baby will sleep through the night taking a morning and afternoon nap
Playtime:
- 1-2 months: Baby needs to experience back and belly time several times throughout the day as tolerated.
- 2-6 months: playing in all positions again is important. Belly time, side lying and lying on their back are all important to develop the muscles and nervous system. Babies that remain in the same position daily for example, an infant seat, lying down can have flattening of the skull. Moving around on the floor helps develop muscles and reflexes the babies need roll and sit up. Present toys one at a time. Less is more. This allows the baby to fully examine one toy at a time. As the baby approaches 6 months they can be presented with 2-3 toys to choose from.
- 6-12 months: while baby is seated present with different toys to grasp/transfer from one hand to the other/bang together. Make a variety of facial expressions and for your baby to respond to. Provide a safe environment for the baby to start crawling around and cruising along furniture. Have simple toys for the baby to play with, for example; activities table for baby to stand at, large blocks, push button toys that produce a result, rattles, soft books ect..
Do’s and Don’ts (just a few)
- Do try to maintain a consistent sleep/wake/eat schedule
- Do use feeding time as an opportunity to socialize with you baby using a variety of facial expressions and simple words. “more” “all done” “eat” “drink”
- Do provide your baby a variety of foods to avoid picky eating
- Do continue healthy eating when transitioning off of baby food
- Do move your baby in different positions throughout the day to provide different experiences.
- Do provide a quiet environment for the newborn and limit the amount of stimulation
- Demonstrate a variety of ways to explore toys
- Avoid placing infants in front of a TV lights can be over stimulating
- Avoid a lot of toys on a tray when eating
- Avoid using walkers as they can be dangerous and limit trunk muscle development