In the first 12 months of life, babies grow at an astonishing pace : from lying down all day to sitting up, crawling, standing… and finally facing their biggest challenge yet—taking their first steps! To do this, from birth, babies must gradually improve their muscle control and motor coordination every day . They achieve these progress through a variety of experiences. Simultaneously, as their brain develops, they gain weight and grow taller: their arms and legs lengthen, and their muscles become stronger. Support them at each stage and give them attention : encourage, praise, and provide new activities to stimulate their senses and promote progress. Trust in their abilities : children sense your trust, which gives them more strength to move forward. If your baby doesn't quite reach each milestone exactly as scheduled in the book, don't worry! While there are average age guidelines, every child's motor skills development pace is different and influenced by many factors: whether they were premature, their size, personality, and the stimulation they receive. Regular doctor visits ensure your baby's development is normal.
Newborn
When a baby is first born, their limbs are bent, and their neck and upper body have almost no tension. They cannot support their head for more than a few seconds: remember to support their neck when picking them up! Their movements are unconscious and primitive, and they possess several primitive reflexes that will disappear in the following months.
• Touch his cheek, and he will turn his head toward your finger and open his mouth to find the source of milk.
• Putting your finger in his mouth will trigger a sucking reflex.
• If picked up too quickly or if he feels uncomfortable, he will stretch out his arms and legs and open his palms, and then retract his limbs: this is the Moro reflex.
• When held upright with his feet on the ground, he will automatically take a few steps: the baby "can walk", but will soon forget and relearn the correct way later.
• Touch his palm, and he will hold your fingers tightly.
About 1 month
• Bring your face close to your baby and move it gently; he will follow you with his eyes.
• He will show a "silly smile" when he feels comfortable.
About 2 months
• It can briefly lift its head, but remains unstable.
• When sitting, the back is still unstable and bent.
• Sucking on fingers.
• Within 1 to 2 months, she will begin to show her first real smile under your guidance.
