Hello to all you parents and parents-to-be! Buckle up because we’re about to embark on a whirlwind tour of a few of the many baby milestones that will leave you teary-eyed, cheering, and reaching for your camera. Remember, every little angel is unique, so these milestones are more like guidelines than a strict roadmap.
1. Their first smile
One of the first delights of parenthood is witnessing your little one’s first smile. Happening as early as a month or two, that gummy grin is sure to melt your heart and make all those sleepless nights worthwhile. So, it’s definitely one milestone you should be keeping a close eye out for.
2. Their first coos
Then come the sweet sounds of their first coos and babbles around the 3-month mark. These baby conversations may not make much sense to us, but they’re the first steps to language development. Cherish these little chats, even if they’re one-sided for now.
3. Sitting up
Once they hit the 6-month mark, you might notice your baby starting to sit up on their own. This particular milestone can be a game-changer! Sitting up allows them to see the world from a different perspective, reach for toys more easily, and interact with you in exciting new ways. And yes, this milestone means it might be time to lower the crib mattress – here are some great tips for lowering crib – for safety as your little adventurer might be standing and exploring soon.
4. Crawling
From here, things start moving quickly. Your baby will likely begin to crawl between 6 to 10 months. This mobile milestone opens up a whole new world of exploration for them and baby-proofing for you. Make sure potential hazards are out of reach, heavy furniture is secured, and stairs are blocked off. Safety first!
5. Standing
Close on the heels of crawling comes standing, typically around 9 to 12 months. Those wobbly first attempts at balancing on their tiny feet will have your heart doing somersaults, and of course, with standing, comes walking. Your once-immobile bundle of joy will soon turn into a tiny tot on the go! You’ll need to be especially mindful when this happens as they’ll move surprisingly fast and they’ll want to explore everything, which means ou need to be really on the ball watching over them.
6. Weaning
Many babies will start to be weaned from around the age of 6 months, although some children will be more interested in food at this stage than others. It can be really exciting when the time comes to share some of your favorite foods with your baby, but it is important that you take things slowly and let them take the lead if you want them to be comfortable with solid foods.
That being said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with introducing them to everything from spicy curry to zing smashed avocado as long as they are excited about the process too, and as long as you are mindful of their comfort levels.
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7. Their first word
Your baby’s first word is likely to be one of the best sounds you will ever hear in your life, so it is worth being extra mindful when their babbling and cooing starts to get more sophisticated, so that you hopefully, do not miss that first mama or dada when it does come.
Maybe, you will be lucky enough to even catch it on film. Usually, this will happen around the 10-12 months mark, but it could happen sooner or later depending on their development, and the more you talk to them, read to them, and explore language with them, the more likely it is they will bless you with their first word sooner, rather than later!
Now, as thrilling as these milestones are, they can also bring a sense of pressure or even anxiety. But remember, babies develop at their own pace. Some will be early bloomers, while others will take their time. What’s important is that your baby is happy, healthy, and surrounded by love.
And let’s not forget to savor these moments. Before you know it, your sitting, crawling, and walking baby will be running around, chattering non-stop, and growing up right before your eyes. Each phase is precious and fleeting, and each brings its own joys and challenges.
So, whether you’re eagerly awaiting that first toothless grin or preparing for the thrill of the first steps, remember to enjoy the journey. Each giggle, babble, and stumble is a story to cherish.
