The first years of a baby’s life is a transitional period, during which he or she will undergo some exciting changes. In the course of a single year, your child will grow from being dependent entirely on you, to showing personality, preferences, and interests.

In most scenarios, the first few months with your baby will be the most difficult. That said, you will adapt quickly, specifically once you get a feel for your little one’s personality. In a similar fashion, your baby will become more responsive once they discover more about their body and their surroundings. They will start recognizing familiar voices and faces, and expressing themselves with adorable babbling.

You will notice when your baby’s visual coordination begins to improve, as they will take interest in the goings on around them, specifically bold colors and patterns. In time, infants begin controlling their neck muscles and quickening their reflexes, allowing for more intentional interactions, such as reaching for things around them. Feel free to spoil your baby at this point, as the more you oblige their whims, the more confident and secure he/she will feel.

At two months, most babies will be sleeping more at night than during the day. By three months, most babies only wake up once to feed during the night. When putting your baby to sleep, put them on their back in the crib, awake but slightly drowsy. This will give you a better chance for longer sleep.

By four months, routines will begin to develop for things like sleeping, feeding, and playing. As your infant gets older, he or she will become more communicative through crying and babbling. These are the first steps toward your child’s social and emotional development. From four to seven months, your baby will experience an array of milestones, from “tummy time” to rolling over and sitting up with (or without) your help. These developments lead to many more, including moving objects from hand to hand, crawling, and bouncing up and down when held standing up.

At four to six months of age, most babies will begin to indicate readiness to eat solid foods. This is an exciting time for a parent! Check out our handbook for more on this stage of your child’s infancy. During this time, make sure to read your babies temperament and respond to his or her needs. Face time with your baby is the most exciting time of their young lives and encourages bonding, so make sure to respond warmly to their requests.

The last months of your baby’s infancy are very eventful. Most infants are sleeping through the night and nap less during the day, as they have become more interested in their surroundings. From 8 to 12 months, most infants will be pulling to stand, and they might even take their first steps. By this time, you should make sure your home is “baby proofed,” allowing them to travel about the house safely and enjoy their new freedom!

This is also the time when the baby begins to form combinations of consonants and vowels, such as “mama”, “dada”, or “uh oh”. Babies of this age will begin mimicking the use of certain items like cups or phones, and they also start trying to self-feed. While many of their first attempts result in a mess, it is a proud time for parents as they watch their child develop his or her dexterity.

Separation anxiety is a natural occurrence during this period. As your baby’s attachment to you grows, they may tend to cry when you disappear from their view, in which case you should remain calm. This goes for discipline as well—if your baby is investigating something dangerous, redirect them to a different location or activity. Discipline during this time should be firm, consistent, immediate, and limited to actions that directly impact your child’s safety. Exploring the world around them is vital to their growth, so curiosity is good so long as the baby is not in danger.