![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/laughing-baby-.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe perfect night\u2019s sleep<\/h2>\n
A milestone all parents look forward to is that first, full night\u2019s sleep. In a dream world, you\u2019d want your newborn to sleep all night. However, it\u2019s unrealistic and in fact, unhealthy to hope for this. Though, relief is not far away! By 4-6 months, most little ones are capable of snoozing all through the night.<\/p>\n
When can babies sit up<\/h2>\n
Tots spend a lot of their time on their belly at first. Around 5 or 6 months, most can sit up with assistance – both by resting on their hands or against furniture. Normally, by 7-9 months, babies can sit up on their own without a parents help.<\/p>\n
Crawling<\/h2>\n
If you\u2019ve got an 8-month-old baby, get ready for the toughest workout of your life! You’ll find yourself chasing your suddenly, very energetic tot around the house. By 9 months, most little ones can crawl using both hands and feet. Although, be aware that some never actually crawl. Instead, they prefer to wriggle around. Crawling is not an essential milestone. Infants who want to scoot about still tend to achieve other milestones on time.<\/p>\n The wave is actually a very important milestone. It\u2019s not just a cute, little gesture \u2013 it\u2019s a genuine understanding of language. By 9 months, most tots start to make the link between noises, actions, and the meaning behind it. At this time, your little one begins to recognise that waving is linked to the phrase “bye-bye.\u201d<\/p>\n There comes a time where babies are ready to start feeding themselves. Between 9-12 months, they build better control over their hands and fingers. This makes it easier to grab any object in sight – like finger foods! Unfortunately, they\u2019ll probably want to put everything they see in their mouth. So, when they reach this stage, environmental safety should become top priority for parents.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a whole year of enjoying your precious angel\u2019s company. By this time, they may be able to stand without support. They also to start to cruise about, holding onto furniture. In the time before they walk freely, babies may devote hours to cruising before they can master it properly.<\/p>\n The words any parent longs to hear is \u201cmama\u201d and \u201cdada.\u201d Nothing warms your heart more than hearing your baby call your own name. You can expect this to happen around the one-year mark. By this time, most tots can say at least one real word and enthusiastically mimic others. Be prepared, it won\u2019t be long until your little one is saying absolutely everything on their mind!<\/p>\n Knowing\u00a0when to take a picture or record a video isn\u2019t an easy task. Having a few, unique ways in mind to capture your baby\u2019s milestones, helps to alleviate that pressure.<\/p>\n These milestones are goals for you and your little one to focus on during their first year. Keep in mind, your baby might be ready for some sooner and others later. There\u2019s no rush, just take it easy and enjoy this momentous time in your child\u2019s life. If it takes longer for your baby to reach any of the milestones, don\u2019t panic! Just enjoy this momentous time in their life to grow and learn together. You\u2019ll never get these years back.<\/p>\n After bringing your gorgeous babe into the world, it\u2019s natural to start thinking about when he or she will begin to do things. When will their tiny fingers curl around yours or close into fists? Or when will your little one first react to a loud noise? Your job is to help their development and let them know that the world is a friendly place, so they can learn to feel safe and loved. Remember that babies learn and develop far quicker than expected, and it won\u2019t be long until you have a walking and talking mini you right in front of you!<\/p>\n However, before we get to that stage, we\u2019re going to look at the first three months of your babe\u2019s development.<\/p>\n Keep in mind that little ones will all grow at a different pace. However, the following is a rough guideline for boys and girls aged 1 to 3 months:<\/p>\n Your bub will go through periods where they\u2019re hungrier and fussier than normal. Don\u2019t panic, this is absolutely normal! This increase in wanting to munch away means your little one is going through a growth spurt. If you\u2019re breastfeeding, you may find they want to eat more often during certain times of the day, and sometimes, it could be every hour \u2013 this is called\u00a0cluster feeding<\/a>.<\/em>\u00a0Formula-fed babes may also want to eat more often, or you\u2019ll find they want to drink more formula than normal during feedings.<\/p>\n Between 1 to 3 months, you\u2019ll start to learn the signs that show that your bub is hungry or full. You\u2019ll know your child is hungry when they seem:<\/p>\n You\u2019ll know your cutie is full when they no longer seem interested in being fed or they fall asleep at the end of a feeding session. Remember \u2013 little ones\u2019 tummies are teeny tiny, so they need to be burped after feedings to let go of gas that could cause discomfort.<\/p>\n During 1-to-3-month check-ups, your doctor will measure your bub\u2019s weight, length and head size to check their growth against a standardized growth chart. Your little one may be large, small or medium-sized when compared to the growth chart. However, if this growth pattern stays consistent, chances are your sweetheart\u2019s progress will be just fine.