Parenting: Development Guide

Growth and Development
Infancy - the first year of a child's life - is filled with tremendous growth and development, and many memorable milestones. The baby's development during his first twelve months of life will be extr ...
The First 48 Hours of Life
The birth of a child and the first 48 hours spent with it are awakening experiences. For most parents this is a time of fulfillment - the culmination of nine months of labor, and for many, numerous mo ...
Monthly Growth Guide
Monthly Growth, Developments, and Milestones A detailed description and basic understanding of how the baby is developing - physically and cognitively - will help the mother cope with and respond to h ...
Month 1
Week 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 - t ...
Month 2
Week 5 Physical Developments: - the baby should weigh 9 ¼ pounds and be 21 ¼ inches long - the baby's reflexes dominate him less as his actions become more voluntary Mental Developments: ...
Month 3
Week 9 Physical Developments: - the baby now weighs 10 ½ pounds and is 22 inches long - the baby's body tone and musculature is improving; he can now hold on to objects for a few moments - the ...
Month 4
Week 13 Physical Developments: - the baby now weighs 12 ½ pounds and is 23 ½ inches long - the baby should be able to sit with the aid of a person or support from an object Mental Develo ...
Month 5
Week 17 Physical Developments: - the baby should weigh 13 ½ pounds and is 24 ½ inches long - the mother may notice that when she wakes the baby from a nap he has moved a lot during his s ...
Month 6
Week 21 Physical Developments: - the baby now weighs 15 pounds and is 25 ¼ inches long - the baby is now alert and attentive for at least half of the time he is awake - the baby's depth percept ...
Month 7
Week 26 Physical Developments: - the baby now weighs 16 pounds and is 26 ½ inches long - the baby should now be able to shit up alone without support and can stand with some help Mental Develop ...
Month 8
Week 31 Physical Developments: - the baby now weighs 17 ½ pounds and is 27 ½ inches long - the baby may now be able to crawl with his stomach on the floor Mental Developments: - the baby ...
Month 9
Week 35 Physical Developments: - the baby now weighs 19 pounds and is 28 inches long - If the baby is held in a standing position he will attempt to take steps by placing one foot in front of the othe ...
Month 10
Week 40 Physical Developments: - the baby now weighs 20 ¼ pounds and is 28 ¾ inches long - the baby is now able to stand with little or no support - the baby may develop irregular sleep ...
Month 11
Week 44 Physical Developments: - the baby now weighs 21 pounds and is 29 ½ inches long - the baby is able to climb, by himself, up and down from chairs Mental Developments: - the baby is still ...
Month 12
Week 49 Physical Developments: - the baby now weighs 21 ½ pounds and is 29 ¾ inches long - If the baby is not walking by himself at this point, he is at least getting around with very li ...