What to Expect from a Baby in the First Year of Life

What to Expect from a Baby in the First Year of Life

The first year of your baby's life is exciting. Everything is new to both you and your baby. There is growth happening at a rapid rate. Babies form neural connections, also known as synapses, at a rate of over one million per second in the first few years of life. This is a pace that is never repeated again. By age two or three, the brain can have up to twice as many synapses as it will have in adulthood.

To help you know what milestones to look for as your baby grows in the first year of life, here's a month-by-month guide based on information from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA):

Birth to 3 Months: Building the Foundation

• Listening and Attention: Your baby will start to recognize and be soothed by your voice. They might turn their head toward sounds and startle at loud noises.

• Communication: Expect cooing sounds, different cries for different needs (hunger, discomfort), and smiles in response to your voice or face.

4 to 6 Months: Becoming More Vocal

• Listening and Attention: Babies begin to respond to changes in your tone of voice and show interest in toys that make sounds.

• Communication: You’ll hear more babbling, laughter, and vocal play. They might make sounds like “ba” or “da,” even if they don't know what they mean yet.

7 to 9 Months: Interactive Communication

• Listening and Attention: Your baby will start to understand simple words like “no” and “bye-bye.” They might listen when spoken to and look at the person talking.

• Communication: Expect to hear more varied sounds, and your baby may start to use gestures like waving and pointing. They might also imitate different speech sounds.

10 to 12 Months: First Words and More

• Listening and Attention: Babies at this age can follow simple directions, like “come here,” and recognize words for common items such as “cup” and “book.”
  

• Communication: This is the stage where many babies say their first words. They might use simple words like “mama” or “dada” intentionally and continue to babble with speech-like sounds.

Supporting Your Baby's Development

Every baby develops at their own pace, but engaging with your little one through talking, reading, and singing can significantly support their communication skills. The milestones listed above are just a few of the many your baby will reach in their first year. This is not a comprehensive list, so if you have questions about your baby's milestones, please reach out. If you have any concerns about your baby's development, it's always a good idea to consult with a pediatrician or a speech-language pathologist!

For more detailed information on communication milestones, visit the ASHA website

Remember

Early experiences shape communication skills, so keep talking, playing, and bonding with your baby. Your interactions are crucial in helping them achieve these milestones.

Taylor Martin M.A. CCC-SLP, 07/30/2024