During the first year, your baby will grow and develop faster than at any other time of the life. Babies grow and develop at their own rate. Your baby may develop more quickly in certain areas than others. The following are general guidelines only:

• 1-3 Months: Your baby can lift his head to look around when on his stomach. He can turn his head from side to side and use his eyes to follow moving objects. Your baby can hold onto objects for a few seconds when placed in hands. He sleeps 15-20 hours/day; first month – sleeps most of the day between feedings; second month – may begin to sleep through the night; third month – cries less often and sleeps better during the night. Your baby will coo and smile by three months.
• 4-6 Months: When you prop your baby up, she can keep her head steady and looks around in different directions. She can roll over from stomach to back and from back to stomach. Teething may begin. Your baby can reach and grasp and transfer objects from hand to hand and from hand to mouth. Your baby will laugh aloud, babble vowel sounds (“ooh” and “ah”) and may respond to her own name.
• 7-9 Months: Your baby can sit up by himself for a short time. Crawling begins. He can stand holding on to something for support. He likes to pick things up, bang two things together, shake and drop things. He likes to imitate sounds. Now he can recognize family members and may become fearful of strangers.
• 10-12 Months: Your baby continues to crawl, but begins to pull herself up to standing. She likes to “cruise” along furniture. By one year, she may step with support. Most babies do not walk alone before one year of age. Your baby can pick up small objects with a thumb and one finger. She understands many words and gestures (i.e., “waving bye-bye”) and may say two or three words, such as “mama”, “dada” or “baba”. Your baby is learning to be independent and may begin to explore away from you and take off shoes and socks.