HOW CHILDREN DEVELOP (First Part)

Understanding the stages of child development helps parents know what to expect and how to best support the child as she or he grows and develops.

By the age of 1 MONTH

A baby should be able to:

● turn her or his head towards a hand that is stroking the child’s cheek or mouth

● bring both hands towards her or his mouth

● turn towards familiar voices and sounds

● suckle the breast and touch it with her or his hands.

Advice for parents and other caregivers:

● make skin-to-skin contact and breastfeed within one hour of birth

● support the baby’s head when you hold the baby upright

● massage and cuddle the baby often

● always handle the baby gently, even when you are tired or upset

● breastfeed frequently and on demand

● always safely dispose of the baby’s faeces and wash hands with soap and water or a substitute, such as ash and water, after changing the baby

● talk, read and sing to the child as much as possible 

● give consistent love and affection

● visit a trained health worker with the infant during the first week and again six weeks after birth.

Warning signs to watch for:

● poor suckling at the breast or refusing to suckle

● little movement of arms and legs

● little or no reaction to loud sounds or bright lights

● crying for long periods for no apparent reason

● vomiting and diarrhoea, which can lead to dehydration.

By the age of 6 MONTHS

A baby should be able to:

● raise the head and chest when lying on her or his stomach

● reach for dangling objects

● grasp and shake objects

● roll both ways

● sit with support

● explore objects with hands and mouth

● begin to imitate sounds and facial expressions

● respond to her or his own name and to familiar faces.

Advice for parents and other caregivers:

● lay the baby on a clean, flat, safe surface so she or he can move freely and reach for objects

● continue to hold and cuddle the baby every day, giving consistent love and affection

● prop or hold the baby in a secure position so she or he can see what is happening nearby

● continue to breastfeed on demand day and night, and start adding other foods (two to three meals a day starting at 6 months; three to four meals a day from 9 months)

● talk, read or sing to the child as often as possible, not only when she or he is hungry or getting ready to sleep.

Warning signs to watch for:

● stiffness or difficulty moving limbs

● constant moving of the head (this might indicate an ear infection, which could lead to deafness if not treated)

● little or no response to sounds, familiar faces or the breast

● refusing the breast or other foods.

By the age of 12 MONTHS

A baby should be able to:

● sit without support

● crawl on hands and knees and pull herself or himself up to stand

● take steps holding on to support

● try to imitate words and sounds and respond to simple requests

● enjoy playing and clapping

● repeat sounds and gestures for attention

● pick things up with thumb and one finger

● start holding objects such as a spoon and cup and attempt self-feeding.

Advice for parents and other caregivers:

● point to objects and name them; play with, talk, sing and read to the child frequently

● use mealtimes and other family activities to encourage interaction with all family members

● give consistent affection and be responsive both when the child is happy and when upset

● if the child is developing slowly or has a physical disability, focus on the child’s abilities and give extra stimulation and interaction

● do not leave a child in one position for many hours

● make the area as safe as possible to prevent accidents, and keep dangerous objects, such as sharp objects, plastic bags and small items a child can choke on, out of the child’s reach 

● continue to breastfeed and ensure that the child has enough food and a variety of family foods

● help the child experiment with spoon and cup feeding

● make sure the child’s immunizations are up to date and that she or he receives all recommended doses of nutrient supplements

● keep the child’s hands clean and begin teaching the child to wash them with soap.

Warning signs to watch for:

● does not make sounds in response to others

● does not look at objects that move

● listlessness and lack of response to the caregiver

● lack of appetite or refusal of food.

OUR THANKS TO UNICEF