Pregnancy, children > Child development > Features of the development of a newborn child by week, stages of development in the table
After 9 months of waiting, the mother finally meets her baby and holds him in her arms. The first four weeks of life a child is considered a newborn. This is a period of adaptation and getting used to new conditions for both the baby and his parents. During this seemingly short period of time, significant changes occur in the baby. It’s good when dad and mom have an idea about the developmental features of a newborn child week by week and are ready to provide him with the necessary conditions for successful adaptation.
Child development by months up to 1 year: what a boy girl should be able to do
A newborn baby develops most rapidly in the first year, and by the end of this important period has many impressive achievements. At the same time that he can crawl and walk, his brain activity develops significantly - this allows him to play not only role-playing games, but also more complex board games. In addition, the baby speaks his first words, knows his parents and relatives, and is able to show real adult emotions.
In order for the process of mastering the world around us and their own capabilities to proceed successfully, fathers and mothers need to regulate the development of a child up to one year old month by month, engaging in learning and useful games with him. To do this, you need to know the basic parameters of the formation of children, characteristic of each monthly stage.
Child development at 2 months of life
Two months is exactly the period in the developmental calendar up to one year when the baby becomes more conscious. The baby is already adapting a little to the world around him, communicating with others: smiling at them, making certain sounds.
In the second month, the child’s weight increases by an average of 800 g. As for height, the average increase is 3 cm.
During this period, the baby sleeps for about 18 hours. The main rule of sleep is to constantly change body position, since the baby’s skull is still very fragile and can be deformed. Babies at the age of two months already distinguish between day and night, so night sleep becomes longer.
At the age of two months, the baby is able to demonstrate his basic needs, so it becomes more clear to the mother what her child needs at this very moment. With the help of crying, the baby can attract attention to himself, declare his hunger or ask for help.
A baby who is two months old can follow slowly moving objects with his eyes. The baby also learns to locate the object that produces a particular sound. The baby is also interested in the voices of those around him: if you talk to the baby, he will turn his head in your direction.
One of the main achievements of a two-month-old baby is holding his head in an upright position and lying on his stomach. Although it lasts no more than a minute, it is a real achievement for the child.
An interesting feature of this period of child development is the expansion of the chain of emotional reactions: the baby develops both facial expressions and intonation. The mother hears in them not only requests, but also indignation when the baby does not like what is happening.
Among the small victories of the crumbs is improved coordination. The child’s limb movements become purposeful. The baby can get toys and hold them.
A two-month-old baby gradually gets used to the daily routine, so a series of actions is very important. The mother should accustom the baby to a routine from an early age, which as a result will have a positive impact on his well-being.
Full version of the article: Development of a child up to one year: What a child can do at 2 months
First month
During the first 30 days after birth, an important task of the child’s body is to adapt to new living conditions. First, the baby gets rid of excess fluid, and then, adapting to a new type of nutrition, begins to gain weight by 20-30 g per day.
Anatomical and physiological development
The restructuring of the body, which was accustomed to performing all functions inside the mother’s womb, leads to the following important changes:
• the endocrine system begins to work independently; • the child learns to breathe and his lungs expand; • the composition of the blood changes and a more intensive blood supply to the organs is established; • as a result of drinking mother's milk, colonies of beneficial bacteria are formed in the body, the immune system is formed and digestion is improved.
By one month, the child’s weight reaches 3.5-4.5 kg with a height of 50-53 cm.
Formation of psyche and motor function
The baby has tactile, visual and auditory organs from birth, and thanks to this, the development of a child at 1 month is complemented by the improvement of the nervous system and cerebral hemispheres. In this regard, he can move, suck milk, tilt his head, bend his arms and legs. Of course, such activity is also facilitated by the reflexes present in the newborn.
Development by week
Every week, parents notice certain changes in the appearance of the newborn, in his physical and psycho-emotional state. The development of the child after birth by week is shown in the table.
| Baby's age | Physical parameters, changes | Skills |
| First week of life | The face may be asymmetrical, bluish or reddish, and swollen. The head circumference is 32-38 cm. The shape of the head depends on the characteristics of the birth. With a breech presentation, the crown is slightly flattened and the back of the head is prominent. Increased muscle tone. Sweat glands are underdeveloped. The body is covered with down. The fontanelle has a diameter of 1-3 cm. The heart beats at a frequency of 100-175 beats per minute. Normal body weight is 2.8-4 kg. In the first days, babies lose about 7% of their weight. Soon the weight gain begins. Height varies between 45-55 cm. Body length does not change much over the course of a week. Bowel movements occur 2-5 times a day, bladder emptying 4-6 times a day. A child's body needs food every 2-3 hours. The child spends most of his time sleeping. The organs of vision are poorly developed. The baby sees only large objects. | A one-week-old baby exhibits the following reflexes:
Baby's skills and abilities:
|
| Second week | Skin color takes on a naturally healthy appearance. The swelling from the face goes away. The head takes the correct shape. The body is in a state of hypertonicity and relaxes only during deep sleep. The skin begins to peel off. All movements are reflexive, chaotic, involuntary. Nails are growing. Weight gain is 150-250 g. The umbilical wound is healing. The baby needs feeding every three hours. Night sleep becomes more restful. After eating, the baby suffers from intestinal colic. | In addition to existing reflexes, the baby develops new ones:
Skills and abilities:
|
| Third week | Movements become less chaotic. The baby learns to control muscles. His activity increases. He begins to cry loudly, demandingly, his sense of smell sharpens, and his sense of balance develops. The child gains about 200 g. Height increases by 1 cm. A daily routine begins to be established. Night sleep and periods of wakefulness become longer. | The child can hold the head for about 5-15 seconds. He explores the surroundings. Can lie on stomach. Grabs an adult's fingers. Turns towards the sound. Makes gurgling, cooing sounds. He may smile unconsciously. The baby freezes at the unfamiliar sound. He picks up the parents' emotions. Can fix gaze at a distance of 0.5 m. Reacts to voice, recognizes intonation. |
| Month | The child is fed 6-7 times a day. Becomes more active and emotional. The vestibular apparatus is strengthened. | Skills and abilities of a one-month-old baby:
|
It is important for parents to compare the normative development of the newborn week by week with the actual one. If the baby has certain abnormalities, then it is worth informing the pediatrician about this during a routine examination. By the end of the fourth week, the child has grown by 4 cm and gained approximately 600-800 g. The body parameters of children of different sexes are shown in the table below.