<\/p>\n If your babe was born prematurely, remember not to compare their growth and development to a full-term child. Premature little ones will need to be observed more closely and may need to be weighed more often during their first few months, to check that their growth is on the right track.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s start with your 1-month-old baby:<\/p>\n Of course, your little treasure will have been able hear you and all the outside noises whilst in the womb. However, their hearing will have developed even more so that they can hear you loud and clear now that they\u2019re finally out in the real world. Make sure you continue to talk to your cutie frequently and don\u2019t shy away from normal household jobs. In fact, it\u2019s good for your bub to hear noises like hoovering, as eventually they\u2019ll need to get used to it. And if you shake a rattle or clap your hands, you may even be lucky enough to see your baby\u2019s reaction. Whether that\u2019s a slight movement or a blink \u2013 it\u2019ll be a magical moment you won\u2019t want to miss!<\/p>\n Even though everything will look quite fuzzy through your bub\u2019s eyes, they can still see at around about 30cm. If you lean in nice and close, your cutie will be able to see you. Although, your features won\u2019t be in HD detail at this point! They\u2019ll also be able to track your finger or an object if you hold it close enough into their line of vision. And if you\u2019re lucky, you may even witness your little one follow it with their eyes and turn their head. Keep in mind that this can sometimes make babies look a little cross eyed. However, it\u2019s nothing to worry about as focusing on something at their tender age takes a lot of practice and effort!<\/p>\n Soon, your cherub will start making noises \u2013 and this\u2019ll be an exciting milestone to hear for the first time! It won\u2019t be talking as such of course, but making little murmurs, gurgling and grunting will still be a jumping for joy moment for all mummies and daddies. As your baby gets used to the noises they\u2019re making, as well as picking up what\u2019s going on around them, they\u2019ll start to utter more recognisable words after a few months. But in the meantime, keep chatting away and interacting with your babe, because if nothing else, it\u2019ll tire your bub out for bedtime. And that means more well-deserved rest for mummy and daddy!<\/p>\n Keep in mind that your bub will mainly continue to communicate through crying at this stage. Listen closely and you\u2019ll be able to\u00a0decode their different teary noises<\/a>. The basic to remember is that a short, low-pitched wail that seems pleading typically means that they\u2019re in the mood for food. On the other hand, whiny, nasal, continuous tears are your little one\u2019s way of telling you that they\u2019re sleepy or uncomfortable \u2013 it\u2019s either time for bed or a nappy change!<\/p>\n Although your bub\u2019s muscles are still quite weak, you\u2019ll notice that they may start trying to move their head and support themselves more and more as each day passes. This will probably only be for a few seconds at a time. However, it\u2019s still an important part of their development and learning. Remember, even if your bub is trying to support their own head, it\u2019s still super important that mummy and daddy carry on supporting their heads too. You can\u00a0stop supporting their head once they have built up enough neck strength<\/a>\u00a0(typically around 3 or 4 months). However, if in doubt, always ask your doctor!<\/p>\n For those first, and super special, couple of months, newborns won\u2019t be able to tell the difference between daytime and night-time. This is because they haven\u2019t developed their own circadian rhythms which basically means their body clock hasn\u2019t set itself properly yet. This is why your little 1 month old snoozer may happily sleep for long stretches during the day and then wake up a lot more during the night. Cuties at this age can sleep from 8 to 16\/18 hours every day.<\/p>\n Remember that your little one\u2019s stomach is very small at this stage, so they\u2019ll consume breast milk\/formula very quickly. This is why newborns need to be fed every 2 to 3 hours to satisfy those hungry tums. Your bub should wake up regularly for night-time feeds, but if they don\u2019t, wake them up every 3 to 4 hours to feed them. This is only until they establish a pattern of weight gain (normally within the first couple of weeks). After that, a full-term babe with no medical conditions doesn\u2019t need to be woken up for feedings \u2013 more time for sweet dreams!<\/p>\n Now that those hectic and busy, and not to mention tiring, first few weeks are over and done with, chances are that you\u2019re starting to feel a lot more human after labour! And in month two, your cutie will have discovered there\u2019s more to life than just eating, sleeping and crying.<\/p>\n So, what can you expect in month two of your bub\u2019s life?<\/p>\n Although it\u2019s highly unlikely that your little one will be sleeping through the night, it\u2019s possible that they\u2019ll be sleeping longer between feeds. And this is where you\u2019ll both be falling into a familiar pattern, which is super important for consistency, development and your sanity most of all! Try to stick to a bedtime routine \u2013 bath and bed by a certain time, and make sure that you\u2019re home in time for snoozing (if you can help it). If something disturbs yours and your angel\u2019s pattern, it could confuse them and cause a few teary eyes.