Developmental milestones Newborn - 6 months

The cognitive, social, gross motor and fine motor developmental milestones babies reach from 0-3 months and 3-6 months. Here are some of the more common milestones, although all babies are different and will perfect these skills at different times.

Newborn

During the first month of life most babies behaviour is automatic or reflexive. Reflexes are involuntary movements or actions. Babies will put more thought into their actions as their nervous system develops. Reflexes help identify normal brain and nerve activity. The following are some of the normal reflexes seen in newborn babies:

Rooting Reflex

This reflex ensures the baby can find and get food. Rooting helps the baby become ready to suck.

Stroke or touch newborn on either side of cheek
Baby turns to find breast to begin feeding
Rooting begins to fade around 4 months

Sucking reflex

This reflex does not begin until about the 32 weeks gestation and is not fully developed until about 36 weeks. Premature babies may have a weak or immature sucking ability because of this. There are two stages to the action:

Expression: activated when the nipple is placed between a newborn's lips and touches their palate. The baby will instinctively press the nipple between their tongue and palate.
Milking: The tongue moves from areola to nipple, coaxing milk from the breast

Moro Reflex (Startle Reflex)

For most parents this is the most noticeable reflex their newborn exhibits.

The stimulus is a sharp, loud noise or a sudden loss of support for the baby.
Baby throws back their head, extends out the arms and legs, grimaces, then pulls the arms and legs back in
A baby's own cry can startle them and begin this reflex

Palmer Grasp reflex

This reflex only lasts for a few months and is stronger in preterm babies. The grip is strong but unpredictable; though it may be able to support the child's weight, they may also release their grip suddenly and without warning.

When an object is placed in the newborn's hand and strokes their palm, the fingers will close and they will grasp it.
The reverse motion can be induced by stroking the back or side of the hand.

0-3 months

Babies between 0-3 months begin the transformation from a totally dependant newborn to an active responsive baby.

Cognitive development

Begins to hold and play with small toys
Shows interest in own hands
Responds to sounds
Looks from one object to another

Social and emotional development

Enjoys a lot of physical contact and tactile stimulation
Relaxes and tends to stop crying when picked up
Smiles
Recognises their parents
Shows anticipatory excitement e.g. when a bottle-fed baby sees a bottle at feed time
Responds to sounds
Cries in varied pitch, length and volume to communicate different needs, such as hunger or fatigue
Begins to babble, coo and repeat a string of the same sounds
Shows interest in faces
Watches your eyes and mouth when you speak
Shows active interest in a person or object for at least one minute
Imitates some movements and facial expressions

Gross motor development

Holds head up for short periods while lying on stomach
Lifts head when held at shoulder
Kicks both legs equally and reciprocally when lying on back
Rolls from side to side when lying on back

Fine motor development

Makes jerky arm movements

3-6 months

Babies learn to co-ordinate their new percpective abilities including vision, touch and hearing.