| Floor | Height, cm | Weight, kg | Chest circumference, cm | Head circumference, s m |
| Girls | 51-56 | 3,5-4,6 | 33,0-39,0 | 33,0-40,1 |
| Boys | 52-57 | 3,6-5,0 | 33,3-40,2 | 33,8-40,8 |
There are kids who develop well in different areas at the same time. But some children may progress, for example, in the language direction and lag behind in the sensory and motor areas.
Second month
Anatomical and physiological development
The changes that occur in a child’s body affect many organs and systems:
• their digestive function improves due to the synthesis of enzymes; • the structure of the heart and blood circulation changes; • the formation of salivary glands occurs, so the baby suckles better and, at the same time, almost does not swallow air; • his arms and legs become more relaxed as his hypertonicity fades.
A two-month-old baby is a charming, plump angel with round cheeks, but in the future his appearance will change due to increasing time of wakefulness and active movement.
By two months, the weight gain in children is up to 700-800 g, and depending on heredity, they grow to 54-60 cm.
Improving motor function and intelligence
At two months, children develop clearer vision and are able to see well at close range. They already know how to show emotions that are written on their face, they rejoice and smile when their parents approach them, and if they are dissatisfied, they can scream or cry. Now they accompany their actions with the first baby talk - humming.
Stages of newborn development, features of infant care in the first four weeks in the table
| First week | Second week | Third week | Fourth week | |
| What's special about this week? | In the first days, the baby loses weight: swelling goes away, the intestines are cleansed. The remainder of the umbilical cord will fall off by the end of the week. | The baby regains the weight it lost after birth. | Colic may appear due to the development of the digestive system. Because of this, the baby may wake up more often and cry more. | A frequent rash may appear on the baby's face. It is physiological and will go away on its own. |
| Feeding | The child feeds every 2–3 hours. If the baby is breastfed, he may demand his mother's breast more often, thereby increasing the flow of breast milk. | When breastfeeding, the baby can receive food on demand. On average, 8–12 feedings can occur per day. A bottle-fed baby has a stricter limit - 60–80 g every 2–3 hours. | A baby fed on mother's milk can independently regulate the frequency and duration of feeding. The baby on formula eats the same amount until the end of the month. | The amount of breast milk a mother produces is determined by the baby's needs. The more the baby eats, the more milk is produced. |
| Dream | The baby sleeps 18–20 hours a day, waking up for feedings every 2–3 hours. Awakenings happen regardless of the time of day. | A baby's daily sleep time is 16–18 hours. To maintain a round head shape, your baby should sleep not only on his back, but also on both sides. | You can gradually teach your baby to distinguish between times of day: during the day - active and exciting wakefulness, at night - constant sleep. | The child develops a certain sleep pattern: usually 3 times during the day, and about 8 hours of sleep at night, but still with interruptions. |
| Physical development | Movements are chaotic and involuntary. The first congenital motor reflexes (crawling, walking) appear. | Movements become less abrupt. If you take a lying baby by the palms, he will reflexively begin to pull himself up slightly. | The movements are already smoother, but still involuntary. The grasping reflex continues to develop. Every week the baby is holding his head better. | The baby grasps well and holds objects tightly. The baby's neck muscles are able to hold his head for a longer time. |
| Development of auditory and visual perception | The newborn hears sounds, reacts to sharp noises and voices. Vision is still unclear, but the baby can clearly see a nearby human face. | The baby recognizes his mother's voice. By the end of the week, he can clearly distinguish between dark and light shades. | The child can follow moving objects. Sometimes the baby may experience strabismus. This phenomenon should normally subside by 6 months. | The baby can maintain eye contact and hold his gaze longer on an object in motion. |
| Development of the emotional sphere | The baby gets used to his mother’s face and voice, her smell. Learn to recognize your mother’s characteristics among others. | The baby has learned to signal its needs. Feeling discomfort, he more consciously calls his mother by crying. | The nature of the baby’s crying may vary depending on his “request” (to eat, sleep, change clothes). This is also a communication option. | The baby makes contact more actively, smiles when he hears his mother’s voice and sees her face. Distinguishes between familiar and unfamiliar faces. |
Until what age is a child considered a newborn, can he be given additional water, and should he be vaccinated, see the following video:
25 Jul 2021 Valeria 270
Share this post
We recommend reading along with this article
- Feeding, sleeping, staying awake in the mode of a 2 month old baby
- If a newborn has trouble falling asleep, how can you help your baby?
- What a 4 month old baby can do - description...
- Help in the development of a child from 3 to 4 months
- The correct development of a one-month-old baby, what should be able to...
- The first month of a newborn: how to successfully overcome the period...
- The age when babies begin to crawl, parental help, norms...
- How to bottle feed your baby correctly: simple tips
- How to lose 5 or more kg per month after pregnancy and childbirth
Discussion: 4 comments
- Victoria:
09/08/2018 at 10:42The table shows a standard diagram of child development, but children are all different. Sometimes in healthy children there is a deviation of a week or two from the norm, and this is also normal. Therefore, if the table and the development of your baby do not match, do not immediately panic.
Answer
Angela:
10/13/2019 at 00:46
Of course, all children are different. But at the same time, inexperienced mothers need something to rely on. For my first child, I used these tables to save myself - I checked and made sure that everything was fine. It’s easier with a second child – I have experience.
