My baby’s growth and milestones
In the early years of life, it is quite amazing to watch as children reach new milestones. “Milestones” are the things most children can do at a certain age. Every child grows at their own pace and your child might do some things earlier or later than other children.
Our babies are born helpless and need adults to take care of all their needs. Knowing what milestones will come next helps you keep them safe. For example, be prepared by baby-proofing your home well before your baby might start to crawl or move around.
Over time, babies and toddlers become able to do so many new things. They often seem very excited about new abilities. You might notice big smiles when they start sitting up on their own, taking first steps, climbing, etc. And you might get just as excited watching these changes.
If you have any questions about your child’s growth and milestones, speak to your health care provider.
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Knowing about milestones helps caregivers know what to expect and how to keep children safe. Watch this video to learn more.
Quand une personne qui s’occupe d’un enfant connaît les principales étapes du développement, elle sait à quoi s’attendre et comment assurer la sécurité de l’enfant. Visionnez cette vidéo pour en savoir plus.
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- A few minutes of tummy time each day is great for my baby’s development.
- It helps with upper body strength and also helps prevent a flat spot on the back of my baby’s head.
- I stay close, talking to my baby and placing interesting things nearby to keep it fun.
- I notice when my baby has had enough and is ready to change position.
- My baby now shows an understanding of object permanence.
- This means my baby understands that people and toys still exist even when they can’t be seen.
- I see that my baby is developing object permanence because when I hide a toy while my baby is watching, my baby usually searches for it.
- Object permanence also means that my baby might sometimes get sad when I leave, because my baby is upset that I am not still close by.
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- My toddler can now stand up without help and is starting to take a few steps.
- My toddler is ready to go and explore.
- Pushing a toy with wheels helps my toddler walk with just a little help from me.
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- My child has been trying out some new skills.
- I watch and wait – giving my child time to figure out how to do these new things.
- If something is not quite right, I point out ways to do it differently but I still let my child handle it.
- And I celebrate all the new skills my child is learning.
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