Month 1

Physical Developments:

- the baby is able to lift his own head

- the baby can move his head from side to side

- the baby is able to control his arms, legs, and hand movements through reflex

- the baby will eat 7 to 8 times per day

- the baby has a greatly varied and irregular sleep and wake schedule; he may sleep during the day and be awake mostly at night

- the baby will sleep between 16 and 20 hours per day

- the baby's bowel movements are sporadic and frequent

- the baby's reflexes control swallowing and rooting

- When sitting upright, the baby's head will flop forward or back uncontrollably

Mental Developments:

- When picked up when crying, the baby will quiet

- the baby will make brief eye contact with people

- the baby is able to shut out unsettling stimuli by falling asleep

- the baby learns to expect food at specific times

Senses and Reflex Development:

- the baby will blink at bright lights and moving objects

- Grasping reflex is fully functioning

- the baby is only able to focus on things between 8 and 12 inches in front of him

- the baby is able to distinguish different tastes

- the baby will be sensitive to sounds

- the baby will move his head from side to side in response to stimuli

- the baby will lift his head when he is placed on his stomach

Social Development:

- the baby is able to show pain and excitement
- the baby is alert and responds to human voices and faces

Week 2

Physical Developments:

- the baby's arm, leg and hand movements are still reflexive

- the baby's hand will tend to either be balled in a fist or slightly open

- the baby will startle easily and the moro reflex will be evident

Mental Developments:

- the baby will cry when he wants something or needs help

- the baby's crying will cease when he hears a familiar voice, sees a face, or is held

- the baby is not very alert

Senses and Reflex Development:

- the baby's vision is getting stronger and is now able to focus on objects between 8 and 18 inches from his faces

- the baby will react more favorably to a higher pitched, familiar female voice

- Rooting reflex is now further developed and the baby will begin rooting even when not breastfeeding

Social Development:

- the baby will respond to human voices

- the baby will stare intently at faces

- the baby will react to the sight of a familiar face

Week 3

Physical Developments:

- the baby will thrash his arms and legs playfully

- the baby will be able to lift his head for a greater amount of time when placed on his stomach

Mental Developments:

- the baby begins to show vague expression

- the baby is calmed by being held or spoken too

Senses and Reflex Development:

- the baby is able to coordinate the movement of his eyes when looking at light or an object in his periphery

Social Development:

- the baby's amount of eye contact increases greatly

Week 4

Physical Developments:

- When the baby is placed in a sitting position, he may now be able to hold his head up

Mental Developments:

- the baby may now make indiscernible noises when he hears or sees a familiar face

- the baby will be able to remember objects when they are hidden and then revealed quickly - as in playing peek-a-boo

Senses and Reflex Development:

- the baby is able to grasp objects but is unable to hold them for any length of time

Social Development:

- the baby may hold on more tightly to those who hold him and may try to interact with them by grasping them

- the baby may make throaty sounds as though trying to speak

During this first month, the baby is very visually stimulated. He will look at people, hold eye contact, and perhaps smile when smiled at. He will look at and follow object or lights passed in front of him slowly. The baby will look at a person who says his name, will gaze at and recognize the mother, and will become quiet when spoken to, particularly by the mother.

Apart from crying, the only sounds that the baby may make are slight laughs and coos when he is happy. His hearing is not acute but he will respond to noises, especially the sound of his parent's voices - particularly the mother's. At this stage the baby is able to suck his thumb, cry, sneeze, cough, and smell. The reflexes mentioned previously will become more prominent throughout the month. Also, his strength will increase as he is able to hold up his head when lying on his stomach. Near the end of the first month the baby should be developing some discernable sleeping and eating patterns that are more normal and in sync with those of his parents. By four weeks the baby will also stay awake for longer periods of time. For the first six months of life, the baby will probably gain nearly an ounce of weight per day.

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