Answer
10/17/2018 at 00:36
Yes, not many people know that it is useful for a child to sleep on his sides in the second or third week, but this will not harm him; his mother says that some children are able to sleep on their sides in the first days of their life.
Answer
- Lisa:
05/03/2019 at 01:10
Some mothers even sound the alarm about this and do not allow the child to lie down in a position that is comfortable for him, although it is rare that a child at this age can roll over.
Answer
Third month
A three-month-old baby is active, cheerful and needs constant communication. Reflexes gradually fade away, with the exception of sucking and motor, which are necessary for development. Children's activities become more conscious.
Anatomical and physiological development
The baby continues to grow, his chest volume and head circumference increase, sweat glands are formed, so water procedures at this time should be regular. The baby's salivary glands are not yet fully developed, so there is no need to wipe his mouth too often, as dry mucous membranes are susceptible to injury.
Olives in the tummy still cause suffering for children; in this situation, a warm diaper and massage with light circular movements help. Improves finger control.
Motor skills and mental state
Thanks to the development of visual function, infants can follow a moving object for some time, distinguish primary colors, and can more clearly examine toys and faces. Thanks to improved coordination, children are able to grab objects, hold them, and pull them towards themselves.
Gradually, the appearance of individual letters can be traced in the hum. Three-month-old children react emotionally to familiar people and relatives approaching them, wriggling their legs and arms, and smiling.
Child development at 12 months
Your baby is already one year old and this is a great time to take stock. Of course, the child is just as defenseless and requires attention and care, but every day he shows himself more and more as an independent person.
There are slight metamorphoses in the physical development of the baby: the child’s weight increases by 350 g, and the child’s height increases by 1.5 cm.
Changes also occur in the daily routine: the baby sleeps only once during the day, and the period of wakefulness increases to five hours.
Basic skills of a baby who is one year old:
- He already says about 10 words.
- Walks independently.
- Expresses emotions violently.
- Can bite and chew hard foods.
- Actively uses utensils during meals, for example, a spoon or cup.
- Shows affection for family members.
- May refuse unusual foods or those dishes that he eats quite often.
- Understands what adults say.
- Distinguishes between animals.
- Shows his sense of humor.
It is worth noting that now the baby is not just trying to walk, he is also performing other actions at the same time: pulling, carrying or pushing something. For an adult this is a common thing, but for a child it is a real victory. Moreover, if something doesn’t work out for a child, he asks others for help.
Bathing a one-year-old child turns into a fun game, during which he is active: splashes, uses various objects in the water: rubber ducks, fish, balls.
The child continues to experiment. This time, his own voice comes into the field of his research: the baby mutters, shouts, sings. He especially likes to do this immediately after waking up. Thus, the child attracts the attention of the parents.
Your baby's palette of emotions also becomes more diverse. A one-year-old child has already learned to be offended, show compassion, and can cry himself to evoke pity.
A baby at the age of one year perfectly understands the meaning of the words “sleep”, “bathe”, “walk” and is aware of what actions will follow. The result of such childish consciousness can be hysteria or, conversely, joy. If the baby expresses indignation, try not to react to it, but talk calmly with the child. You should fulfill your baby’s requests only after he has completely calmed down. This will subsequently save you from manipulation by the baby.
Full version of the article: Development of a child up to one year: What a child can do at 12 months
Physical development of a child from 0 to 12 months
Developmental disorders
From our article about the child development calendar by month to year, you learned that each skill corresponds to a certain age of the baby. The development of a child by month provides a specific schedule for his achievements in physical, emotional and mental terms. But what to do if the baby lags behind and how to recognize such lags in a timely manner?
Parents of a baby who is one year old should be alert to the following phenomena:
- the baby cannot crawl on all fours;
- cannot take a step while holding a hand;
- cannot hold several objects in his hand;
- does not even speak in syllables;
- does not respond to music;
- does not use a spoon while eating;
- does not want to fulfill parents’ requests and does not respond to them;
- does not grimace in front of the mirror and does not pay attention to the reflection.
It is these manifestations that should force parents to immediately seek advice from a pediatrician and subsequently follow all his instructions in order to improve the situation. The baby may be prescribed procedures, massages, as well as special developmental activities. The seriousness of the approach on the part of the child’s parents and relatives plays a significant role: there are few classes and procedures that the baby will undergo in a special center or institution; home exercises are also needed to consolidate the result.
We looked at how a child develops up to a year from the moment of birth. This is one of the most rapid stages in the life of a baby and his parents. What follows will be no less interesting: the baby will continue to consolidate acquired skills and master new ones.
Fourth month
Over the previous month, children gain about 700 g of weight and grow by 2 cm. At the same time, their head and chest circumferences are the same at this age.
Anatomical and physiological development
The development of a child at 4 months means new changes and great opportunities:
• the child’s nails begin to grow and hair follicles form; • visual acuity appears; • the formation of the hearing aid leads to the fact that children show an increased interest in human voices and other sounds; • coordination and strength in the arms and legs improves.
Now the baby can voice his bad mood by real crying with tears (he has formed lacrimal glands).
Psychomotor development
The main achievements in this regard are imitation of heard sounds, animation at the sight of familiar faces, and alertness if a stranger is present in the room. Negative emotions of a child are usually associated with fear (stranger, loud noise or bright light), hunger, absence of mother. He shows joy when his family is near him.
The main stages of development of infants up to one year
Breasts develop in stages. Every month there are certain changes in appearance, new skills and abilities appear. The process of growing up and acquiring skills is different for each child.
Pediatricians note that children of different sexes have some differences in development.
Despite the fact that each child is individual, the following patterns can be observed:
- The body weight and height of girls is less than that of boys. Thus, the body length of newborn female representatives is approximately 49.5 cm, and male - 50.4 cm. The weight of girls is 2.8-3.8 kg, boys - 3-4 kg;
- in physical and mental development, boys lag behind girls by about 2-3 weeks;
- Although the fairer sex is born smaller, their bone skeleton is formed earlier.
