By understanding the growth and development of your baby, feeding, bathing and playing can be opportunities for you to support their development in a fun and positive way.

Milestones usually are grouped into 4 categories, they highlight the average time in which an average child will achieve a specific developmental skill.

• gross motor or body mastery
• vision – fine motor or manipulative skills
• hearing & speech or communication skills
• social & understanding or personal skills

Growth & Development

• Newborn
• 1 – 4 months
• 4 – 6 months
• 6 – 9 months
• 9 – 12 months
• 12 – 18 months
• Teeth
• Introduction of solids – weaning

Supporting development:

• give lots of cuddles, you can not spoil your baby
• talk with them at feed time, nappy change and bath time
• showing toys for short periods that are brightly coloured
• watch for tired signs and put to bed
• try a little tummy time

top

Supporting development:

• give lots of cuddles, you can not spoil your baby
• talk with them at feed time, nappy change and bath time
• watch for tired signs and put to bed
• play with baby on floor whilst baby on tummy
• give toys that are easy to grasp, makes noise, are brightly coloured
• remember everything goes into the mouth

Supporting development:

• give baby lots of floor time
• don’t forget tummy time
• allow baby to push their feet against your hands
• provide safe toys that bounce, jiggle and make sounds
• toys that can be grasped, shaken
• remember everything goes into the mouth
• teething rings with soft edges
• talk to baby and respond when she makes noises
• read to them with feeling and expression
• listen to music and sing simple rhymes
• provide lots of different playthings in the bath as well
• show how to turn, roll or shake an object or toy
• offer smiles and praise their achievements

top

Supporting development:

• prop baby using soft cushions, boomerang pillow, or in a washing basket. Never leave alone.
• hold baby under the arms or let them hold onto the furniture to practise standing on their feet
• talk to them constantly and respond when they makes noises
• read to them with feeling and expression
• listen to music and sing simple rhymes, add actions
• when walking, point and name objects to them
• play peak-a-boo
• play hide and seek with a toy
• give toys that stimulate their curiosity, mirrors (child proof) can be fun
• teething rings, especially water filled ones designed to be cooled in the fridge, are good for tender inflamed gums. Other ridged teethers, with hard and soft edges, assist the arrival of new teeth by acting as a “rusk”.
• have simple bedtime rituals to establish good sleep patterns
• let them hold spoons when feeding
• introduce cups for drinking



top

9-12 Months


---

 

Gross Motor Body Mastery	Vision & Fine Motor Manipulative	Hearing & Speech Communication	Social & Understanding Personal
Walks with hand held Can sit from standing position	Casts objects to floor repeatedly Imitates scribbling with crayon	Single words Says 2 or 3 words with meaning	Claps hands Knows and turns to own name Expresses emotions, hugs & kisses to parents
Feeding: May begin to feed themselves & enjoy a wider variety of foods
Sleeping: May have 7-10 hrs at night & daytime sleeps getting shorter
Safety is an important issue once babies are mobile

Supporting development:

• comfort and support them when they take their 1st steps
• praise them for all their achievements
• provide them with toys that can be pushed or pulled
• let them ride on toys that they can push with their feet
• give them easy to handle bright building blocks to build with
• let them scribble with crayons or chalk
• listen, make eye contact and respond appropriately when talking with your child.
• read books with pictures often
• play hide & seek with toys or objects
• provide sand & water play
• give objects/toys with different textures and smells to play with
• let them help with getting dressed and undressed
• provide foods that baby can hold
• try baby on foods with different textures, tastes, smells
  
12 – 18 months


---

 

Gross Motor Body Mastery	Vision & Fine Motor Manipulative	Hearing & Speech Communication	Social & Understanding Personal
Walks on own Climbs on chairs Climbs stairs 1 at a time Jumps using both feet Walks backwards	Spontaneous scribble Begins to show preference for 1 hand Builds tower of 3 or 4 blocks	Comprehends simple questions Still gesturing for communication 6-15 recognisable words but understands many more	Knows 2-3 body parts Starts to use imagination in play Indicates toilet needs Wants to be independent, easily frustrated
Feeding: food consistency usually finger foods or chopped – family foods. Drinking from a cup. Using safe feeding utensils
Sleeping: settling at night maybe a challenge & 1 daytime nap
As they are gaining independence close supervision is needed, check your childproofing of their environment. They are into everything.

Supporting development:

• give plenty of opportunity to practice walking
• large balls to roll, kick, bounce
• stable ride-on toys
• talk to them about everything
• read often
• play simple games to learn body parts
• encourage pretend play – toy phones, tea sets etc
• allow them to feed, dress and fetch things for themselves
• use their name and give eye contact when talking
• routines at bedtime, stories and avoiding stimulating activities will help settle them
• toddlers love repetition
• praise their accomplishments!

top


Teeth


---

There is no magic age when 1st teeth appear, more often than not around 6 months, with research identifying that it may be hereditary. Not all babies teethe at the same rate but the teeth usually erupt in the same order. Whilst some babies have no problems with teething others can experience a combination of symptoms causing sleepless nights and miserable days.

Symptoms include:

• swollen gums
• excessive dribbling, biting
• irritability, waking at night
• flushed cheeks, pulling at ears
• rash on chin, chest, bottom
• redness around anus
• looser than usual bowel motions
• temperature > 37.5 C

Fevers and loose bowel actions should be checked by your G.P.

What may help?

Teething rings, especially water filled ones designed to be cooled in the fridge, are good for tender inflamed gums. Other ridged teethers, with hard and soft edges, assist the arrival of new teeth by acting as a “rusk”. 

• Massaging gums with clean finger and boiled water.
• Celery, apple, carrot (can be lightly cooked or the fresh food feeder is ideal to place any food or washed ice in) or perhaps a rusk. Supervise eating at all times. 
• If necessary, seek advice from your pharmacist about a suitable reliever such as a teething gel.

Consult your G.P. before giving medications to your baby.


Now baby has teeth it is a good idea to practice good dental hygiene:

• Start by using a clean finger and rub gums for a minute.
• Gradually introduce a soft toothbrush
• Down the track a small amount of fluoride toothpaste can be used
• You will have to brush their teeth well up to the age of 10yrs
• Comforters should never be coated in honey, jam or glycerine
• Never put baby to bed with a drink especially sugary ones.
• Check whether your water supply has fluoride added
• Offer infants & toddlers water instead of juice or cordial.
• If using juice add water
• At about 3-4 years see your Dentist.
  

top