Nurturing Early Growth: Helping Your Child Reach Developmental Milestones (0-1 Year)

The first year of your child's life is an extraordinary period of transformation and growth. In these initial 12

months, infants progress through a range of developmental milestones. While each child's development is unique, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides guidelines to help parents understand and support their child's journey. Here's how you can help your child reach their full potential in that critical first year.

Understanding the Milestones

Before diving into strategies to encourage development, it's crucial to recognize what milestones to expect during the first year. The CDC outlines several key developments:

• By 2 months: Most babies can hold their heads up and begin to smile at people.

• By 4 months: Babies typically start to babble and imitate some movements and facial expressions.

• By 6 months: Many babies begin to roll over in both directions and respond to their name.

• By 9 months: Infants usually start to understand basic words like "no" and can sit without support.

• By 12 months: Children often are starting to use simple gestures (like shaking their head “no” or waving “bye-bye”) and may be saying simple words like "mama" or "dada".

Knowing these milestones provides a roadmap for your baby's first year, allowing you to tailor activities and interactions to support their current developmental stage.

From Birth to 2 Months: Building Trust and Comfort

In the first two months, focus on:

• Bonding: Engage in skin-to-skin contact and hold your baby close to build a sense of security.