Your Childs Early Years

The first few years of your baby's life are very critical to the rest of your childs development.  The timetable below is a general guideline that may help tell a new parent when to start looking for certain responses.  When a child isn't growing like other infants, parents are usually the first to notice.  Of course, we recommend you contact a professional locally if you have any concerns in your childs' normal development.  The below applies equally to boys and girls.  Gender is used for simplicity.  No implications are being made by gender selection.

  0-3 Months Old:  Baby smiles back at you when you smile and talk to her or gently touch her face.  Your baby makes cooing sounds like "oooo" and "aaaa".  Baby lifts head and chest when lying on her tummy.  Baby watches you when you walk across the room.

  3-6 months old:  Baby laughs and babbles (bababa or dadada).  Baby rolls from back to tummy.  Your baby plays with her hands by touching them together.  Your child can reach for and hold a toy.  Baby turns her head to sounds like your voice, radio or TV.

  6-9 Months Old:  Your baby can sit up without falling.  Your baby looks for a small toy when you drop it.  Baby is beginning to play peek-a-boo or wave bye-bye after she sees you do it.

   9-12 Months Old:    Your baby looks at the right things when you say words like bottle or ball.  She can pull herself up to standing by holding on to furniture.  Your baby is able to pick up small things like a raisin or a piece of dry cereal using a thumb and one finger. 

  12-15 Months Old:   Your baby points to or asks for things she wants.  Your child can feed herself with her fingers.  She enjoys being the center of attention.  Your baby walks by herself.

  15-18 Months Old:   Your child can drink from a cup.  Your baby points to body parts (like nose, feet, eyes) when you name them.  Your baby likes to put thiongs in and out of containers.  Your baby can say words to tell you what she wants.  Your child likes to look at books and turn pages by herself. 

  18-24 Months Old:   Your child has begun to put words together (Mama's shoe, car go, Daddy bye-bye).  Your baby can point to pictures in a book when you name them.  Your child can run.  Your child can take off her sweater, socks, or hat all by herself.

  24-30 Months Old:  Your child can walk up stairs.  Your baby can make a straight line with a crayon after you do it.  Your child can ask to go to the bathroom.  Your child can follow a simple two-step direction (like "Go to your room and get me a diaper").

   30-36 Months Old:   Your child knows her first name.  Your baby can unbutton buttons.  Your child ask questions.  Your child can jump up and down.  Your child understands the meaning of words like in, out, up, down.  Your child understands "Bring me one diaper", or "Give me one cookie".