By Dr. Catherine Gant

TAKING ACCOUNT OF PREMATURITY

If your baby was premature then it is likely they will achieve their milestones proportionately later; talk to your paediatrician about this. Babies develop a sucking reflex at 35 weeks so babies born before this will not be able to feed normally. If your baby was, say, four weeks early, they may not smile until ten weeks after birth rather than at six weeks like a term baby. They often catch up in the first year if not too premature (usually if they are less than six weeks early).

The developmental milestones below are for general guidance and interest only, please read the general development section first to understand how to use the developmental parameters below.

NEWBORN

The newborn has a number of primitive reflexes:

SIX WEEKS

GROSS MOTOR. When held in ventral suspension the hips and knees flex slightly and the head will be held level with the body for a second.

When held in the sitting position the head is held up for a second or so. You should not do this at home as it will strain the baby’s neck muscles.

FINE MOTOR. Palmar grasp develops, if you put something like a teething ring across the palm of the hand your baby grasps it.

SOCIAL. Starts to smile at faces, and watches toys like mobiles.

SPEECH. Starts to make sounds other than crying and stills if spoken to.

VISION. Fixes on toys held directly in front of his or her face and will follow them for 45 degrees horizontally.

THREE MONTHS

GROSS MOTOR – ventral suspension - your baby lifts its head to level with the body and above it for longer lengths of time.

There is slight head lag when your baby is pulled to sitting from lying on its back.

If held up as if sitting, your baby can hold its head up for short periods but not sustain it; again do not do this at home.

FINE MOTOR – Holds its hand up and stares at it – this even happens in blind babies, and is called hand regard.

Holds a toy that is placed in its hand for a few seconds and reaches out towards toys.

SOCIAL – Knows when baths and feeding are about to happen and reacts with pleasure.

SPEECH – Smiles when talked to, and he or she squeals and seems to be trying to talk to parents.

VISION – hand regard – see fine motor. Your baby follows a dangling toy through 180 degrees.

SIX MONTHS

GROSS MOTOR. Sits leaning forwards on outstretched arms and with head held up.

Lying prone, your baby supports his or her weight on forearms with bent elbows and head held up.

Some babies can roll front to back.

FINE MOTOR. Holds a small toy with a palmar grasp, i.e. uses the whole palm of the hand and the fingers.

Transferring from one hand to the other starts.

Transfers toys to his or her mouth.

SOCIAL. Rattles toys and smiles at a mirror.

He or she holds out arms to be picked up. Chewing starts.

SPEECH. Single consonants can be heard like ‘ba’ and ‘da’.

Nonsense conversations continue.

VISION. Fixes on toys and turns to follow them.

SEVEN MONTHS

First teeth appear – again this varies enormously depending on familial factors.

Sits alone without support – holding head up.

NINE MONTHS

GROSS MOTOR. Sits alone for ten minutes and reaches out for a toy.

He or she can get into the crawl position and can commando crawl – pulling body along with the arms.

Gets up to sitting from lying alone. Your baby can stand with some support – or just holding on to furniture.

FINE MOTOR. Your baby will point at objects with an index finger and pick up small things with a mature grasp; opposing the thumb and index finger.

SOCIAL. Looks for toys that are dropped.

He or she begins to be nervous of strangers. Starts to play games like peep –oh and pat-a cake and can wave bye-bye.

Feeds himself with a biscuit and grabs at the spoon (use two!). Your baby wants to help with dressing or have a lot of fun not being helpful!

SPEECH. Says repetitive consonants ‘ba ba ba ba’ or ‘da da da da’.

Understands a few words, often knows what ‘no’ means.

The baby turns to look for people he can hear but not see.

VISION. Picks up small crumbs accurately with a pincer grip using their thumb and first finger.

ONE YEAR

GROSS MOTOR. Can get from lying to sitting or crawling unaided.

Crawls alone and can walk with one hand held.

Bottom shufflers may still be shuffling.

FINE MOTOR. Picks up toys and feeds himself with a biscuit and bottle – and will use a cup and spoon if allowed!

Drops things and watches them fall, called casting.

Bangs two bricks together in front of him or her.

SOCIAL. Feeds self with bottle cup or spoon.

Helps with dressing, claps, waves bye-bye, copies games –e.g. hitting a mobile, and loves playing ‘peek a boo’.

SPEECH. Uses several single words and occasional two-word phrases like ‘oh dear’. Understands quite a lot ‘Where’s mummy?’ ‘Do you want a biscuit?’