Baby Milestones Months 1-3
New parents are often understandably anxious of what to expect in the first few weeks and months of their baby’s life, but it doesn’t have to be this way! By learning common milestones and setting their expectations, new parents can become more comfortable in their new roles as caregivers. Continue reading below to learn about some of those milestones.
As quick note before we jump in. These are merely guidelines for expectations. If you find your baby behind on reaching some of these milestones (or even early) don’t fret. All babies develop at their own rate, and this itself should not be a concern. Do, however, keep your pediatricians updated on the regular progress of your child.
SLEEP
Sleep will probably be a major theme in the first few weeks with your baby. Newborns sleep a lot! But they also wake up a lot! So while your baby will be catching their zzz’s regularly (or irregularly depending on how you look at it), you as a new parent will probably be sacrificing some of your own sleep for the baby.
In addition to sleep, you should look for some of these developments in your baby in the earliest weeks:
Eye Movement and Focus Milestones
Early in the newborn phase, babies can only see in black and white. Slowly, as their eyes develop, they’ll be able to focus on items 8 to 12 inches from away. Early on, they’ll struggle to track moving objects though, till around the five-week mark.
Auditory Milestones
Newborns will have much more developed ears at birth. They can hear perfectly from their earliest days and will even be able to distinguish your voice from others. Research suggests that newborns can even distinguish between different languages.
Language, Communication, and Voice Milestones
In the early days, your baby won’t have much of a voice, aside from crying. Around the two-month mark, however, they may start to coo in response to your voice or presense.
Physical and Movement Milestones
Newborns won’t be able to physically move themselves much in the early days. They’ll be mostly depending on you for all their needs. However, there are a few physical signs they may start to display. They may start to clench their fists or even grab your finger. They’ll also soon learn to lift their chins up during tummy time.