<\/p>\n Around about when your babe is two months old, you can expect to see their first\u00a0social smile<\/em><\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>and maybe even a giggle\u2013 the most heart-warming sound in the world! This is a huge reward for you being super mum of the year pushing through endless nights of crying, nappies and cleaning up sick. Your little one\u2019s first smile is something you\u2019ll never forget and treasure forever. And who knows, if you\u2019ve got a camera at hand when it happens, you may even be lucky enough to capture this special milestone!<\/p>\n As your baby continues to grow this month, carry on playing with them \u2013 pulling funny faces, making noises and talking to them. These all help with their all-important development, and you never know, they may even start copying you. Now, that\u2019s definitely a sight you don\u2019t want to miss!<\/p>\n You can expect a 6-week check-up that\u2019ll happen within their second month. Your health visitor will check the following:<\/p>\n Your check-up is a great time to ask any questions or discuss any concerns you may have. It could also be a time for you to consider going back onto contraception \u2013 unless your little miracle has already made you broody for baby number two!<\/p>\n You\u2019ll notice during this month that your cherub will start moving more and more. If you shine a light, chances are they\u2019ll turn their head to see what it is. The same goes for if you stand by their side and start talking to them. And your little smarty-pants may even be rolling over (tummy to back is normally first). Before you know it, you\u2019ll be on watch having to stop your little adventurer from attempting to wander off all the time!<\/p>\n Every little one\u2019s snoozing needs are different. However, a typical 2-month-old baby will sleep a total of 14 to 17 hours a day (including 4 to 6 naps). Day and night confusion should also be lessening at this stage, and you may also see longer stretches of sleep at night \u2013 yay! Though, if your bub\u2019s still waking up to feed every few hours or so \u2013 that\u2019s completely normal!<\/p>\n After two magical months with your baby, it\u2019s likely that you\u2019ve started to recognise a pattern. You probably now know when your bub tends to be awake and playful, and when they prefer to snooze. Therefore, at this stage, it\u2019s important to slowly introduce a\u00a0bedtime routine<\/a>\u00a0to help nurture healthy sleeping habits.<\/p>\n But what else can you look forward to in month 3 of your baby\u2019s life?<\/p>\n By now, your bub will have definitely found their vocal chords and we\u2019re sure you\u2019ll know all about it! They\u2019ll have expanded their range of talking to actually string together vowels and consonant sounds \u2013 even if it\u2019s goo goo ga ga! Aside from the crying and temper tantrums, you\u2019re probably now familiar with gurgling and even laughing. All in all, you can expect your cutie to definitely be experimenting with a variety of different noises from this month onwards. And you should encourage this by talking to your bub as much as possible. You can even play music for them, and who knows, maybe this\u2019ll be the start of your budding mini maestro!<\/p>\n Your baby\u2019s eyesight will now have improved enough to allow them to see their reflection in the mirror. You can help with this by encouraging them to play with mirrored toys as well as other brightly coloured goodies that\u2019ll keep their attention\/keep them engaged. It\u2019s also super important to talk and sing to your bub much as possible. Noise and interaction in these early months will lay down the foundations of how your child will communicate and interact in the future.<\/p>\n Your babe will enjoy spending time on their tum. However, it\u2019s best not to practice tummy time till after eating. Otherwise, you may find yourself with a messy and grumpy teeny tiny human on your hands \u2013 you\u2019ve been warned! You may find that your little one gets a little teary and frustrated when placed on their belly, as they won\u2019t be able to turn themselves over. However, your bub should be able to turn their head to a 45-degree angle if you call him\/her. If your child does cry, don\u2019t instantly run over to roll them over. Instead, let your little one get used to having a few moments of tummy time before coming to their rescue.<\/p>\n Whilst your sweetheart is the best gift that you have \u2013 seeing their smile is another gift in itself. Though, you may have seen them crack a smile in month two, now it\u2019s more than likely that they\u2019re smiling more often at you, and even passers-by! Their little grins will now be because they\u2019re replicating and copying you. Make sure when you\u2019re chatting away to your cherub, that you use your facial expressions, like smiling, to show what you\u2019re trying to say to them. This is all part of the learning curve for little (but clever) minds!<\/p>\n After being squashed up in a small space for so long, your little one still probably hasn\u2019t realised they\u2019ve got teeny tiny arms and legs. However, after a short amount of time, they\u2019ll start to notice that they have these additional limbs and they\u2019ll be fascinated by them! Make sure to encourage this development by popping a rattle or toy in their little hands to see if they\u2019ll grip it. Watch the excitement on their face as they try to grab it off you \u2013 it\u2019s adorable to say the least!