The following main directions of development of infants up to one year are identified:
- physical _ Involves an increase in weight, height, muscle strengthening, external changes;
- cognitive . It consists in developing the child’s ability to think and reasoned actions;
- linguistic _ Involves the development of conscious speech. At first, the child makes various sounds, then tries to repeat the words and intonation of adults. Over time, the baby develops a certain vocabulary, he begins to express his thoughts using conscious speech;
- motor and sensory. The point is that the baby learns to walk and explore the world;
- emotional and social . Consists of developing the ability to express emotions, the ability to communicate with adults and children.
It is important for parents to take into account the characteristics and abilities of the baby and stimulate his comprehensive development.
Fifth month
Five-month-old children, due to the fact that they sleep much less, have the opportunity to move and play more, which, of course, is important for improving various skills.
Anatomical and physiological development
The child’s muscles gradually become stronger, his legs stretch out, the increase in body weight remains the same as at 4 months - 700 g. Now the baby’s body looks more harmonious and proportional, and by this time the disorder of muscle tone has passed. Children's vision improves, for this reason they can already distinguish small details of things.
Neurophysical development
At the age of 5 months, the social aspect of the little person’s personality is formed. Kids know their loved ones well and try to copy their manners and intonations. Thanks to more advanced hand motor skills, children's speech also develops intensively - they pronounce individual syllables and accompany their babble with facial expressions and gestures. Children's tactile sensations are also at a fairly high level, and they are able to distinguish the textures of different materials.
Child development at 9 months of life
The nine-month-old baby strives for independence with all his might. He crawls without rest, looks for new objects that are interesting to him, examines them, studies them, tests them. Therefore, concern for the safety of the baby remains a pressing issue.
At nine months, the child does not just sit, he sits up from a lying position. The baby is also training to stand by holding on to surrounding objects, but he cannot yet stand without support. Since the baby’s skills become more perfect every day, the risks of dangerous situations also increase, which means that the baby cannot be left unattended.
In the ninth month, the child’s weight increases by 500 g, which is no longer as rapid as before, when he was still just a baby. The child's height also increases by about 1.5 cm.
The baby develops intellectually:
- his memory is getting better, so he can remember the game he liked, as well as some actions;
- the baby loves attention and communication, so he will be happy to play “hide and seek” with you;
- Progress is also observed in the child’s speech development: he combines syllables into words. So far these are very simple words, for example, “mother”, “woman”;
- the baby tries to copy the pronunciation of his family, their intonation and volume;
- The child recognizes body parts and can show where mom’s eye or nose is.
The baby loves to choose toys and is attracted to everything bright and cheerful. During this period, it is better not to impose anything on the child; he develops such a character trait as stubbornness.
As for sleep and rest, at nine months the baby sleeps 10-12 hours at night. Now his sleep is more sound, he wakes up less often and the intervals between falling asleep are shorter. The better the baby’s mood after waking up in the morning, the better he will fall asleep. The main rule of sleep for a baby who is not yet one year old is the absence of a pillow. Daytime sleep is repeated no more than twice.
Read in full: Child development by month: What a child can do at 9 months
Sixth month
At six months, the baby is strikingly different from a newborn. He shows signs of independence, character, moves at a crawl and is no longer so dependent on his parents.
Anatomical and physiological development
The development of a child at 6 months allows him to sit down without the help of others and even stand up, holding onto support, since he has stronger muscles and a stronger spine.
The digestive system of children is now able to synthesize the enzymatic substances necessary for the breakdown of proteins. The formation of visual function is virtually complete, and children see objects and people extremely clearly.
Mental and intellectual development
At six months, children are willing and able to communicate a lot because they have reached a certain level of mental and mental maturity. In addition, they grasp any information extremely quickly and are ready to learn.
Child development at 10 months
Your baby is ten months old. During this relatively short period, the baby acquired some skills and became more independent, sociable and active. Over ten months, parents learned not only to recognize the baby’s mood, but also its needs. Mom managed to create a daily routine for her child, which is undoubtedly very important. The sequence of actions and the presence of a constant schedule have a positive effect on the emotional and physical well-being of the baby. He becomes calmer and is not capricious.
The ten-month-old baby still sleeps about 10 hours at night, and his daytime sleep is also two hours. If the baby is capricious, before going to bed he will be calmed down by bathing in a bath with special products.
During the daytime, outdoor walks remain mandatory for the baby, which allow him to better and more actively explore the world around him, as well as communicate with peers.
In the physical development of the child at 10 months, minor changes occur. The child’s weight increases less rapidly: he gains about 450 g over the entire period. The child’s growth also does not become much larger - only 1.5 cm.
What can a baby do at ten months old?
- He imitates his parents when he tries to pronounce simple words.
- Understands what “cannot” or “no” means, as well as other commonly used wording.
- Can drink from a cup and use a spoon independently.
- Loves to walk, holding on to support.
- Sits calmly on the potty.
- Likes to choose clothes, toys and other items.
Naturally, all these skills are individual, because some children can and do more at ten months, and some are a little behind.
Ten-month-old babies have their favorite activities, for example, drawing with pencils, building pyramids, “inspecting” closets, etc. The more you engage with your baby, the more favorite activities he will have.
Full version of the article: Development of a child up to one year: What a child can do at 10 months
Seventh month
By 7 months, the child has grown noticeably, and significant progress has been observed in his psyche and the functioning of the nervous system. All this gives more opportunities for his active knowledge of the world.
Anatomical and physiological development
The anatomical development of a child at 7 months, including the brain, contributes to the expansion of psycho-emotional abilities, at this time the dominant role of the hands is determined, that is, the baby will be right-handed or left-handed.
Milk teeth are actively erupting, so it is important to introduce semi-solid foods. At 7 months, the hearing and visual apparatus complete their formation, and the muscles allow faster movement. The baby continues to gain weight and, at the same time, lose weight due to active pastime.
