New Skills and Abilities
As a newborn, your baby's movements are coarse and uncoordinated and her language is limited
to cries. By the age of one year, however, she will likely be taking steps, speaking 2 to 3 words
and understanding many, many more.
Development occurs in a predictable sequence
At each well visit, your baby's physician will ask about her achievement of age appropriate skills,
or 'milestones,' to make certain that she is healthy and developing properly. As a parent, keeping
track of your baby's milestones and being familiar with the normal sequence of development will
help you know when to begin certain age-appropriate activities, such as starting solid foods.
Familiarity with developmental milestones can also help you in making your home safe for your child.
The pace of development is very individual
Some healthy children who are developing normally may develop skills before a certain age while
other normally developing children will develop those same skills at a later age. Developmental
milestones represent a typical age of acquisition of skills. If you have questions about your
child's abilities at any age, consult your health care provider. |