<\/p>\n Your 3-month-old bundle of cuteness will continuously be changing. Not only will they be outgrowing nappies and onesies at a speedy pace, but their sleep requirements are evolving too. Every little one is different; however, a typical 3-month-old babe needs between 14 and 17 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period (including 3 to 4 naps totalling 4 to 6 hours). Still, it\u2019s completely normal for a 3-month-old to snooze a little more or less than that. They may sleep also sleep for longer at night, maybe 5 hours, or even a little more, at a time. Don\u2019t panic if your babe is up more regularly though \u2014 some little ones will still wake up at this stage because they\u2019re hungry.<\/p>\n Your baby\u2019s first few months will fly by \u2013 so make sure to treasure every single moment! From their first smile to tummy time fun, you have so much to look forward to. In the first few months, you\u2019ll have mastered how to spot the signs that your babe\u2019s tired or hungry, and you\u2019ll have found your way round a dirty nappy. These are huge achievements \u2013 give yourself a pat on the back! And whilst the first 3 months can be both tiring and blissful, the next several months will be just as amazing and hopefully a little less exhausting. Remember, no matter what stage your little one\u2019s at, the most important thing is to enjoy it!<\/p>\n Notice your little one doing anything new? Months 4 to 6 of your baby\u2019s life will include lots of big strides in development \u2013 yay! Now that the newborn days are behind you, you can look forward to your baby becoming more aware and mobile. Whether it\u2019s smiling from ear to ear when they see you, rolling over or making a fuss when mummy or daddy leaves, each day of months 4 to 6 will bring exciting new adventures. And each one, no matter how big or small, will help your cutie to learn more about the world around them.<\/p>\n With the first three months done and dusted, let\u2019s explore months four to six of your little one\u2019s life in a little more depth.<\/p>\n Whilst all little babes will grow at a different pace, the following is a rough guideline for boys and girls aged 4 to 6 months:<\/p>\n Your 4-month-old babe will remain on a liquid-only (or mostly) diet. However, some mummies and daddies start to introduce yummy solids once their little one hits 4 months old. If this is something you\u2019re also considering, you must check with your doctor first.\u00a0Experts advise<\/a>\u00a0that most little ones wait until they\u2019re 6 months old to begin munching away on regular food. And in addition to age, other signs to look out for that shows your cutie is ready for solid foods include:<\/p>\n If you speak to your doctor, and they give the go-ahead with spooning up solids from month 4, remember that your little one doesn\u2019t need more than a tablespoon of food. One spoonful of baby cereal, fruit or veggies once or twice a day will be enough to get their tastebuds tingling. After all, these solid foods are only for practice, not for nutrition. Your babe\u2019s growth will still be fuelled by the trusty breast milk or formula.<\/p>\n Remember \u2013 if your little one doesn\u2019t fall into the average weight range for babes aged 4 to 6 months, and if their doctor isn\u2019t worried, you shouldn\u2019t be either! Every cutie\u2019s growth pattern is different and that\u2019s ok! Every baby is one-of-a-kind.<\/p>\n Between 4 to 5 months, you\u2019ll start to learn the signs that show that your bub is hungry or full. You\u2019ll know your little one is ready for fuel when they:<\/p>\n And if they\u2019re full, your baby may do the following:<\/p>\n When your cutie hits that all-important 6-month milestone, look out for these signs that they\u2019re hungry:<\/p>\n And once your babe\u2019s tummy is satisfied, watch out for the following signs that they\u2019re full:<\/p>\n Let\u2019s start with the 4 month baby development of your bubba:<\/p>\n Fun fact \u2013 once your cutie hits 4 months old, they\u2019ll be able to notice differences in shades of colour \u2013 particularly red and green. Plus, they may even start to favour certain ones. Maybe you\u2019ll get to witness the excitement on their face when they see pink. Or perhaps greens will get their hands clapping for joy! Whatever happens, being able to distinguish between different shades of colours is a huge milestone.<\/p>\n Heads up to the tooth fairy \u2013 teeth are on their way soon! From about 4 months, you may see your little one\u2019s first signs of teething. Prepare for dribbling, sore and red gums, and red cheeks \u2013 so have the\u00a0teething toys<\/a>\u00a0at the ready. Although, you probably won\u2019t see that very special first tooth appear for another month or so.<\/p>\n Your cherub will now start to focus on things more and more, paying more attention to things that they may see on TV, mirrors, toys and different people. Encourage your baby on this exciting journey by continuing to vary what they see and play with, as well as giving them plenty of face-to-face attention when talking to them. Lots of cooing and eye contact is a must with your little beauty!<\/p>\n During tummy time your cutie will now probably be able to rest on their forearms for a couple of minutes. This is a fantastic strengthening exercise to prepare their little muscles for all that crawling about you\u2019ve got to look forward to later down the line! Around about this time, your babe will also surprise themselves by rolling over from their belly and onto their back for the first time. And when this happens, don\u2019t forget to shower your little high-flyer with lots of praise! Your baby\u2019s teeny tiny legs are growing stronger each day, and if you hold them in a\u00a0standing<\/em>\u00a0position, they\u2019ll be able to push down and support their own body weight temporarily.