5 Key Baby Development Milestones

Becoming a parent is an exciting time, but it can also be a little daunting. There are so many things to think about and prepare for. One of the most important is ensuring your baby is on track developmentally. Here are five key milestones you should watch for in your baby during their first six months.

Smiling

Smiling is one of the first things parents look for when their baby is born. And for good reason – it's a key milestone in your baby's development. Not only does smiling help your baby to communicate their happiness, but it also helps to build social bonds and relationships. When you see your baby smile, it's a sign that they're responding to their surroundings and beginning to understand the emotions of those around them. So if you want to give your child a head start in life, encourage them to smile as often as possible!

Lifting and turning head

Lifting and turning the head is a significant development milestone for babies. When they are born, infants can only control their head movements to a limited extent. However, they gain more control over their heads and necks as they grow and develop. Lifting and turning the head helps babies learn about their surroundings and develop muscle strength coordination skills. As parents, you can encourage your baby’s head movement by providing plenty of opportunities for tummy time and encouraging them to reach for toys.

Rolling over

Rolling over is an essential milestone for babies, as it shows they are developing the ability to move their bodies independently. When your baby starts to roll over, they may only be able to do so from belly to back. But with practice, they will eventually be able to roll from back to belly. This milestone usually occurs around 4-6 months of age. Babies need to learn to roll over in order to learn how to sit up, crawl, and walk. Therefore, if you notice your child beginning to roll, encourage them by giving them lots of praise.

Making cooing noises

One of the most exciting milestones during an infant's first year is when they start to make cooing noises. For many parents, it's the first time they feel like their baby is truly communicating with them. While it may not seem like much, cooing is an important step in your baby's development. By making these noises, they learn to control their vocal cords and produce different sounds, laying the foundation for future speech development.

Crying

A baby's earliest and most crucial form of communication with the outside world is through crying. It's their method of communicating that they require something, whether it's food, comfort, or a positional shift. Although it might be difficult to hear our infants cry, it is important to keep in mind that this is an essential newborn development milestone. Baby crying aids in the development of the vocal cords and lungs in addition to strengthening the link between the child and the person caring for them. Babies learn that they are loved and protected through the common experience of crying.

These are five key baby development milestones you should watch for in your baby during their first six months. Of course, there are other achievements that you may notice as well, but these five are some of the most important. If you're concerned that your baby might not be reaching milestones soon enough, read more here. If you want to know about how to help your little one reach their milestones faster, check out this article.

Photo by Victoria Rain