Intelligence and motor function
The growth of mental abilities, as well as the improvement of the senses, leads to the fact that the baby becomes more communicative, is distinguished by logical thinking, and makes progress in improving speech.
Baby development at 8 months
The baby’s active development continues: a solid foundation is laid for speech development, sensory apparatus, and fine motor skills. Some children delight their loved ones with a smile with four teeth, and some are already making first progress in pronouncing short words. During this period, it is very important to entertain the baby with songs, funny rhymes, and read short fairy tales to him. The child not only learns new information, but over time also reacts joyfully to familiar lines.
The eighth month is characterized by no less rapid physical development. The child’s weight during this period is about 9 kg, that is, the baby gains about 600 g. The child’s height also increases by about 3 cm.
The kid can do a lot:
- turn over quickly and easily;
- sit steadily;
- stand with the help of adults;
- overcome obstacles;
- “conduct experiments”;
- play with both hands at the same time.
At eight months of age, it is allowed to introduce meat into the baby’s diet. Doctors recommend starting with beef. Complementary feeding should be gradual.
Sleep patterns change. The child now has two meals: a morning nap and an afternoon rest. Night sleep can last more than 10 hours.
Some useful tips for parents of an eight-month-old baby:
- At eight months, a baby crawls very actively, which means that he will explore every corner of the house. The mother should keep the floor clean, clean it daily and check that there are no small objects on the floor that could hurt the child, stick it in the child’s ear or nose, or even swallow it.
- The safety of your child comes to the fore, so you should take care to protect doors from slamming, and also seal drawers and cabinets where sharp objects, for example, scissors, needles, are located.
- Hot dishes should be kept away from the edge of the stove, and it is better to close sockets with special plugs.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the mental development of the child. The baby's curiosity increases, but this is not the limit: the baby is ready to get to the object of interest by all means and is happy if he manages to get what he wants. Most of all, the baby likes “adult” objects: remote control, telephone, dishes. He is genuinely interested in pets, tap water, and birds outside the window. The baby studies the body parts of those around him: he can pull the nose, pull the hair. And gestures appear in his communication.
Full version of the article: Development of a child up to one year: What a child can do at 8 months
Eighth month
Despite the increased activity of the motor system, at 8 months there is a slowdown in the growth of children associated with their genetic program. Don’t be scared, this process is individual, and the kids continue to hone their skills and acquire new skills.
Anatomical and physiological development
Thanks to strengthening the muscle tissue of the arms and legs and increasing the strength of the spinal column, the child is able to independently stand up and even walk, although only with the help of support or support from adults. The number of movements increases due to better coordination. At seven months, children see and hear perfectly, they can have up to six teeth, but because of this, sleep is disturbed.
New qualities of thinking and psyche
The mental state of children is at the stage when they can clearly distinguish between their own people and strangers, but they cannot live a day without communication, being sincerely upset when one of the parents cannot give them time to play.
Baby care advice
It is important to properly care for your newborn. This will allow you to raise a healthy child. You need to be especially careful with premature babies.
Pediatricians recommend preparing for the baby before birth:
- necessary things . These include diapers, vests, warm and thin blankets, blouses, hats, socks, blankets, and bed linen. It's worth purchasing a set of diapers;
- first aid kit It should include: baby cream, wet wipes, hydrogen peroxide, cotton wool, nasal rinse, zinc ointment, skin oil, potassium permanganate, medicinal herbs (chain, chamomile, motherwort), antipyretic drugs, powder.
The mother should not forget about herself, she will need the following resources:
- breast pump;
- cream for cracked nipples;
- special pads for the postpartum period;
- bandage for faster normalization of abdominal muscles.
Tips for caring for a newborn:
- Start every morning by rinsing your nose and eyes. To do this, use boiled water and a piece of cotton wool;
- treat the umbilical wound daily. The optimal remedy should be advised by the visiting nurse. Usually hydrogen peroxide and brilliant green are used. It is important to ensure that the umbilical wound does not become inflamed;
- change diapers every 3-4 hours and after bowel movements. I usually use about 10 diapers a day. Before putting on a new diaper, you need to wash your baby;
- walk with your baby every day. At first, you need to choose uninhabited places: the baby has a weak immune system and can easily become infected with an infectious viral disease. Fresh air is good for a newborn. If it’s raining outside, you can put the cradle on the balcony. You should start walking for 15 minutes, gradually increasing their duration to 2 hours;
- You can feed a newborn at his request or on a schedule. Some pediatricians note that from the age of one week it is already worth accustoming the child to the regime. This disciplines the baby and prevents overfeeding or underfeeding;
- Every evening you should bathe your child in a baby bath in boiled water. The water temperature should be about +37 degrees. You can add herbal decoctions to the bath to heal the umbilical wound and improve the quality of the skin. Soap can be used once a week. After bathing, the skin should be treated with oil or cream;
- After water procedures, you need to trim your nails. After steaming, they will be softer, so cutting them will be easier;
- Put the baby to sleep only in the side position. It is important to ensure that he does not roll over on his back: if he vomits or regurgitates, he may choke;
- swaddle the baby at night. In the mother's womb, the child was cramped and warm. Diapers provide similar conditions;
- for sleeping you should use a cradle rather than a bed;
- Every evening you should ventilate the room in which the newborn is located.
Parents need to remember the following:
- a reddish or yellowish tint, dry skin in the first weeks of a baby’s life is a normal phenomenon associated with the body’s adaptation to the external environment;
- Babies may spit up after feeding. This is due to the fact that their gastrointestinal tract is still under development. The norm is one or two moderate regurgitations after each feeding. To do this, after feeding, it is recommended to hold the baby upright for several minutes;
- Babies experience colic during the first few months. Increased gas formation causes severe discomfort. To improve your well-being, you need to perform a special abdominal massage. It is important to ensure that when attaching to the breast the baby grasps the nipple with the areola;
- Many newborns suffer from hiccups. It appears due to air entering the gastrointestinal tract. To remove hiccups, you need to massage the abdomen or hold the baby in a column;
- periodic coughing and sneezing are not signs of a cold, but a natural process of clearing the throat and nose.
