When should a baby start making eye contact and recognizing familiar voices? I bhave been told is from 1 - 3 months but this sounds to me like a very wide range. To top it all off I have read books that indicate by 1 month the baby shouild clearly be doing these things, while others say a 1-month old is only expected to eat and sleep with none of the developmental milestones showing yet. I'd like to hear actual experiences from moms with infants who are around this age range.
i agree with the previous posts. judge his age from his due date for one thing, until age two or three years (can't remember which). also until he is behind a month or so, i wouldn't worry (again use due date). it could be a good idea to get a developmental pediatrician. then you really wouldn't have to worry cause that doc would absolutely be on top of all that.
Good luck and don't worry too much!!
Because your little one was born slightly early, expect some slight delays. Go by the due date not his actual birthday and remember these benchmark dates are not set in stone. My son was 2 months early and hit almost all of the benchmarks about 2 months later than his birthday.
Hi Sandy,
Congrats on the new baby! Try not to stress too much about milestones. Despite what the books say, babies have their own schedule for doing things and it doesn't always match what the book says. Your baby may do things sooner or later than what you read but as long as you go for your regular check ups and the doctor is happy with the baby's progress I wouldn't worry.
Good luck!
Hello, While it is true that most babies have made eye contact and recognize voices by around one month, it is also very true that every baby develops at their own pace. We have four grown kids and six granchildren and every one of them has had their own schedule of learning. Just be patient and breath. If there is a real delay, talk to his pedatrician and he/she will be able to direct you to the right help.
Good luck with your precious little boy.
K. K.
First- relax- anxiety will make things worse... Talk to your pediatrician- consult with a developmental
Pediatrician if needed.... Seek professional advice if needed- but give it time- a lot will start happening between 4-8 weeks old!
sandy,
Keep in mind that your baby was born at 36 weeks, not 40 weeks. The milestones will be about four (4) weeks later than most babies for the first year or so. NOT to worry, your baby will be healthy and normal. I had a 30 week baby, she is now 12 and is brighhter than most, stronger than most, and more focused than most. I am very lucky! I am sure you will be too. Just be patient, if your baby reaches his or her milestones a bit later, she/he is doing the last month of womb growing outside the womb!!! Much harder!
Enjoy your baby and relax,
M.
The best advice I can give you is to throw away those books that talk about milestones and just enjoy your child. Every child develops at his or her own pace. They work on different things... the books make you worry and they are simply not right. When you've been a mother a little longer, your confidence in yourself and in your baby will grow. Congratulations on becoming a mom!
The reason for a "range" of developmental timing as to when a baby "should" be doing these things, is because each baby is different... they are not all the same in development. However, the "range" is what is considered "normal" per pediatric time-lines.
IF a baby, does not do certain "milestones" by this time or is perhaps 3 months 'late' in doing so, then perhaps there is a concern.
BUT, go according to your Pediatrician.
There is also a difference between "milestones" and just developmental changes that occur.
Don't expect EVERY SINGLE thing to occur in your baby like clock-work. It won't. It won't. It won't. ALL babies are this way and have their own timing and pacing and development.
Bear in mind that the eye development in 1 month old's (the rods, cones and color) perception is NOT even fully developed in a baby this young, yet. What they "see" at this mere age, is dark and light "contrasts" in shapes.... and their smell is more acute... that is how they "recognize" their Mom from others for instance.
A baby does NOT 'see' as we do... it is developed over time, nor can they 'see' over long distances, for example.
Try getting the book "What To Expect The First Year", which you can find anywhere and online.
AND, check out the website: www.babycenter.com which is EXCELLENT. Here is a link:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_your-1-month-olds-development...
Those are the 2 sources I would rely on, other than your Pediatrician.
Main thing is, don't feel 'rushed' that your baby has to develop at a certain pace, nor 'compare' your baby to others, and do NOT "expect" more than the age of a baby. Keep all expectations "age-appropriate. I just say this because many times, Parents "expect" a baby/child to be and act like an older child, unknowing that it is too much too soon. Thus, disappointment/frustration/stress can occur, when it does not have to. Or they get worried if their child/baby does not do things like others. No worries. It's okay.
ALL babies, develops differently.
If your Doctor is not worried, then don't worry. They know best. Of course if you feel your baby is not developing on par, then ask your Doctor or give him/her examples.
Many babies at this mere age, mostly sleep and nurse. They are not going to stay up playing all day. Their "job" is to sleep and nurse... because even sleeping aides in brain development and overall development. Sleeping has a purpose too. And, nurse/feed ON demand... because this provides the "building blocks" for a baby's development as well.
