Downloadable Files
DEVELOPMENT
Daily Activities
- Crying gradually becomes less frequent
- Displays greater variety of emotions: distress, excitement, delight
- May begin to sleep through the night
- Smiles, gurgles and coos, particularly when talked to
- Shows more distress when an adult leaves
- Quiets down when held or talked to
- Cannot conceive of an object existing if it cannot be sensed
Motor Skills
- Movements become increasingly smoother
- Lifts chest momentarily when lying on tummy
- Hold head steady when held or seated with support
- Discovers hands and fingers
- Grasps with more control
- May bat at dangling objects with entire body
Vision
- Focuses better, but still no more than 12 inches
- Follows objects by moving head from side to side
- Prefers brightly colored objects
Hearing
- Knows the difference between male and female voices
- Knows the difference between angry and friendly voices
FEEDING
Your baby still needs only breast milk or infant formula to grow healthy and strong. It is not time to start cereal or baby foods yet. Cereal can be started at 4 to 6 months of age. At this age most babies take about 4 ounces of formula every 3 to 4 hours.
Always hold your baby during feeding time. This way your baby learns that you are there to meet his needs. This is an important and special time.
SLEEP
Many babies wake up every 3 to 4 hours, while others sleep through the night. Every baby is different. Feeding your baby a lot just before bedtime doesn’t have much to do with how long your baby will sleep. Place your baby in the crib when he’s drowsy but still awake. Ask your doctor or nurse for ideas about ways to keep your baby alert and awake during the day and sound asleep at night.
NO WORRIES
Each child is unique. It is therefore difficult to describe exactly what should be expected at each stage of a child’s development. While certain behaviors and physical milestones tend to occur at certain ages, a wide spectrum of growth and behavior for each age is normal. These guidelines are offered as a way of showing a general progression through the developmental stages rather than fixed requirements for normal development at specific ages. It is perfectly natural for a child to attain some milestones earlier and other milestones later than the general trend. Keep this in mind as you review these milestones.
SAFETY TIPS:
Never leave your child alone, except in a crib.
Avoid Suffocation and Choking
- Use a crib with slats not more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart
- Place your baby in bed on his back
- Use a mattress that fits the crib snugly
- Keep plastic bags, balloons, and baby powder out of reach
Avoid Fires, Burns, Scalds
- Never eat, drink, or carry anything hot near the baby or while you are holding the baby
- Turn your water heater down to 120ºF (50ºC)
- Install smoke detectors
- Keep a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen
- Never allow smoke near the baby
Car Safety
- Never leave a child alone in a car
- Use an approved infant car safety seat—follow instructions for proper use
- Parents should always wear seat belts
Avoid Falls
- Never step away when the baby is on a high place
- Keep the crib sides up
