Babies From Birth to One Betty Connal, RN, MS SIDS Mid Atlantic 2700 S. Quincy St. Suite 220 Arlington VA www.sidsma.org

Babies Developmental Milestones Cognitive development for baby means the learning process of memory, language, thinking and reasoning.

Babies A baby is learns to recognize the sound of mom’s voice. She is also learning to focus her vision from the periphery or the corner of her eyes to the center.

Babies Language development is more than uttering sounds (“babble”), or mama/dada.

Babies Listening, understanding, and knowing the names of people and things are all components of language development.

Babies During this stage, your baby is also developing bonds of love and trust with you. The way you cuddle, hold, and play with your baby will set the basis for how he will interact with you and others.

Babies Positive Parenting Talk to your baby. It is soothing to hear your voice. When your baby makes sounds, answer him by repeating and adding words. This will help him learn to use language.

Babies Read to baby. This helps her develop and understand language and sounds. Sing to baby. Play music. This helps baby develop a love for music and math.

Babies Praise baby and give him lots of loving attention. Spend time cuddling and holding baby. This helps her feel cared for and secure. The best time to play with baby is when he’s alert and relaxed. Watch baby closely for signs of being tired or fussy so that you can take a break.

Babies Parenting can be hard work! Take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. It is easier to enjoy your new baby and be a positive, loving parent when you are feeling good yourself.

Babies Child Safety First make sure that baby’s home is a safe place. Look around for household items that might present a possible danger to your baby. As a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that you create a safe environment for your baby. It is also important that you take the necessary steps to make sure that you are mentally and emotionally ready for your new baby. Here are a few tips to keep your baby safe during her first year of life.

Babies Never shake a baby. Newborn babies have very weak neck muscles that are not yet able to support their heads. If you shake your baby you can damage his brain and delay normal development.

Babies and Safe Sleep Always place your baby to sleep on his or her back, on a firm mattress covered with only a tight fitting bottom sheet (no padded mattress tops or covers) Remove all loose and fluffy bedding from your baby’s sleep area. This includes pillows, blankets, quilts, comforters, bumper pads, sheepskins, stuffed toys and other soft products Never place your baby to sleep on a sofa, waterbed, pillow, soft mattress, or any other soft surface;

Babies and Safe Sleep Do not bed share with brothers, sisters or relatives other than the baby’s mother When using a crib, make sure it meets current safety standards, and that the mattress fits snuggly in the crib When using a portable crib or playpen, be sure to use only the mattress or pad provided by the manufacturer Be aware of all of the hidden hazards of adult beds for infants. These include the potential for entrapment between the bed, wall, headboard, bed frame or other object; accidental suffocation in soft bedding; overlaying and falls from the bed.

Babies Place baby in a car safety seat every time he rides in the car. The safest place for his safety seat is in the back seat of the car. Children who are less than one year OR are less than 20 pounds should be placed in a rear-facing care seat.

Babies To prevent your baby from choking, cut her food into small bites. Don’t allow your baby to play with anything that may cover her face or is easy for her to swallow. Never carry hot liquids or food near your baby or while holding him.

Babies Immunizations (shots) are important to protect your child’s health and safety. Because children are susceptible to many potentially serious diseases, it is important that your child receive the proper immunizations.

Babies at 3 months

Babies at Seven Months Social and Emotional Enjoys social play Interested in mirror images Responds to other people's expressions of emotion and appears joyful often

Babies at Seven Months Language Responds to own name Begins to respond to "no" Can tell emotions by tone of voice Responds to sound by making sounds Uses voice to express joy and displeasure Babbles chains of sounds

Babies at Seven Months Movement Rolls both ways (front to back, back to front) Sits with, and then without, support on hands Supports whole weight on legs Reaches with one hand Transfers object from hand to hand Uses hand to rake objects

Babies at Seven Months Vision Develops full color vision Distance vision matures Ability to track moving objects improves

Babies at Seven Months Cognitive Finds partially hidden object Explores with hands and mouth Struggles to get objects that are out of reach

Babies at One Year Social and Emotional Shy or anxious with strangers Cries when mother or father leaves Enjoys imitating people in his play Shows specific preferences for certain people and toys Tests parental responses to his actions during feedings Tests parental responses to his behavior May be fearful in some situations Prefers mother and/or regular caregiver over all others Repeats sounds or gestures for attention Finger-feeds himself Extends arm or leg to help when being dressed

Babies at One Year Cognitive Explores objects in many different ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping) Finds hidden objects easily Looks at correct picture when the image is named Imitates gestures Begins to use objects correctly (drinking from cup, brushing hair, dialing phone, listening to receiver)

Babies at One Year Language Pays increasing attention to speech Responds to simple verbal requests Responds to “no” Uses simple gestures, such as shaking head for “no” Babbles with inflection (changes in tone) Says “dada” and “mama” Uses exclamations, such as “Oh-oh!” Tries to imitate words

Babies at One Year Movement Reaches sitting position without assistance Crawls forward on belly Assumes hands-and-knees position Creeps on hands and knees Gets from sitting to crawling or prone (lying on stomach) position Pulls self up to stand Walks holding on to furniture Stands momentarily without support May walk two or three steps without support

Babies at One Year Hand and Finger Skills Uses pincer grasp Bangs two objects together Puts objects into container Takes objects out of container Lets objects go voluntarily Pokes with index finger Tries to imitate scribbling

Warning Signs of Problems Developmental Health Watch Alert your child's doctor or nurse if your child displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay for this age range. Does not crawl Drags one side of body while crawling (for over one month) Cannot stand when supported Does not search for objects that are hidden while he or she watches Says no single words ("mama" or "dada") Does not learn to use gestures, such as waving or shaking head Does not point to objects or pictures Experiences a dramatic loss of skills he or she once had

Early Intervention Infant & Toddler Connection of Fairfax/Falls Church 3750 Old Lee Highway Fairfax, VA Contact: Meribeth Fannin - Intake Coordinator Phone: (703) Fax: (703) Service Area: Fairfax, Fairfax County, Falls Church,

Babies: The End