Newborn Milestone Moments: A Week-by-Week Guide to Baby’s First-Year Milestones

Having a newborn in your life is a magical experience with numerous questions. You are wondering how your baby will grow, what milestones to look out for, and more. Here is a week-by-week and month-by-month guide on how your baby will develop and the milestones to look out for.

Newborn Baby Milestones: Week-by-Week

Week 1:
In the first week, your baby will start responding to familiar voices, especially yours. You can expect them to sleep for almost 16-18 hours a day and show sweet reflexive movements like gripping your finger.

Week 2:
Your baby will start recognising familiar voices, even more, their feeding schedules will settle in and there could be brief moments of alertness as well.

Week 3:
Your baby’s movements will become less jerky this week. Their curiosity will rise, and you may also see them turning their heads towards sound or light.

Week 4:
During this week, you should encourage short tummy-session times for your baby. They will try to have control over their head now. So, you should promote these sessions. You may also notice a heart-melting social smile during this week.

1-Month Baby Milestones:

Week 5:
You will get a glimpse of your baby’s communication skills this week as they will begin cooing. Their vision is improving too and they will be able to recognize faces when you are close to their range.

Week 6:
Your baby will start lifting their head higher this week and tummy time will become more rewarding. Their grasp is still strong, so you should give them a lot of soft toys they can try to hold.

Week 7:
Your baby’s hearing will become sharper this week and they will start responding to your voice more actively. As an important part of babies’ developmental stages, your baby will start discovering their hands.

Week 8:
Your baby is nearing 2 months, and their movements will be more coordinated. Your baby may also try to mimic some expressions and try to unfold new milestones in the next month.

2- Month Baby Milestones:

Week 9:
In this week, your baby will be able to hold their head up higher during tummy time and will respond to your smiles with a smile of their own.

Week 10:
Your baby will try to reach objects this month, it will become their focus. You can hang colorful toys for them to try holding on to and encourage this activity.

Week 11:
Your baby’s communications will improve this week with coos and gurgles. They will start babbling this week which is an important part of their development.

Week 12:
Your baby this week will bat toys and follow moving objects with their eyes. The best memory to keep from this week is the giggles that start.

Baby Milestones Month-by-Month

3-Month Milestones:
Your baby will start to open and close their hands as their hand-eye coordination improves this month. They will try tracking movements around the room and reaching out for toys.

4-Month Milestones:
This month your baby will be able to roll on to their tummy on their own. They will also laugh loudly and interact with you through play and songs.

5-Month Milestone:
Your baby’s grip will become stronger. They will start recognizing their names now.

6-Month Milestone:
The big milestone at this age is being able to sit up with support. Your baby’s babbling will become more distinct and they will love playing games like peek-a-boo.

7-Month Milestone:
Your baby will start scooting around or crawling at this age. They will also start exploring their surroundings more actively with both hands.

8-Month Milestone:
Your baby will enjoy clapping and waving. It is their social phase. They will also start pulling themselves up to stand with support.

9-Month Milestone:
Your baby is going to start moving with furniture support. They will also start speaking and saying words like ‘mama’ and ‘dada.

10- Month Milestone:
Your little one will be more curious now and they will move faster too. They will like to move objects around and banging things.

11-Month Milestone:
Your baby is probably standing on their own by now and they will take their first steps anytime. They are also developing their fine motor skills by picking up small objects.

12-Month Milestone:
It’s time for your baby’s first birthday! They might be walking by now or close to walking. They now understand small commands and simple words and this marks the end of a remarkable growth year.

Newborn Milestone Chart

Factors Influencing Newborn Growth

• Genetics play an important role in your child’s growth.
• Twins or triplets may have slightly slower growth rates.
• Firstborns may weigh more than their siblings at birth.
• Boys generally grow slightly faster than girls.
• A healthy pregnancy plays an important role in your baby’s development after birth.
• Proper nourishment during pregnancy and infancy helps in growth.
• Preterm babies may take longer to reach certain milestones.

FAQs

1. How long should my newborn sleep?

   Newborns sleep 16-18 hours daily, gradually reducing as they grow.

2. When do babies start standing?

   Usually around 9-12 months.

3. When do babies sit up from lying down?

   Between 6-8 months.

4. When do babies start playing with toys?

   From around 3 months.

5. When do babies clap?

   Typically by 8-9 months.

6. When do babies start laughing?

   Around 3-4 months.

7. When do babies recognise their names?

   Around 5 months.

8. When do babies start reaching for things?

   Around 2-3 months.

9. When do babies start remembering faces?

   By 3-4 months.

10. When do babies cruise?

    Around 9-10 months.

    Every baby grows at their own pace, so do not stress if your baby is taking slightly longer to reach certain milestones. Celebrate every small step, be watchful and enjoy this journey of parenthood, because they are only this little for a short while.