<\/p>\n Many babes will laugh out loud for the first time when they\u2019re around about 3 or 4 months old. However, other little ones may take a little longer to share their first giggle \u2013 and that\u2019s ok! Your cutie\u2019s first chuckle may come about from something as simple as seeing their favourite toy, pet or person (that would be you!). Whilst these early sweet giggles are heart-warming to hear, they\u2019re also rewarding for your bub, as they\u2019ll love hearing their own voice and seeing how mummy reacts to the sounds they make.<\/p>\n Once your cutie has discovered how to laugh, they may laugh just for the sake of it. After all, giggling away feels good, and it\u2019s a fun new sound to make for little ones. Not to mention, with each coo and goo, your bub is learning and practicing how to move their mouth and tongue to create different sound effects \u2013 what a milestone! Make sure to pull lots of funny faces, sing songs and blow raspberries on your babe\u2019s tummy, if you want to encourage that cute little giggle.<\/p>\n By 4 months old, your little bambino will also be able to track and follow quicker movements with their eyes, perceive depth and even grab at moving objects. However, don\u2019t forget that their hand-eye coordination may not allow them to actually hold onto the target of their attention yet.<\/p>\n At 4 months old, you may confront a challenging experience with your little one, and that\u2019s all due to something called\u00a0sleep regression<\/a>. It happens throughout various stages of infancy, with the first one happening at around about 4 months. You may find that your bub has settled into a predictable pattern of sleep but then out of nowhere signs of sleep regression may come about. These include:<\/p>\n Most of the time, sleep regressions come about due to a \u201cgrowth spurt\u201d in your little one\u2019s brain and body. Don\u2019t worry though! They\u2019re temporary, and to deal with a sleep regression, all it takes is to continue being consistent with your baby\u2019s routine and sleeping patterns.<\/p>\n We understand it may be difficult to stick to your bub\u2019s routine when they\u2019re going through a sleep regression. However, it\u2019s best to keep on laying them down at their usual sleep and nap times, and continue with sleep routines you\u2019ve mastered, whether it\u2019s bedtime bath fun or a story. And don\u2019t forget those all-important naps! The usual nap schedules at this age should include two to three naps (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) lasting around about 1 hour to 1.5 hours \u2013 though this can vary.<\/p>\n One very exciting 4 month baby development that may impact your little one\u2019s slumber is their newfound ability to roll over from front to back. When your child is capable of rolling about, you\u2019ll want to reconsider using a swaddle, as the blanket could end up untucked or unrolled \u2013 we want to keep your chicken as safe as possible! Go for a\u00a0sleep sack<\/a>\u00a0instead to keep them wrapped up in a safe but snuggly way.<\/p>\n Top tip<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 at this tender age, make sure to lay your babe down whilst they\u2019re awake. This is because they\u2019ll learn more about cause-and-effect at this age, and realise that by crying, mummy and daddy will come to the rescue. Keep in mind that you may have to test the waters more this month by teaching your little one to\u00a0self-soothe<\/a>\u00a0or fall asleep on their own.<\/p>\n Most doctors and experts measure a baby\u2019s milestones at 4 months old and 6 months old. And the 5 month baby development of your little cutie\u2019s life is very much a period of transition for both you and them. Your bub will hit lots of different physical, developmental and cognitive milestones during month five. So, what can you expect?<\/p>\n At this age, your cherub will most likely be able to lift and hold an object. However, they won\u2019t be able to unclasp and let go of it at choice yet. They may also be able to use their thumbs separately from their teeny tiny fingers, so that they can hold objects better in a \u2018claw-like\u2019 way. Be prepared for lots of toy shaking, and the noises that may follow, for example with a rattle. And in month five, they\u2019ll also probably be able to hold objects with both their hands, as well as suck their feet when you change their nappy.<\/p>\n Now that your little clever clog has perfected their hand-to-mouth coordination, don\u2019t be surprised if they\u2019re putting everything in their mouth. They\u2019ll suck, chew to taste and explore away as their mouth is more sensitive than their cute little fingers. Just make sure to check all toys for buttons and loose parts, as you don\u2019t want your baby to bite them off.<\/p>\n You may have spotted that your little cutie is starting to coo less often as they experiment with making more complex sounds. For example, you\u2019ll get used to all the \u2018bubbly\u2019 noises they begin making by putting their tongue against their lips. And at this age, you\u2019ll also see a lot of \u2018raspberry blowing\u2019 as your bub vibrates their lips together. All of this means to prepare for cuteness overload!