What your baby might be doing

Emotional / Social

A first smile begins to develop toward the end of the first month.

Cognitive

Focuses 8-12 inches away and has a visual preference for black & white and high contrast images. Eyes may wander and cross. Hearing is fully mature, and she recognizes some sounds (can distinguish parents' voices at birth). Prefers sweet smells. Communicates nonverbally by crying and looking, and can recognize her mother's breast milk at this age.

Fine motor skills

Holds hands in fists.

Movement

Heads must be supported. Movements are jerky, and there are strong reflexes. The reflexes help the baby know what do from birth, before they've had a chance to "learn what to do.” For example, the rooting reflex guides the baby to turn her head toward the bottle or breast.

What you can be doing

Talk to your baby! Face-to-face communication is helpful in language development and social emotional development. You might notice that your baby matches your facial expressions as you smile or make a sad face; you can label these emotions to help build emotion vocabulary. In fact, labeling and narrating common daily events helps infants and young children understand their world and promotes cognitive, emotional and language development. Narration of daily tasks, including labeling of objects, orientation to time of day/routine and labeling of emotions, promotes a variety of language, cognitive and well-being benefits (e.g., "It is lunch time, this is a plate and fork," "I'm going to eat this sandwich and then we will read a book.")

What your baby might be doing

Emotional / Social

Becomes more expressive and communicative, may imitate some movements and facial expressions, develops and practices social smiling, and begins to enjoy play and may cry when play stops. In the first couple months, babies experience three emotions: contentment, interest, and distress.

Cognitive

By two months your baby's eyes are more coordinated and she can focus more on objects. She watches faces, starts using hand and eye coordination, is still visually attracted to high contrast images, recognizes familiar faces and objects, begins to track movements (and may follow you!), and may turn her head toward you. She listens when you speak, is more alert and responsive, and smiles at the sound of your voice. Begins to babble and attempt to imitate sounds.

Fine motor skills

Grasps and shakes toys.

Movement

Babies are more active, and the tonic neck and moro reflexes begin to fade. Movement becomes more coordinated and smoother. May move in response to you or to attract attention. She has increased neck strength, can start to raise her head and chest and be supported by her arms when laying on stomach. Stretches legs out and kicks, or may push down and "bounce." Opens and shuts hands, reaches for dangling objects, and may bring hands to mouth.

What you can be doing

Begin daily reading at birth. Choose engaging books with pictures, tactile elements, rhyme and repetition. As your child develops, let them lead by turning pages, choosing books and expressing thoughts and feelings about the story. Learn baby's cues and be attentive to their rhythms, moods and needs.

What your baby might be doing

Emotional / Social

A growing interest in the world around them! Laughs, babbles and loves to concentrate on you! Enjoys social play, responds to people's expression of emotion, and begins to distinguish emotions by tone of voice. Uses voice to express pleasure or displeasure, responds to verbal sounds with sound imitation, and might babble with you. By 6 months, babies can feel joy, contentment, surprise, interest, sadness, disgust, and anger.

Cognitive

Explores hands and other objects with mouth, reaches for objects out of reach, finds partially hidden objects. Vision matures including development of full color vision, can see further and has more advanced tracking. Responds to her name and the word "no," uses voice to express emotions, and babbles consonant sounds. Around 6 months babies can start to learn cause and effect. And there is a budding understanding of depth perception occurring (especially once they start crawling!).

Fine motor skills

Reaches with one hand, and transfers objects from hand to hand.

Movement

Around 4 months she'll be able to hold her neck and chest up on her elbows. Parents can start to consider a front or back carrier since she will be able to support her neck/head and look around. By 6 months, she'll likely be able to roll from front to back and back to front. Watch out for rolling on the changing table! She will also develop the ability to sit up with support and then without support.

What you can be doing

Listen to music. Music has a powerful connection to our mood. Playing fun music with jingles and rhymes for play and calm soothing music during times of rest can not only stimulate cognitive development but help as a tool for coping.

