Baby Development Guide (0 to 3 months)

While welcoming your bundle of joy into this world is exciting, the first few months of your baby can be very challenging, not only for the baby but for the parents as well. Your baby develops rapidly during this time and so would you. You will learn a number of new things during this time about your little one. The tasks can definitely be daunting.

 

1 Month Old

- First of all, congratulations. You have made it to the 1 month milestone. By now, both you and your baby have settled into a routine of feeding, sleeping & bowel movements. Vitamin-D and breastfeeding need to be continued (unless concerns from the doctor). Colic starts appearing but will limit itself in 3 – 4 months.

Milestones: Your baby can now pay attention to the human face and can fix & hold your gaze. It has also developed a social smile and has gotten marginally better at holding its head.

Doctor’s Visit: The doctor’s visit may be due at 6 weeks. A thorough check-up on growth & milestones will be done during this visit. You should note down all your questions to save

time.

Signs of Worry: Your baby must definitely start smiling, holding its head up momentarily when on shoulder & track your finger when moving horizontally.

 

2 Month Old

- At this age, the baby starts to recognize faces and shows excitement at being carried. It spends less time on the breast and is easily satisfied. Colic is not regular in appearance but is still there. The baby sleeps a lot during this time (up to 16 hours a day)

Milestones: Baby smiles a lot and coos when you try to talk to them. Start taking the hand to mouth more and more. They kick a lot with both legs and start to love massages.

Doctor’s Visit: Similar sets of vaccines as before are given. The doctor may check for BCG Scar. A checklist of milestones will be discussed so have them noted. Growth & Development milestones will also be discussed by the doctor.

Signs of Worry: Your baby must definitely start smiling, and should coo and gurgle. It should maintain eye contact or show signs of recognition. It should also try to lift its head when on floor or shoulder and should track horizontal finger movement.

 

3 Month Old

- During this time the baby explores a lot of different skills. They develop a sense of day & night and start sleeping through the night. Baby’s length must have increased by around 20% and weight by around 30% by this time. They also show reluctance in breastfeeding since they are happy sucking their own hand.

Milestones: Babies start holding their heads up almost 90 degrees at around 12 weeks. Constantly suckle at their hands and feet. They can also hold up their chest when on their tummy. May use both hands to grab a rattle or a toy. The vision and hearing become much clearer and they track better with their eyes and turn their head.

Doctor’s Visit: Last round of monthly shots will be given. The baby will be charted on the growth chart. Vision, gaze tracking & ability to bear weight is also checked by the doctor. Breastfeeding options (especially for mothers who have to join work) and weaning must be discussed during this visit.

Signs of Worry: If the baby is not gaining much weight or if it’s not focusing the eyes. The baby should babble and make sounds and should bring objects to its mouth. It should bear weight when made to stand and should be able to hold up head when unsupported.

 

Curious to read about the baby development in the second quarter of life. Read here.