102 | Oh BABY! The First Month: •Can lift head momentarily •Turns head from side to side when lying on back •Hands stay clenched •Strong grasp reflex present •Looks and follows object moving in front of them in range of 45 degrees •Sees black and white patterns •Quiets when a voice is heard •Cries to express displeasure •Makes throaty sounds •Looks intently at parents when they talk to him/her The Second Month: •Lifts head almost 45 degrees when lying on stomach •Head bobs forward when held in sitting position •Grasp reflex decreases •Follows dangling objects with eyes •Visually searches for sounds •Makes noises other than crying •Cries become distinctive (wet, hungry, etc.) •Vocalizes to familiar voices •Social smile demonstrated in response to various stimuli Red flags: Each child develops at her own pace, but talk to your baby’s doc- tor if your 1-month-old: •Feeds slowly or doesn’t suck well •Doesn’t seem to focus her eyes or watch things moving nearby •Doesn’t react to bright lights •Seems especially stiff or floppy •Doesn’t respond to loud sounds The Third Month: •Begins to bear partial weight on both legs when held in a standing position •Able to hold head up when sitting but still bobs forward •When lying on stomach can raise head and shoulders between 45 and 90 degrees •Bears weight on forearms •Grasp reflex absent •Holds objects but does not reach for them •Clutches own hands and pulls at blankets and clothes •Follows objects 180 degrees •Locates sound by turning head and looking in the same direction •Squeals, coos, babbles, and chuckles •“Talks” when spoken to •Recognizes faces, voices, and objects •Smiles when he/she sees familiar people, and engages in play with them •Shows awareness to strange situations Red flags Each child develops at his own pace, but talk to your child’s doc- tor if your 3-month-old: •Can’t support his head well •Can’t grasp objects •Can’t focus on moving objects •Doesn’t smile •Doesn’t react to loud sounds •Ignores new faces •Seems upset by unfamiliar people or surroundings The Fourth Month: •Drooling begins •Good head control •Sits with support •Bears some weight on legs when held upright •Raises head and chest off surface to a 90 degree angle •Rolls from back to side •Explores and plays with hands •Tries to reach for objects but overshoots •Grasps objects with both hands •Eye-hand coordination begins •Makes consonant sounds •Laughs •Enjoys being rocked, bounced or swung The Fifth Month: •Signs of teething begin •Holds head up when sitting •Rolls from stomach to back •When lying on back puts feet to mouth •Voluntarily grasps and holds objects •Plays with toes •Takes objects directly to mouth •Watches objects that are dropped •Says “ah-goo” or similar vowel-consonant combinations •Smiles at mirror image •Gets upset if you take a toy away •Can tell family and strangers apart •Begins to discover parts of his/her body The Sixth Month: •Chewing and biting occur •When on stomach, can lift chest and part of stomach off the surface, bearing weight on hands •Lifts head when pulled to a sitting position •Rolls from back to stomach •Bears majority of weight when being held in a standing position •Grasps and controls small objects •Holds bottle •Grabs feet and pulls to mouth Tracking Your Baby… Developmental Milestones