Ninth month
Many children are already walking at the age of nine months, but despite this, they need to continue to build muscles and strengthen ligaments, which is why at this stage, high-quality nutrition is extremely important.
Morphological changes
Basically, all the baby’s life systems are already formed. The child distinguishes objects well at close and far distances, and picks up any sounds. But the baby’s digestion has not yet had time to adapt to complementary feeding, so it is necessary to properly balance the diet in order to avoid disruption of the intestines and excess fatty tissue. In a month, children gain half a kilogram in weight and grow by 1-2 centimeters.
New properties of the psyche and thinking
Psycho-emotionally, they can express a wide variety of feelings, understand perfectly well what their parents ask or demand of them, and show interest in many subjects. All children move differently - some are already taking their first hesitant steps, others move with the help of special devices.
Baby development at 3 months
A three-month-old baby is very different from a newborn baby. The baby has grown stronger, grown up, and actively communicates with others. The three-month-old baby has many achievements:
- he controls the handles;
- rolls over from back to side;
- raises his head and rests on his forearms;
- is cheerful for about 2 hours straight;
- shows interest in his body: studies his face, examines his legs;
- tastes the world;
- recognizes mom and dad;
- When it feels a hard surface, it rests its legs on it.
In the third month, the baby gains weight and a little height. The child’s weight increases by at least 800 g. The baby’s total body weight can average about 7 kg. The child’s growth does not increase so rapidly - during the third month the baby gains no more than 2 cm. The average size of a three-month baby is about 60 cm.
A three-month-old baby has more varied reactions to the world around him: his sense of smell has become more acute and his feelings have become more pronounced. Now a baby’s cry can mean not only hunger, indignation, but also a reaction to pain or ordinary fatigue.
During this period, the child also has a number of his own small victories: his attention is attracted by bright objects and different situations around him, more and more consonant sounds are heard in speech, communication with the baby becomes more meaningful.
Read in full: Child development by month: What a child can do at 3 months
Tenth month
At 10 months, children amaze adults not only with their motor capabilities, but also with the inclinations of individual character traits. For them, research into real life comes first.
Anatomical and physiological development
The main event is active teething, but besides this, children continue to gain weight, their chest and skull volume noticeably increase. They are increasingly walking rather than crawling, although support for this is still required. Since mother's milk can no longer meet their needs, immunity is not in the best condition, and babies should be protected from various infections.
Manifestation of character and intelligence
Children are extremely emotional, especially girls, who are able to express their affection for their mother and other family members, both with their facial expressions and with a joyful facial expression. In general, at this age, babies adore their mother’s hugs, affection, and long-term communication. Boys are more independent and independent, and love to show their character.
Baby development at 7 months
He conquers space and explores the world. Your baby is already seven months old and this figure significantly distinguishes him from that defenseless baby whom you brought home from the maternity hospital. Now your child is not just taller and heavier, he is much more mobile, more sociable, and more conscious. At the seventh month, the baby's height is about 68 cm, and the baby's weight can reach 8.5 kg. If your baby weighs less than 7 kg, you should consult a pediatrician.
By seven months, the baby's first teeth appear, mainly the central lower incisors. It also happens that teeth do not appear until the child is one year old. There is nothing wrong with this, since each child’s body is different. The process of teething will most likely be noticed by all family members, as it is quite painful and may be accompanied by fever, upset bowel movements and excessive salivation.
Among the achievements of a seven-month-old baby is fast crawling. The baby moves on all fours and does it confidently and with pleasure.
At seven months, the baby sits without support and makes attempts to sit up without assistance. A child can lie for a long time and then roll to the other side of the bed, so parents should exercise special care and caution and not leave their child unattended.
A feature of a child’s development in the seventh month is his sense of himself. The baby notices these changes and likes the results of his activities. During this period, some babies may begin to eat from a spoon and drink from a cup.
The baby has small but still significant speech achievements: his babble is clear, loud and long-lasting. Constant repetitions of certain syllables help the baby consolidate his skills.
The pattern of sleep and wakefulness may change, and sleep becomes disturbing: the child spins in his sleep, turns over, opens up. This is all connected with the baby’s high level of mobility. Frequently changing sleep positions involves resting the baby in pajamas, which will prevent him from freezing.
The behavior of a child in the seventh month is conscious and understandable for parents, so it is easier for them to determine the baby’s mood and the reasons for certain phenomena. Communication from the baby’s side becomes especially interesting: he watches people’s facial expressions, listens to their intonations and tries to copy it all.
Parents can begin to introduce a system of prohibitions. There should be few of them so that the baby gradually remembers what not to do. You must adhere to prohibitions, not give in, and be able to switch the baby’s attention in time to avoid his negative reactions.
Read in full: Child development by month: What a child can do at 7 months
Eleventh month
Increased waking time allows the baby to more actively explore the world, especially since the child’s development at 11 months reaches a significant level. Active games and educational activities will help him choose new directions for research and hone his already acquired skills.
Anatomical and physiological development
The muscular system, in the process of constant training, gains strength, and this increases the endurance of the little one. It is much easier for him to move around, and sometimes he can do this without relying on furniture or the parent’s hand.
Intellectual development and motor skills
Children's fine motor skills develop, and this gives them the opportunity to deftly use a spoon and cup. In addition, it's time to establish good self-care habits - now your baby can wash his face and wash his hands himself. Children at 11 months are more intelligent - they require communication, copy adults and various sounds, and actively use gestures and facial expressions.
Child development at 11 months
Very soon the baby will turn one year old. Over the entire period from birth to 11 months, the baby has never been more calm and confident than now. He hones his acquired skills, gets special pleasure from games and activities, and is ready to perceive new information with great desire.