What your baby might be doing

Emotional / Social

At this stage your baby may develop a preference for her mother (or any primary caregiver) and start to demonstrate some concern or anxiety around strangers. When separated from primary caregivers, babies may cry. Babies at this stage develop preferences for certain people and activities and can imitate people in play. Babies are always testing parental reactions to their behavior and situations around them (e.g., how do you respond when she drops the food on the floor? What do you do when she refuses a food or activity?). Baby will start to look to the primary caregiver to reference how they should feel (e.g., may look at mom to see if she is concerned in the presence of a new person or if the baby falls down). Baby can start to work collaboratively with you when doing certain activities (e.g., may reach their arm out to help when getting dressed).

Cognitive

Both expressive language (the baby communicating) and receptive language (the baby understanding others' communication)! Develops first words such as "mama" or "dada." Tries to imitate words and prosody of speech. She may be able to understand and respond to simple requests. She can respond to being told "no," and may use body language to communicate such as shaking head "no." Begins to understand correct labels for pictures. Can point to at least one body part. Enjoys finding hidden objects, imitates gestures and can begin to use objects correctly (e.g., drinking from a cup, putting a phone to her ear, stirring with a spoon). She is also thinking scientifically and exploring/testing objects in a variety of ways (e.g., putting objects in mouth, shaking, banging, throwing and dropping - often repetitively). She can start to use tools to solve a problem (e.g., can hold something to help them retrieve a toy).

Fine motor skills

Can grasp with index and thumb (i.e., pincer grasp). Puts objects in and takes objects out of a container. Tries to imitate writing, Can begin to feed self with fingers and spoon, and begins to hold and use a cup.

Movement

By 8 months, your baby can probably sit up independently. Crawls on her belly, can get on hands and knees, and might "creep" or bounce on hands and knees. Pulls up on furniture to stand, walks while holding onto furniture, and may take a step or two.

What you can be doing

Implementing daily routines that are consistent helps an infant or young child know what to expect and builds a sense of confidence, calm and comfort. Develop mealtime routines, nap routines, morning and bedtime routines to develop a consistent rhythm in the day.

What your baby might be doing

Emotional / Social

Becomes increasingly self-aware and independent. May demonstrate helpful behaviors (e.g., helping with self-care like dressing or hair brushing) and more challenging behaviors (e.g., voicing disinterest in following a request). Becomes more aware of himself as separate from his caregiver and others, and is more engaged in play with other children. An ability to point to ask for help or point at objects of interest.

Cognitive

At this age, language acquisition and cognitive development is obvious and rapid. Baby acquires new words and may begin to put two words together to ask questions such as "where's the...?" or "who's that?" Can begin to label familiar people and objects. Puts together 2-4 word sentences before age 2. Begins to identify body parts. Begins to engage in imaginative play independently. Begins to sort shapes and colors, and find hidden objects when under 2-3 covers.

Fine motor skills

Scribbles and paints, and can imitate through drawing. Builds block towers, throws a small ball, and can begin to turn pages in books and door knobs. May begin to develop a preference for use of one hand over another.

Movement

Begins walking alone and develops the ability to walk up stairs holding hands (and then rails) for support. Begins to run! May walk or run while pulling objects. Is able to carry several objects at once. Can climb up and down on furniture and can sit in a small chair. Likes to practice the same task over and over again.

What you can be doing

Provide stimulating and safe spaces for your child to explore in developmentally appropriate ways. As an infant this may look like a play mat that is soft and safe with appropriate toys, as they age, this may look like a well-childproofed play space with age appropriate/safe toys. At all ages, play on the floor daily with your child. Make eye contact, smile with them, listen to them and answer their questions. Being attuned to their thoughts and feelings, especially through daily play, builds social, emotional and cognitive development as well as plays a role in building secure attachments.

