The First Year

---------- OR ----------

Create account

Join clubs to discuss your interests
Connect with people like you
Share information, seek advice, get support

Getting Pregnant Expecting a Baby Newborn Baby (0-3 months) Baby (3-12 months) Toddler (1-3 years) Preschoolers (3-5
years) Kids (5-9 years) Pre-Teens (9-12 years) Teens (13-18 years)

Sex Education Preconception Miscarriages Fertility Issues Adoption Pregnancy Newborn Care Baby Names Baby Naming Tips Baby's Diet Child's Healthcare Child Development Pre-Schools Raising Children Food & Nutrition Manners & Discipline Intelligent Child Confident Child Teen Issues

Baby Photo Contest Kids Photo Contest

The First Year
From Curling Fists to Rolling Balls

0 to 3 months

The baby's hand is curled into a fist that instinctively holds onto objects that are thrust into her palm. At 2 months, the grasp is less reflexive and more controlled. At 3 months, the palm is weakly open, but with little strength to grip objects.

4 to 6 months

At 4 months, the baby will enjoy sucking her own hands. When she is a month older, she will have progressed to sucking her feet and grasping objects between both hands. When she is 6 months, she may hold objects between finger and thumb and be able to rotate her wrist.

7 to 9 months

In her seventh month, the baby's finger thumb grip develops and she can simultaneously grip objects in both hands. At 8 months, the baby develops the pincer grip that helps to access smaller objects. In the ninth month, the baby uses her index finger to probe objects and openings.

10 to 12 months

By the time she is 10 months old, your baby should be able to hold more than one object in her hand. In the eleventh month, she will be able to hold crayons and give and take objects. After 12 months, the baby's coordination becomes more acute day by day and she should be able to feed herself. She will have mastered the adult grip. She will be able to roll a ball across the floor and hand over objects on demand.

Baby's first birthday

This is an important milestone in the physical development of the child. Beyond the first year mark, the baby's body grows in length, loses its plump podgy appearance, becomes firmer, stronger and more muscular with adult proportions. Balance and coordination are mastered and fine movements are learned.

To add your views on this article or read others comments Click Here

Back to Previous Page More on Child Development Index

Email this Article to a Friend