As for physical development, at eleven months the child’s weight increases by only 400 g, since the process of weight gain has slowed down a little. There are also slight changes in the child’s growth: he has become 1.5 cm taller.
At eleven months, a child can:
- speak, but not too clearly, and also imitate the “speech” of pets;
- crawl, walk, holding on to support or even without it;
- use things for their intended purpose;
- perform simple actions for reward or praise;
- greet someone and say goodbye to him.
At eleven months, the child is already making attempts to sit up from a standing position. These attempts are not always successful, but he boldly experiments.
The development of motor skills allows the baby to grasp fairly small objects in his hands. He does this with the help of his thumb and forefinger. Among the little ones’ personal achievements is independently turning the pages of their favorite books.
A child’s speech development greatly simplifies his communication with parents and others. The baby says “yum-yum” when he sees something edible or is hungry, he says “meow” when a cat meets on his way, he calls his loved ones and people he knows, shouting “mom”, “dad”.
The sleep-wake schedule remains virtually unchanged: only sleep is reduced by one hour. Daytime rest is still part of the baby's routine, as it helps his nervous system recover in just a few hours. It is still difficult for the baby to fall asleep, so active games before bed and watching cartoons are not the best option for putting the baby to sleep.
At 11 months, the baby can identify objects and see the difference between them. The baby begins to make a gesture with his index finger, which helps him better explain to his loved ones what subject has aroused his interest this time. Parents can take advantage of this situation for subsequent speech development. To do this, you need to name the object that the baby is pointing at out loud until the child makes an attempt to pronounce this word after you.
Read in full: Child development by month: What a child can do at 11 months
Twelfth month (1 year)
At one year old, the baby has personal character traits, views on life and his own opinion. This is a small independent person who strives for independence and new discoveries.
What happens to a child's body per year?
The development of a child at 12 months (1 year) is marked by his maturation, both physically and mentally. He already has about 10 milk teeth, his feet are similar to those of an adult, not counting temporary flat feet, he can be captivated by his favorite game for half an hour, and sometimes more, because, anatomically, he has developed cerebral hemispheres and a nervous system.
Baby development at 5 months
A five-month-old baby is very active: he is interested in everything, therefore the surrounding objects, regardless of their color or shape, cause him genuine delight. Moreover, the baby wants to taste everything.
During the fifth month, the baby’s weight increases by approximately 700 g, and the child’s height from birth to the fifth month becomes 15 cm larger. It is worth noting that the baby grows more slowly with each month, but each baby has a rather individual development program.
A five-month-old baby no longer just holds his head or moves his limbs, he does exercises. “Airplane” is his favorite exercise of all: lying on his tummy, the baby lifts and stretches his head, spreads his arms to the sides and lifts his legs a little up. For a child, this is not just an ordinary, but an interesting activity.
One of the baby’s favorite exercises is also the “bridge”: the child rests his head and feet on a solid base and lifts his torso and pelvis, forming an arch.
The toddler shows particular interest in rattles: their sounds attract the child’s attention, he begins to examine and study objects.
As for wakefulness, this period increases significantly: the baby wakes up quite early and wants to be played with. If your biorhythms don't quite match your baby's preferences, you can put a few soft toys in his crib, which will give you the opportunity to sleep longer.
Communication occupies one of the most important places in the life of a five-month-old baby: he hoots and squeaks, does everything possible to attract attention. You should talk to your child more often, tell him about the world around him, sing songs, name individual objects.
At five months, the baby no longer squints his eyes, but clearly fixes his gaze. If the baby continues to squint, you should contact a pediatric ophthalmologist and consult a pediatrician. Perhaps he will be prescribed special exercises for his eyes.
Five-month-old babies perfectly distinguish between their own and others, since their visual memory is already quite well developed. At the same time, if someone close to you is absent for a long time, the baby may forget his face and, after a long break, may not recognize him at first sight. It is interesting to watch how the baby examines himself in the mirror: he does not quite understand who appeared in front of him, but over time he will begin to recognize himself in the reflection.
Summarize your child's development every month. If your child has not had time to learn something, pay more attention to the exercises that you will find in each individual article about the development of a child by month to year.
Read in full: Child development by month: What a child can do at 5 months
Newborn reflexes
When a child is born, he has some innate reflexes. With age, some fade away, while others appear or become more complex. The absence of basic reflexes, as well as their early extinction, indicates the presence of pathology.
Protective
Lying on its stomach, the baby instinctively turns its head, which manifests itself from the first minutes of life.
Sucking
If you put a pacifier or finger in the baby's mouth, he will begin to actively suck on the yoke. Many mothers can observe this reflex even on the last ultrasound of the baby during pregnancy.
Prehensile
If you press lightly with your finger on the palm of the crumb, it will grab. Sometimes the baby's strength is so great that it is possible to lift him from a lying position.
Supporting
When in contact with a hard surface, the baby's legs rise and rest on the feet. If you tilt the baby's body slightly forward, it will funny imitate walking. Both reflexes will disappear after 1.5 months.
Crawling reflex
If you support the feet of a baby lying on his stomach with his hand, he will push off. It is also called the Bauer reflex.
Plantar
If you press on the ball of a baby's foot, his toes will reflexively bend.
The assessment of reflexes is carried out by a neuropathologist. During diagnosis, the baby must be fed and calm, otherwise the severity of reflexes may differ.
The norms of their appearance and extinction can be found in the table:
No matter how fast your baby develops, try to be less nervous and worry, because your attitude is quickly transferred to the little person. And let there be more holiday dates in your development calendar!
Features of the first days of life
After the birth of a baby, many parents experience severe anxiety and concern for the child. It is important for them that everything is fine with him and that there are no deviations.
In the first days after birth, the baby’s body undergoes serious physiological changes:
- Postpartum swelling goes away.
- The bone tissue of the skull becomes stronger and stronger.
- The outlines of the face become clearer and more expressive.
- Serious changes in vision are observed. There is an improvement in eye coordination and gaze focusing. The functioning of the senses improves.