<\/p>\n Your cherub will continue to learn about cause and effect at this age. For example, they\u2019ll start to figure out that particular actions, like dropping food off their\u00a0highchair<\/a>\u00a0or kicking their teeny legs, can cause a reaction. Better yet, they may even enjoy those reactions so much so that they\u2019ll repeat them over and over again!<\/p>\n In month five of your baby\u2019s life, you can also look forward to your baby smiling at people, as well as copying facial expressions like smiling or frowning. At this age, little ones will often babble and try to copy vocal sounds too, like mummy\u2019s cooing.<\/p>\n When your bub hits the 5-month milestone, on average they\u2019ll snooze for about 11.5 to 14 hours each day. They should also have two or three naps during the day, and each nap should last anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours.<\/p>\n Some little ones are more natural \u201ccatnappers\u201d whilst others may require a longer stretch. The good news is that by 5 to 6 months, many babes will start sleeping through the night too, meaning they\u2019ll stay asleep for 8 to 9 hours. Mummies and daddies, now you can breathe and relax!<\/p>\n As your bambino begins to sleep longer during the night and also rolls over, you may be worried about their safety at night. Just make sure to put your bub to sleep on their back and not on their stomachs. And don\u2019t forget \u2013 never leave your little one unsupervised when it comes to tummy time.<\/p>\n When your baby hits their 6-month milestone, you\u2019ll probably be wondering how it\u2019s already been half a year since your bundle of joy entered the world. And by this age, their personality will be blossoming and shining through too! A lot will have happened over the last few months and this swift growth and development has led up to some monumental milestones this month. In fact, many mummies and daddies are often overjoyed when their little ones reach 6 months old, as it means many exciting changes are on the way.<\/p>\n From starting solid foods to becoming more mobile, let\u2019s explore what month six has in store for your cutie:<\/p>\n Your sweetheart is drawn to your face from the moment they\u2019re born (and you to theirs!). Now halfway through their first year, your baby will know familiar faces and understand if someone is a stranger. Flip through family photos, play peekaboo and have fun with mirrors! These will all hone your bub\u2019s social and communication skills.<\/p>\n By now, your little clever clog will have become an expert in pulling mummy and daddy\u2019s strings! They\u2019ll hold their arms out for you to pick them up, snuggle up to you when they want to stay with you and arch their back when they want to be put down. And due to them having sufficient long-term memory of a couple of days and all the way up to 10 days, they can remember and foresee pleasant experiences. For example, when getting ready for bath time fun, they may kick their little legs, squeal and shake their head excitedly.<\/p>\n The 6 month milestone brings with it an understanding of \u2018object permanence<\/a>\u2019, which means that your bub will look for an object they\u2019ve dropped or dropped out of sight. This will make games of peekaboo even more amusing now that your babe will giggle with anticipation of mummy or daddy\u2019s face reappearing from behind their hands!<\/p>\n Your cutie\u2019s sight will have improved a lot at this age, to the point where they can enjoy toys with more complex features like doors, pushbuttons, winding handles and turning dials. Not to mention the fact that they\u2019re also getting really good at judging speed and direction, as they\u2019ll be able to grab a moving object at the right moment now.<\/p>\n Some of the bigger milestones that little ones hit at this age will be related to their language skills. Your bub should respond to sounds, string vowels together and they may even begin to say constant sounds. As well as this, they\u2019ll be able to make noises to show their delight and displeasure, which is a good opportunity for you to pay attention to what your babe likes and dislikes!<\/p>\n Most little ones will understand and respond to their own names when they\u2019re around about 5 to 6 months old, and they\u2019ll even begin to turn to the direction of someone talking. Your cutie will also understand simple words used in day-to-day life, for example \u201ccup,\u201d \u201cbook\u201d and \u201cbottle.\u201d If your baby isn\u2019t quite there yet with responding to their name \u2013 don\u2019t worry! To help your child understand words, we recommend talking, reading and singing to them from the very beginning. Even reading the newspaper out loud to your newborn will help your budding bookworm to separate sounds into words and sentences.<\/p>\n Just as you\u2019ve got the hang of breastfeeding or mastered the bottle routine, your little one hits the 6-month mark and now they\u2019re wanting to get their tastebuds tingling! One of the most exciting milestones to look forward to once your baby turns 6 months old is welcoming solid foods into their life. If they\u2019re showing signs of being ready for solid foods, for example sitting without support, opening their mouth for food and reaching for mummy and daddy\u2019s food \u2013 it\u2019s time to introduce\u00a0tasty recipes<\/a>\u00a0other than milk. For a helping hand to wean your little one successfully, we\u2019ve got all the\u00a0tips and tricks to turn you into a weaning expert<\/a>.