Babies all start out helpless and in need of love and guidance from those around them in the new world they have just been brought into.
Although this need arguably lasts a lifetime, there are many small victories that your baby will achieve throughout their first year of their life.
No, they won’t be reading, writing, or helping you out with household chores yet, but there are plenty of milestones to celebrate during year one.
From their budding motor and communication skills to attempting to achieve a good sleep schedule for baby in the first year, here are some of the exciting steps your little one will begin to take during their first 12 months!
Growth
In their first year of life, babies go through an immense amount of growth. On average, they end up weighing approximately triple their birth weight, and grown approximately 50% from their newborn size.
You can expect around 9-11 inches of growth on average in the first 12 months. So, don’t get too attached to any of their adorable tiny baby clothes – they won’t fit before you can blink!
It’s not only their bodies, but their brains also grow too! By your baby’s first birthday, their brain will be approximately 60% of its full-grown adult size.
Sleep
By the end of year one, your baby should be sleeping less in the day and more during the night. This doesn’t mean they can’t have their afternoon nap, but the need for daytime rests will begin to decrease as you approach the one year mark.
However, if you’re not able to establish a good sleep schedule for baby in the first year, don’t panic. This might seem like an unbeatable uphill battle right now, but the good news is every parent eventually overcomes sleep issues with infants.
RELATED: 3 Best Tips for Sleep Training Your Baby
Motor Skills
The first year is when babies begin to pick up some fundamentally important motor skills, such as standing and holding items. While every baby is different and develops at their own pace, the average age for babies to stand (from pulling themselves up) is around 8-10 months. They may begin to be able to stand while holding onto something a few months before this.
Babies should also be picking up other basic motor functions, such as eating with their fingers, helping to turn a storybook page, etc.
Another important motor skill to look for is whether your baby can hold common house-hold items correctly, such as a hairbrush or a spoon. They may not be able to use them correctly, but the right intentions will be there.
Eating
Many mothers begin their feeding journey with their child in the form of breastfeeding. By the time your baby is one, they can move on from breast milk to 2% milk.
They can also begin eating food from around six months old. At first, it’s not important how much they eat, just that they get used to the idea of eating. Once they get it, the right quantities will follow. The most important thing at this age is to avoid any choking hazards, such as grapes and popcorn kernels.
The range of food your child can eat expands as they grow older, and this list is already much wider in the first year than when they were born.
Communication
Babies watch and imitate their parents from a young age, and year one is around the time you will begin to hear their first words.
It may be “momma,” “dadda,” or anything in between. This is the point where you need to be extra careful about what you say around your baby as their brains are like sponges, and they will definitely pick it up. If there was ever a time for a swear jar, your baby’s one year mark is it!
They will also begin to become attached to certain people and wary of others at this stage, and may begin to test limits by throwing tantrums and saying “no.” This is an equally challenging and exciting milestone for your baby to achieve.
Enjoy Every Moment
While all babies are different and on their own biological timetable, these are some of the main exciting milestones during year one that new parents can look forward to! Enjoy every moment with your newborn – they’ll be a toddler before you know it!
RELATED: 10 Firsts You Should Definitely Celebrate With Your Child