Please, I know how you feel... but don't worry. If ALL babies developed exactly the SAME... then that wouldn't be 'normal' either. Each baby has their own personality and development. Right now, a baby just needs to be nourished and cuddled and spoken too... but babies this young also get fatigued very quickly from over stimulation. Even 1 hour of "playing" is a long time for them. Let him sleep when he needs to sleep....
Its okay. I'm sure your baby is fine. But I can relate to how you feel. I felt like that too, with my first child.
Well sorry for rambling or getting off subject.
All the best,
Susan
Hi Sandy,
I am the CEO of a company that provides Early Intervention to babies and toddlers with developmental delays. Let me give you some milestones, these are approxmate: by the end of seven months, many children are able to ........turn their head when their name is called........smile back at another person......respond to sound with sounds..........enjoy social games (such as peek-a-boo). When you are feeding your baby there should be some eye contact but it might be limited. If while feeding you are making eye contact with no sounds try to make some sweet sounds to gain his attention. Milestones vary; however, if you are at all concerned, and since he was born at 36 weeks and a difficult pregnancy my suggestion is to consult a pediatric developmental specialist. If the doctor suggest that there might be a problem contact your regional center, they will do an assessment and if they deem that there might be a problem they will suggest the next step. If you have further questions please feel free to email me at any time.
Dear Sandy,
Congratulations on the birth of you baby! I have three children. My first was 3 1/2 weeks early and did not make eye contact and recognize familiar voice until about 2 months. He just slept and ate:) His eyes were cross-eyed for quite a while. My second child was post mature and had eye contact at birth. I agree with the person who says to go from the day he should have been born, plus give another few weeks to it for catch up, when looking at milestones. My third was born on time. All developed at their own pace, but all were doing fine and walking by a year. My oldest only had a 10 word vocabulary at 2 years, but certainly is a talker now. Another spoke in sentences of 4 words at 2 years. The doctor will check him carefully when you see him for the routine check ups. Don't get hung up on milestones. I am sure if there is a problem, you will be able to tell soon enough for intervention.
Enjoy your little blessing:)
H.
Ditto EVERYBODY. The range is because we're all different. Frustrating, isn't it?
My son made his pediatrician laugh outloud because he made eyecontact the day he was born, and could hold his head up and follow people around the room with his face and his eyes. Is that normal? No. Is that "better" HA! Nope. just abnornal. Very difficult pregnancy, probably 2 weeks post term, but actually possibly 3. (We STILL have no real idea of when he was conceived). Sometime in August/September and born in July.
But didn't start walking until WELL after a year. 15-16 months he SORT OF started doing the gliding around furniture, holding my fingers thing. He didn't really start walking until he learned how to run at about 18-22 months....his crawl was faster than his walk...so he was pretty uninterested. This child has always been interested in physical speed from point a-b. He STILL runs everywhere. He was also a late verbalizer. Five words only until nearly two. And he hasn't been quiet since. My absolute FAVORITE was the offended little toddler face and stomp into the room where he informed us at 2ish that "the squirrels were mocking me. They ACT like they want to play, but when I chase them they just run away really really fast. Then they stop and let me catch up and start thinking they want to play and then they just do it all over again. MOCKING me that I'm so slooooooow." Yikes. And all of this with a pantomime. At that point people started making such a fuss; but 6 months earlier those same reactionary people had been swearing autism or deafness up and down. My son could communicate FINE before he learned to speak. A pointed finger and a raised eyebow followed by either a kiss or dragging a chair to the fridge s not "Milk please mummy" in english...but it was clear enough.
My son has been late, early, dead on...reverted...skipped over milestones...gotten "stuck" in them...you name it, he's done it. I learned early on to relax. Actually...I think sleep dep helped with that. Huh. One less kudo to me.
Milestones aren't like grades. Early isn't better and late isn't worse and dead on average isn't "needs improvement". Heck...sometimes certain ones get skipped. I can't COUNT the number of babies I know who didn't roll over until after they could sit up, stand up, and lay down ( a vertical roll, anyone?). Other's skip this, or revel in another. Gawd the number of horror stories that involve fast crawlers. I even know three little girls who NEVER crawled. They sat, stood, and walked. Skipped crawling completely. They fell down more than others though.
<grinning> The thing about milestones is this: as long as you are actually worried and paying attention, you need to learn to ignore them...and check in with your ped whenever you're nervous. If you don't give a flying flip and your baby is still unable to sit up at a year we need to tattoo them on your arm. (I DO know a mum or two like that. They love they're kids...they're just soooooooooooooooooooo ignorant of what's "normal"/"healthy" (you don't put coffee in an infants bottle, just because YOU like coffee in the morning Melissa!!) and don't seem to see that knowing the generalities is helpful in making sure nothing is wrong. We KNOW you're not the "we need to tattoo this girl" variety. So take a deep breath.