<\/p>\n Once your cutie\u2019s 6-month-birthday comes around, they\u2019re likely to be establishing their sleep at night much more consistently than they did in the earlier months. You\u2019ll have more shuteye to look forward to as they\u2019ll start sleeping better at night, usually sleeping for longer stretches. During this time, your bub may even go down from three naps to two naps a day. Overall, they should be snoozing for about 14 hours, and the majority of this will include about 10 hours of sleep at night and 4 hours during the day \u2013 happy snoozing!<\/p>\n Keep in mind that little babes at this age may also start waking up at night, whether it\u2019s due to the teething or going through separation anxiety. At other times though, they may wake up because they\u2019re learning a new skill and want to practice it, or it may be because their little tums need feeding. At this age, it\u2019s ok to give your cherub water. So, if they\u2019re waking up at night to feed, we recommend giving them a little water in a sippy cup as opposed to nursing or giving them a bottle. This will gradually stop them from waking up to feed in the middle of the night if all they\u2019re getting is water \u2013 tricks of the mummy trade!<\/p>\n From month four to half a year of your little one blessing your life, your child will go through huge developmental milestones that are worth shouting about. Though, just like the first few months of them being in the world, these next few months will also fly by \u2013 so cherish every single moment. From rolling over from their tummy and onto their back for the first time to responding to their own name, the whole family are in for a treat! And best of all, your baby\u2019s half birthday will bring well-deserved shuteye for mummy and daddy, so give yourself a pat on the back because you made it out of the sleepless nights. Here\u2019s to the next half of your little one\u2019s life!<\/p>\n So, you\u2019ve reached a new and exciting chapter in your little angel\u2019s development \u2013\u00a0months 7-9<\/strong>! This is the wonderful time in which your bub\u2019s motor and communication skills come on in leaps and bounds, weaning begins, and first teeth even start to emerge!<\/p>\n Here are just a few of the amazing things you can look forward to during these magical months.<\/p>\n During months 7-9 your darling will grow an average of\u00a0half an inch<\/strong>\u00a0and gain about a\u00a0pound<\/strong>\u00a0in weight every month. They\u2019ll also add around a\u00a0quarter of an inch<\/strong>\u00a0to their\u00a0head circumference<\/strong>\u00a0each month. By nine months old, your munchkin will have added around\u00a0ten inches<\/strong>\u00a0to their birth length.<\/p>\n The 7-month sleep schedule is much more reliable than that of a younger baby, meaning you won\u2019t have to get up in the night quite so much (thank goodness!). During this time, your little one should sleep\u00a0twelve to fourteen hours<\/strong>\u00a0a day. This includes\u00a0nine to twelve<\/strong>\u00a0hours of night-time sleep, plus\u00a0two to three naps<\/strong>\u00a0a day which should each last between one and two hours. The 7 to 9-month period is when the number of naps per day can be decreased from three to two.<\/p>\n However, you aren\u2019t quite out of the woods yet when it comes to difficult nights, we\u2019re afraid! Unfortunately, at around eight or nine months old, your little tyke will go through a\u00a0sleep regression<\/strong><\/a>. This will last a few weeks and may include:<\/p>\n Whilst this sleep regression may be annoying, it\u2019s actually a compliment! It\u2019s caused by\u00a0separation anxiety\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 your tot can\u2019t sleep because they miss you! As sweet as that may be, we\u2019re sure you still want this sleep regression over ASAP- so here\u2019s a few tips to help.<\/p>\n One of the big 7\u20139-month baby milestones is the gradual introduction of\u00a0solid foods<\/strong>. At 7 months old, your baby can start to have some solid\u00a0mashed or pureed food<\/strong>\u00a0introduced into their mostly milk-based diet.\u00a0 There are a few key ways to check that your little one is ready for this exciting step:<\/p>\n As time progresses, you can include more and more yummy solid foods in your little connoisseur\u2019s diet, and by 9 months old their diet will be a\u00a0mix of solid food and milk<\/strong>. The\u00a0NHS recommends<\/a>\u00a0giving your 9-month-old three meals a day, with a\u00a0variety of nutrients<\/strong>\u00a0and as\u00a0little salt or sugar<\/strong>\u00a0as possible. Food does not have to be fully pureed by this point, as you can now try your child with more\u00a0mashed and lumpy<\/strong>\u00a0food and even\u00a0soft finger foods<\/strong>\u00a0like sliced banana. Remember, these three meals a day should be accompanied by three to four daily milk feeds. Signs your little foodie is ready for this step include:<\/p>\n Your little athlete will be picking up some amazing new physical abilities as part of the 7\u20139-month baby milestones. These include:<\/p>\n Another fun new skill your baby may learn at this time is\u00a0crawling<\/strong>. However, crawling is\u00a0not<\/strong>\u00a0one of the essential 9-month baby milestones, and some little angels never crawl at all- they simply go straight to walking! There are also lots of\u00a0different types<\/strong>\u00a0of crawling, so don\u2019t panic if your sprog doesn\u2019t adopt the typical hands and knees approach.