Is Your Baby Meeting Their Developmental Milestones?

From the time you find out you’re pregnant until your child is ready for school, you’re likely wondering if they are developing properly. There are certain milestones that your little one should achieve at each stage of early development. However, it’s important to remember that each child moves at their own pace. 

If you find that your little one is taking longer than what is considered normal to reach a certain milestone, it’s important to talk to your child’s pediatrician right away to determine whether a treatment plan is necessary. Here are some milestones you should be looking for during the first year of your baby’s life. 

The First Month 

By the end of your infant’s first month of life, they may be able to ball their hands into fists and bring their hands to their face. They can focus on objects up to 12 feet away and prefer human faces instead of objects, so bonding time is important. Infants at this age can also recognize black and white patterns and can move their hands from side to side when lying on their stomachs.

The Third Month

By the third month, a baby may be able to support their upper body when they lie on their stomachs. Infants can grab and shake small toys and bring their hands to their mouths. Babies at this age can also kick their legs when lying on their backs or stomachs and recognize familiar people even from a distance. During this stage, babies enjoy interacting and playing with people and may become visibly upset when the interaction stops. 

The Seventh Month 

Once a baby is around seven months, they can sit up and roll over. An infant at this age will respond to their name when called and may start babbling, which is the start of recognizing and saying words. A seven-month-old can recognize the emotion in your tone of voice and enjoy looking at themselves in a mirror. 

The First Birthday

When your baby is a year old, they can likely walk or are trying to walk by pulling up on furniture for support. They will likely say words like “dada” and “mama” and can understand short verbal commands like “no,” “come,” or “stop.” A one-year-old may start mimicking actions that he sees his family members doing, like brushing hair or holding a cup. Babies at this age will also be more explorative with their toys and other objects around the house by dropping, banging, or throwing them. 

As your baby goes through the first year of life and gets closer to turning two, you may notice that they can walk without assistance and may start to run. They may also be able to carry toys or other objects while walking and can walk up or downstairs with support. As their coordination improves, babies will start to engage in activities like kicking a ball or scribbling with a crayon. 

They can say simple words to express their needs and wants and can recognize friends and family members by name. Some children at this age will even start to sort their toys by color shape. At this stage, you will likely notice that your child is becoming more independent and wants to attempt to do more things on their own. 

If your baby is not hitting their developmental milestones due to damage to their nervous system or the brain caused by another person’s negligence such as a medical professional, you may be able to file a cerebral palsy or Erb’s palsy lawsuit, depending on your child’s injuries. 

An attorney can thoroughly assess your case to determine if medical malpractice led to your baby’s developmental issues. Be sure to contact a lawyer as soon as you’ve got an official diagnosis to increase the chances of your case being handled in a timely manner and with maximum odds of success.

About the Author
Katherine Webre is a passionate writer with years of experience in legal. She has dedicated her career to represent the most vulnerable among us, children who have suffered severe injustice. Beyond legal action, Katherine also takes up the pen to raise awareness and inform audiences about birth injuries. By sharing her expertise, she hopes to empower people to act against any prejudice and works as a collaborative editor for Birth Injury Lawyer.