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Childhood Development

Milestones Ahead

From the first moments after the birth of your child, you know your life will never be the same. Your child will change from week to week-even from day to day-as he begins to notice the world around him, and to interact with it. Get a head start, and know what to expect as your baby matures.

"That first smile makes up for all the sleepless nights."– I-ying, mother of one

Getting Acquainted

Who this strange and beautiful little person you agreed to spend your life with really is

This guide helps you understand him a little better, by explaining:

By month two, your baby will also get to know you better, smiling and actually recognizing the woman who's changed his diapers for the last 28 days.

Baby talk - how your baby communicates without words

Many moms are convinced that their baby knows them at birth. They're probably right.

Babies take in information through all of them, and then use that information to communicate with you.

Here’s how your baby takes in information, communicates, and relates:

  • At just 1 week old, your baby can pick out your voice from the voices of other women (Newborns seem to respond more to the higher-pitched voices of their moms and other women than to the lower-pitched voices of their fathers and other men)
  • Even in the early weeks, babies behave differently with the different people they relate to – mom, dad, and others –  all of these situations, your baby is attaching, bonding, and learning that he’s a separate person who helps shape his relationships with others

More than meets the eye

It may appear that your baby is passive – eating, sleeping, and waiting for you to do things for him.

  • Seeking ways to adapt to the world outside the womb (sleeping is one way he learns to organize his life, turning off the environment to conserve energy needed to grow)
  • Giving you signals – watching him closely, you’ll learn how much or little stimulation he can handle, and when he’s ready for talking, feeding, singing, or playing (“I’m happy and ready to play” signals include open eyes, relaxed arms and legs, and maybe even a tight, playful grip around your finger)
  • Ready to say enough is enough – if baby is played with, talked to, or fed too much, he may grimace, turn and look away, clench his fists, and wriggle or spit up (these messages say, "Slow down, please. I need more peace and quiet.")

Establishing sleep patterns for your two-month-old

By the time your baby is 6-12 weeks old, he'll probably be sleeping for longer stretches of the night. If he's not, you may have to help him learn to fall back to sleep on his own.

  • Put him in his crib, instead of rocking or holding him
  • Wait until he ’s groggy, but still awake; then lay him in his crib, say "good night," turn off the light, and leave the room
  • If he cries, wait a few minutes before returning
  • If he continues to cry, go back in the room (leaving the light off), rub him, and talk to him in a soothing voice until he quiets down, then say "good night" and leave the room again
  • If he begins to cry again, repeat this pattern until he falls asleep

It may take a few days, but he’ll get the hang of it. Establishing this skill when your baby is still young will help prevent bedtime battles later.