<\/p>\n As your little explorer develops those mobility and coordination skills, be it picking up objects, crawling, or pulling up to stand, it\u2019s important to be wary about their\u00a0safety<\/strong>. This means covering plug sockets and sharp corners and keeping dangerous objects out of reach. Luckily for you, Kiddies Kingdom has all the\u00a0baby safety info<\/a>\u00a0you need.<\/p>\n At this point in their development, your bundle of joy is starting to understand more and more about the world around them. They\u00a0recognise familiar faces<\/strong>\u00a0and may even be afraid of unfamiliar ones. They also recognise\u00a0commonly used words<\/strong>\u00a0such as \u201cno.\u201d<\/p>\n Some of the brilliant communication skills your sweetie may exhibit during this time include:<\/p>\n Your angel\u2019s attempts to copy sounds will soon evolve into the most thrilling of baby milestones- their first word! You can help them along in this incredible process by:<\/p>\n Playtime is a truly joyful time with your baby, and it is so adorable to see them having fun. As an added bonus, play is how babies\u00a0learn<\/strong>! Here are a few 7\u20139-month-old baby\u00a0toys<\/a>\u00a0and games to experiment with during this time to nourish your little genius\u2019s brain.<\/p>\n During the 7-9 month period, you may also notice that your cutie has one or more\u00a0favourite toys<\/strong>.<\/p>\n One of the most instantly noticeable changes to your bub\u2019s appearance between 7 and 9 months old is the arrival of some pearly whites! The first teeth to emerge will be the\u00a0lower front teeth<\/strong>, followed by the\u00a0upper front teeth<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Whilst your little one will surely look adorable with a big toothy grin, the teething process can be quite painful for your poppet. The\u00a0NHS recommends<\/a>\u00a0remedying the pain with a refrigerated\u00a0teething ring<\/a>\u00a0and notes that you should\u00a0not<\/strong>\u00a0try to use general oral pain relief gel.<\/p>\n Once that cute little first tooth appears, the\u00a0NHS says<\/a>\u00a0that you should register your sprog with a\u00a0dentist<\/strong>\u00a0and start\u00a0brushing their teeth twice daily<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The best way to brush your bub\u2019s teeth is to pop them on your knee and place their head on your chest. Then squeeze a\u00a0rice grain sized<\/strong>\u00a0smear of\u00a0fluoride<\/strong>\u00a0toothpaste on a soft bristled\u00a0toothbrush<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nWaving \u2018bye-bye\u2019<\/h2>\n
Finger food<\/h2>\n
Standing up<\/h2>\n
The first word<\/h2>\n
Ways of capturing the special moments<\/h2>\n
\n
\n<\/strong>Make a new email account for your little one. Then, whenever you\u2019ve got a quick moment, send a quick email accounting the day you\u2019ve had together and attach a photo or video. When your sweetheart grows up, they can go through all the memories you\u2019ve documented for them.<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>A calendar is a great and accurate way to keep up to date with the goals they reach. You can document things like the first time your child lost a tooth and be confident about the exact date.<\/li>\n
\n<\/strong>Writing a diary for your little one is a very sentimental way to document milestones. You can express feelings and describe moments in detail. This way you can look back and relive those feelings in the future.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\nYour Baby: Months 1 to 3<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nHow Much Will My Baby Grow Between 1 to 3 Months?<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
1 Month Old Baby Development<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nHearing<\/h3>\n
Vision<\/h3>\n
One-way conversation<\/h3>\n
Heads up<\/h3>\n
1 month old sleep schedule<\/em><\/h3>\n
2 Month Old Baby Development<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nRoutine<\/h3>\n
Smiles all around<\/h3>\n
Check-ups<\/h3>\n
\n
Moving<\/h3>\n
2 month old sleep schedule<\/em><\/h3>\n
3 Month Old Baby Development<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nNoisy baby<\/h3>\n
Guess who<\/h3>\n
Tummy time<\/h3>\n
More smiles<\/h3>\n
Arms and legs<\/h3>\n
3 month old sleep schedule<\/em><\/h3>\n
Your Baby: Months 4 to 6<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nHow Much Will My Baby Grow Between 4 to 6 Months?<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
Feeding Cues<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
4 Month Old Baby Development<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nColour savvy<\/h3>\n
Teething<\/h3>\n
Elevated attention span<\/h3>\n
Movement and head control<\/h3>\n
Laughs all around<\/h3>\n
Vision<\/h3>\n
4 month old sleep schedule<\/em><\/h3>\n
\n
5 Month Old Baby Development<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nHands on<\/h3>\n
Less cooing<\/h3>\n
Brain power<\/h3>\n
5 month old sleep schedule<\/em><\/h3>\n
6 Month Old Baby Development<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nFamiliar faces<\/h3>\n
Expert in pulling strings<\/h3>\n
Sight, hearing and awareness<\/h3>\n
Budding talker<\/h3>\n
Foodie<\/h3>\n
6 month old sleep schedule<\/em><\/h3>\n
Your Baby: Months 7-9<\/h2>\n
Growth<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nSleep<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
Food<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n
Motor Skills and Coordination<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n
Communication<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n
Play<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
<\/a><\/p>\nTeeth<\/h3>\n