Your Baby’s Developmental Milestones and Appropriate Toys – Newborn to 12 Weeks
Knowing about your baby’s mechanical and cognitive development helps you to handle the more challenging times you may embark upon ahead, often without notice but also it enables you to plan ahead and gives you a basic understanding of your baby’s actions and behaviours.
Having access to a realistic set of guidelines and expectations will reassure any new or seasoned parent that their baby is growing and developing within a normal range. It is important to realise however, that every baby develops at his/her own pace and progresses at different rates. Every normally developed baby will develop in the same sequence, for example, he will not walk before he can sit. If your baby is calm, relaxed and contented then it is most likely that he will receive the stimulation you provide for him and his motor skills, emotional and social development and language skills will be enhanced accordingly. When your baby has reached the developmental milestones in the guides you seek for advice you will be able to stimulate your baby with appropriate activities and baby educational toys.
As stated by The Youth and Women’s Health Service, Government of South Australia, the following summary of information about child development provides a list of Baby Milestones for age Newborn to 3 months and is as follows:
“Social-emotional development (relationships and feelings)
- Watches parent’s face when being talked to, average 6 weeks, range 4 to 8 weeks.
- Smiles by 5-7 weeks.
- By 3 months laughing aloud
- can feel, but not yet able to think – will pick up your feelings
Motor skills, vision and hearing (doing, seeing and hearing)
- When cheek is touched, turns to same side to suckle (from birth)
- blinks at sudden noises such as hand claps or door slamming from birth
- may open eyes to normal speech sounds just as she is dozing off from birth
- startled by loud sounds by 1 month
- begins to notice sudden long sounds when they start and stop (e.g. vacuum cleaner) by 1 month
- Lifts head when prone (on tummy) average 6 weeks (4 to 8 weeks) (do not leave baby alone on tummy
- Kicks legs vigorously by 2 months
- arms, fingers and legs automatically move, bend, straighten and bend again
- Follows a moving light with eyes for a couple of seconds by 1 month
- Watches a moving face by 2-3 months
- Eyes move in unison most of the time by 6 weeks.
- sucks well at the breast or from a bottle
- sleep patterns vary greatly
Daily activities
- Suckles well
- Sleep patterns vary greatly
Speech and Language
- Startled by loud sounds by 1 month
- Makes sounds other than crying by 2 months
- Begins responsive vocalisations 7-8 weeks
- Appears to listen to parent’s voice, watches her face”
Remember how you care for your baby will sometimes reflect on what your baby does and all babies will develop at different rates so it is important not to compare him with others of the same age who may be doing things that your baby isn’t. If you are concerned about your baby’s development then you should seek paediatric advice or consult with your local child health nurse or doctor.
Below is a list of appropriate toys to stimulate your developing newborn – 3 months:
- Baby gyms or activity mats (visual stimulation and encourage reaching and swatting. Teaches baby about cause and effect e.g. when baby reaches and swats for a toy and hears a sound)
- Baby-proof mirror to attach to cot or change table (visual stimulation and entertaining for your baby as he sees himself)
- Soft plush toys such as teddy bears, dolls, fluffy animals (tactile stimulation and great for your baby to hold and learn about hugging)
- Textured, brightly coloured, and high contrast colour schemes or sound producing toys, e.g. Lamaze, Brio or Sassy toys (visual, auditory stimulation, motor skills)
- Brightly coloured, musical mobiles (visual stimulation, encourages reaching but will need to be moved as your baby can touch it when he swats at it)
- Teething toys (fine motor stimulation) Your baby will learn to grasp so choose one that is easy for him to hold.
- Rattles
- Baby bouncer (these are great to have your baby in when he is awake. He can then be included in your activities around the home but do not leave him unattended.
- Baby carriers (these are a great idea when your baby needs extra comfort and you need to get small tasks done at home and engage him in your activities whilst communicating with him.
- Sheepskin rug – (Sensory stimulation)
- soft coloured lights on the ceiling or lamps that also play music.
There are so many tempting toys available to buy these days but your newborn doesn’t require an army full to keep him happy or fully engaged. In fact if you provide him with too many toys he will most probably feel overwhelmed, cry and quickly lose interest.
Without the aid of toys you may also play with your newborn and young baby through your interaction with him. He will learn your expressions and soon will mimic them in response to you. Songs such as “This little Piggy” and “Round and Round the Garden”… are great nursery rhymes to interact with your baby as you tickle his toes and make a circle in his hand. Through the repetition of them he will soon learn to anticipate what comes next. During bath time, your baby may like to be splashed on his tummy, you will soon know if he doesn’t. Your baby will also love to be massaged especially after bath time with a little light oil.
Your baby will be your developmental milestone guide. Refer to your books for reference which may reassure you that you are both on track with what you are providing him and how he is responding. Instinctively you will know what he wants and when he wants it.