What your child might be doing

Emotional / Social

Your child continues to learn interpersonal skills through imitation, so watch what you're doing! Children will mimic your body posture, words, tone of voice, and interactions with others. May have preferred playmates and can show affection toward them. Understands the concept of "Mine" vs "theirs" and can begin to understand how to "take turns." Engages in pretend play with others. Children express affection and emotion openly to parents at this age and can express a wide range of emotions. They even use emotion words like "happy, sad, scared, and mad."

Cognitive

Begins to understand more complex language and responds appropriately. Two year olds can understand most sentences, recognize and label most common objects and respond appropriately to two and three part commands (e.g., go to the toy bin and put in the red block and blue stuffy). Their vocabulary is developing rapidly and are usually able to use about fifty words and may construct 4-5 word sentences. They are able to say their name, age, gender, use some pronouns correctly and can name many body parts. Cognitively, two year olds begin to engage in more complex imaginary play involving toys, dolls, people and animals. They can find hidden objects, understand the concept of two, can make toys that have a mechanical element work and can complete puzzles that have 3-4 pieces.

Fine motor skills

Fine motor coordination increases and a child begins to "draw" more intentionally by hold writing utensils with fingers and thumb (instead of fists) and focuses more on line development. Toddlers can screw and unscrew lids, turn door knobs, unzip a large zipper, stack objects, and catch a large ball.

Movement

The activity level in children increases significantly at this time. This is a time when children might seem like they are "everywhere!" Children begin to climb well, kick balls, and demonstrate more fluid and coordinated running. Can begin to pedal a tricycle and can jump off the ground with two feet.

What you can be doing

Develop positive parenting practices and family dynamics early on to promote a warm and stable environment in which your child can grow. Giving your baby lots of love and attention only helps; there's no way to spoil a baby! As your child grows older and there becomes a need for educating around boundaries, expectations for behavior and safety measures, teach with consistency, wisdom and warmth.

What your child might be doing

Emotional / Social

Children at this age enjoy new experiences, try on new roles (e.g., pretending to be other people in imaginary play), can dress themselves and play dress-up. They can negotiate solutions to problems, eat independently and many 3 year olds can achieve toilet training. They are starting to view themselves as whole and independent people with their own opinions, thoughts and feelings.

Cognitive

By three years old, your child can be understood by 75% of people. Their vocabulary is growing and they can start to understand "same" vs "different." They begin to tell stories and can recall parts of stories. They can understand simple prepositions (e.g., on and under) and the concept of counting. You child can also correctly name colors. At this stage your child is engaging in problem solving, but from a single point of view. Engages in imaginative play.

Fine motor skills

Can begin to draw and copy simple shapes (circle and squares). Begins to draw people and figures. Uses child-safe scissors, Can begin to copy capital letters.

Movement

Hops and stands on one foot for up to five seconds, can throw and catch a bounced ball, and demonstrates increased agility in movement and jumping.

What you can be doing

Research demonstrates the importance of early identification of social, physical, and emotional concerns in order to implement early intervention.

What your child might be doing

Emotional / Social

Significant social development takes place this time. Children become more interested in friendships, want to be liked by peers and are more agreeable to following the rules. Their play with friends becomes more elaborate and involves well-developed imaginary ideas. They also gain substantially more independence during this time. Most children are independently toilet trained, feed themselves at the table, can brush their teeth, and engage in other self-care.

Cognitive

Sentences are longer and more complex and they are generally understood by most strangers. Children are able to tell longer stories, recall parts of stories and use the future tense. They can often say their name and address. Can count to ten or more, correctly name 4 or more colors, better understand the concept of time, and understand the use of many common household items.

Fine motor skills

Can copy more complex geometric shapes, like a triangle. Drawings of people and objects become more complex (a drawing of a person may be three parts), pencil grip improves, and can print some letters. Can dress and undress self without assistance, including buttoning shirts. Uses fork and spoon.

Movement

Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer and may be able to hop on one foot. Can climb stairs alternating feet without assistance.

What you can be doing

Be ready to jump in and enjoy imaginary play with your child. Playing with your child, as opposed to watching from the sideline, helps build your relationship and motivate positive behaviors.