Monthly Growth Guide

A detailed description and basic understanding of how the baby is developing - physically and cognitively - will help the mother cope with and respond to him during his first year of life. The following section will provide a detailed outline of the development and growth of an average infant. It should be noted and remembered that this outline is only an average. Each child will have a developmental pattern similar to this because reaching the same developmental milestones requires following the same basic path. However, not all infants will develop at the same rate. Individual children are affected by their environment and hereditary traits which shape their personality and bodies. As such, the outline should be taken only as a relative guide meant to inform parents of what may be expected from an infant during the first year of life.

Typically, infants do develop and grow in a predictable manner - from one developmental milestone to the next, at knowable intervals of time and specific ages. Once the baby has reached a specific milestone, it is a sign that he has mastered the particular physical and/or cognitive skills necessary, and is then ready to move on the next milestone. Despite the fact that these developmental milestones are reached at greatly varied times for all children, the mother may be worried that the baby's pattern of development is abnormal or delayed significantly, and may want to contact a physician with these concerns.

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