- The gastrointestinal tract begins to get used to the new diet and is filled with beneficial microflora.
- The baby's blood circulation and hematopoiesis begin to change. In the first month of life, red blood cells carrying fetal hemoglobin are destroyed, and new red blood cells appear in their place.
Note! In the first month of life, the child experiences frequent urination - up to 6 times a day.
The urine released has a clear structure and is odorless. A child aged 1 month has bowel movements up to 12 times a day, usually immediately after feeding.
In this case, the stool has a yellow color and a mushy structure.
Daily regime
Between the ages of 13 and 18 months, the transition to one nap during the day occurs. The child’s nervous processes have become more stable, and he needs more time to stay awake.
An approximate daily routine for a child who is ready for the transition or has already switched to one nap during the day:
| Time | Regime moments |
| 8.00 | getting up, morning hygiene procedures |
| 8.15 | breakfast |
| 8.30 | games, activities, exercises |
| 10.00 | lunch |
| 10.30 | walk |
| 12.30 | dinner |
| 13.00 | nap |
| 15.30 | afternoon tea |
| 16.00 | games, activities, exercises |
| 16.30 | walk |
| 18.30 | dinner |
| 19.00 | games, activities, exercises |
| 19.30 | evening hygiene procedures |
| 20.00 | night sleep |
ADVICE FOR PARENTS. Why doesn't the baby want to sleep? The reasons for reluctance to sleep may be: – overstimulation of the nervous system as a result of noisy and fun games shortly before bedtime; – no walks during the day; – transition to a new mode.
IMPORTANT! Only strict adherence to the regime will help avoid hysterics and whims, poor sleep, and loss of appetite.
Rules of care
Important! Dr. Komarovsky says that there is no need to worry too much if the child lacks certain reflexes and skills during certain months. All children are different, some develop specific skills earlier, others later.
Every parent must provide the baby with care and concern.
For this reason, it is worth remembering several important recommendations:
- To strengthen the hip joints, doctors prescribe a set of exercises and techniques that should be carried out by specialists.
- From birth to one year, the baby should experience full mental and psychomotor development. To do this, the child needs to be shown colorful toys and rattles from the second birthday. And when he learns to hold them, you should give them in his hands so that he can finger them and look at them.
- Infant nutrition plays an important role in the development of a newborn child. It should consist exclusively of mother's milk, which contains all the required vitamins. From about 6 months, complementary foods can be introduced.
- The development of speech and hearing is important for a child, so you need to constantly talk to him, read books to him, and show him pictures.
The causes of defects and abnormalities should be determined by a doctor only after a complete examination of the baby.
But it is still worth considering that children, just like adults, have individual developmental characteristics.
Don't worry if your child has slight delays. Over time, all this will pass, the main thing is to provide him with complete care and attention.
How much should a newborn eat?
It is very difficult to determine the volume of milk consumed by a breastfed baby. For other children, the norm can be calculated: multiply the number of days of life by 10, or check our table.
From the 10th day until the end of the first month, children consume on average 100 ml of milk or formula. After 4 weeks, the volume of food will increase to 120 ml.
Differences in the development of boys and girls
Differences in the development of boys and girls are visible even if you don’t look closely at the kids. Boys begin to talk and walk later, but the difference in development is approximately 4 weeks. Girls are more stable and productive than boys. Growing up, boys need space and freedom to explore and get to know the world of adults, so by the age of one year they begin to throw toys around and make noise, while girls will calmly play in the corner with their dolls.
Girl
Nature has set a different task for girls than for boys. Therefore, their games and actions are stable and regular. Girls are born more mature, as they must be the most adapted so as not to disturb the natural harmony. In terms of activity in games and life, girls are just as productive and calmer in behavior than boys. Girls listen carefully to their mother and respond to her every request, and up to a year they are extremely obedient.
Boy
Boys have always been highly active. The nature of their behavior is aimed at constant development, including physical development. They are potty trained, learn to talk, walk, crawl, and so on, boys later than girls. And the strange thing is that by the age of one year, boys surpass girls in development in all indicators. In order for psychological development to be complete, boys need space for self-realization. Boys love to make noise and express themselves, testing their endurance and strength by throwing toys around.
Height and weight of children under one year old (table)
| Age, months | Height, in cm | Body weight, g. | Increase per month, g. |
| 0 | 50-51 | 3100-3400 | — |
| 1 | 53-54 | 3700-4100 | 600 |
| 2 | 56-58 | 4500-4900 | 800 |
| 3 | 59-61 | 5200-5600 | 800 |
| 4 | 62-64 | 5900-6300 | 750 |
| 5 | 64-68 | 6500-6800 | 700 |
| 6 | 66-70 | 7100-7400 | 650 |
| 7 | 68-71 | 7600-8100 | 600 |
| 8 | 70-72 | 8100-8500 | 550 |
| 9 | 71-73 | 8600-9000 | 500 |
| 10 | 72-74 | 9100-9500 | 450 |
| 11 | 73-75 | 9500-10000 | 400 |
| 12 | 74-76 | 10000-10800 | 350 |
Third week
From days 14 to 21 according to the developmental calendar, the child gains another 200 grams, which makes parents especially happy. The baby's motor activity increases, and the muscles become stronger; some babies can raise their head for a short time.
By this age, you have most likely already found a way to calm a crying baby: some rock, others swaddle, or give the breast straight away.
Regurgitation may also be added to colic. If their volume is no more than one tablespoon, there is no reason to worry, just try to hold your baby upright for some time after each meal.
Sometimes crusts appear on his head. Most often this is a reaction to foods eaten by the mother or is associated with the activity of the sebaceous glands. The crusts go away quickly if you soften them and comb them out with a soft brush.
What can a three-week-old baby do:
- looks at objects at a distance of 0.5 m;
- shows activity in response to familiar voices;
- becomes quiet at the sight of something new;
- grabs parents' fingers and hair.
