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The First Year is a blog by Beth, who shares hundreds of easy and delicious dessert recipes, from cakes and cookies to muffins and cheesecakes. Whether you need a go-to dessert for parties, a birthday cake, or a snack, you'll find it here with step-by-step instructions and tips.
- Donuts
Donuts are like eating a hole food for breakfast, get it?!...
- Muffins
I spent half a year developing and testing muffin recipes....
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Instantly receive three FREE dessert recipes that millions...
- Cookies
Cookie recipes are a staple in every baker’s house! We have...
- About
Why is your blog called ‘The First Year’? I started blogging...
- Buy Cookbook
Bakery Style Muffins Cookbook eBook (Digital eBook) 27.99 $...
- Contact
Hi, I'm Beth! I believe that everyone should have a go-to...
- Fall
Cooler weather means it’s time for fall baking! We have so...
- Peanut Butter Bread
Peanut Butter Loaf Recipe Ingredients. creamy peanut butter:...
- Donuts
Find out everything you need to know about your baby's first year, from milestones to feeding, health and safety, postpartum recovery and more. Explore topics, tools and resources to make life easier and celebrate your baby's first birthday.
- What Is the Best Feeding Schedule for Your Baby's First Year?
- When Should Your Child Switch to a Forward-Facing Car Seat?
- How Long Does Breast Milk Last at Room Temperature, in the Fridge and in the Freezer?
- Is Your Baby Going Through a Sleep Regression?
- Should You Introduce Solids With Baby-Led Weaning?
- Your Postpartum Nutrition Guide
- How Much Should a 4-Month-Old Baby Sleep?
Learn about your baby's growth and development during the first year, from birth to 12 months, with this month-by-month guide. Find out what to expect from your newborn, infant, and toddler, and get tips on milestones, challenges, and more.
- Overview
- First month
- Second month
- Third month
- Fourth month
- Fifth month
- Sixth month
- Seventh month
- Eighth month
- Ninth month
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Buckle up, parents! Your baby’s first year is a whirlwind of milestones. You’ve already seen them take their first breath, heard their first wail, and changed their first dirty diaper. (Only a couple thousand more to go, this year alone!)
So what’s up next?
Developmental milestones are behaviors and physical skills children reach and master as they grow. Some first-year-of-life physical milestones include:
•rolling over
•reaching for objects
•sitting up
It may seem that your baby is simply an eating, pooping, and sleeping machine at this point. But a lot is going on in that tiny body. Milestones to watch for include:
•bringing hands and fists toward mouth (though not always with great accuracy)
•developing reflexes — flinching at loud sounds, shutting eyes at bright lights
•focusing on objects brought within 12 feet of their face
Your baby is starting to act, well, more baby-like. By the end of 2 months, your baby is likely to be:
•gurgling/cooing
•trying to follow movement with their eyes (called tracking), although it may not seem very coordinated
•holding their head up and pushing upward with their arms while lying on their tummy
Your baby is progressing from dependent newborn to more independent baby (yay — you might find those 5 minutes to take a shower!). This is when some of that cuteness overload starts to kick in. Watch for:
•smiling at the sound of your voice (pro tip: record this and review in 15 years to prove that there was once a time your child liked you)
•holding their head and chest up and kicking their legs when lying on their stomach
•grasping toys
•putting their hand in their mouth with more precision
•making more vowel sounds (ooh and ah)
At this stage, your baby is taking the milestones already achieved and perfecting them. For example, they may hold their head up more consistently and for longer periods, grasp toys with more coordination, and copy your expressions with more accuracy. Other milestones are:
•holding a rattle and shaking it at the same time
•perhaps starting to roll from tummy to back
•tracking movement more fluidly
Your baby continues to grow, explore, and master. As their strength and coordination increase, you may notice that your baby is:
•rolling from tummy to back and then back to tummy
•grabbing their feet, and maybe even inserting them into their mouth
•moving objects from one hand to another
Your baby’s growing up! They may now be:
•sitting up briefly without any support
•saying consonant (mmmm) and vowel (eeee, ooooo) sounds
•playing and expressing displeasure when playtime stops (keep those raspberries coming!)
•trying to get things out of reach
•recognizing their name
Your baby continues to build on what they’ve already learned. Milestones include:
•sitting up without support for longer periods
•responding to the word “no”
•recognizing emotions (happy, stern, etc.) by your tone
•using their hand like a rake to reach for something (called the “raking grasp”)
•responding to expressions — smiling at a smiling face, looking uncertain at a fearful one
You might notice that your little one can now roll over, sit up, and move objects from hand to hand or hand to mouth like a pro. You might also begin to see your baby:
•rocking back and forth on their hands and knees or scoot along the floor (precursors to crawling)
•pulling up to a standing position
•drooling — a lot (some babies will be cutting their first teeth around this age)
•continuing to babble (was that a random ma-ma or da-da you just heard?!)
•developing stranger or separation anxiety — this is a kind of distress babies feel when they’re separated from their parents or primary caregivers
Your baby is on the move! They may be:
•crawling
•more confidently pulling up to a standing position
•playing peekaboo or looking for an object you’ve hidden
•using the pincer grip (which involves holding a small object like a piece of cereal or pasta between their forefinger and thumb)
•pointing at things they want
Learn about the physical and behavioral milestones your baby will reach and master in the first year of life, from rolling over to crawling, from smiling to walking. Find out what to expect from your baby's first year based on the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations and tips.
Apr 12, 2024 · The first year of your baby’s life is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming time. With new developments that happen day-by-day, week-by-week, and month-by-month, it can be hard to keep up! As a ...
Feb 27, 2024 · Learn how babies grow and change from newborns to toddlers in four three-month stages. Find out what skills and milestones to expect and when to talk to a pediatrician.
Jul 8, 2023 · Learn what developmental skills your baby will reach in the first year of life, from 1 to 12 months. Find out how to support your baby's growth and celebrate their achievements.
