Tips

First 5 San Diego Healthy Development Services specifically focuses on how parents can best promote their children’s physical and emotional growth as well as their thinking skills. The result is kids who reach their highest potential in school and in life. We provide parents with information and knowledge about the most critical phases of their children’s development from prenatal stages through age 5. The following are tips to keep in mind to give your child the best start in life.

Talk and read to your baby. Your child is learning language from you every day.

Take your baby to the park or have a friend over to play. Kids learn from each other through play.

Take your child outside. They will love to crawl, walk and run in the fresh air.

Children love music. Sing to them or play them a song.

Remember that every child is unique. Every child grows and learns at a different pace. Be patient with your child.

Spend time cuddling and holding your baby. It will help your child feel cared for and secure.

Have a routine and regular schedule for waking up, going to bed, eating meals, etc. This will help your little one feel safe and comfortable.

If you feel your baby is acting up, resist the temptation to discipline him or her. Babies don’t yet understand that behaviors can be “wrong.”

Giving your baby toys or treats to get good behavior will cause him or her to expect treats and maybe act badly on purpose to get them.

What Can You Expect from Your Little One

Here is a guide for child development, from 0 through 5 years of age. Click on your child’s age to see what to expect at his or her stage of development.

The developments described here apply to most children. However, each child is an individual and may not develop exactly as most others. If you are concerned that your child isn’t doing a particular activity by a certain age, talk to your child’s doctor.

Want to know more? Call 1-888-5 FIRST 5 (1-888-534-7785).

From birth to 3 months, babies
Babies who are 3 to 6 months
Babies who are 6 to 9 months
Babies who are 9 to 12 months
Babies who are 12 to 18 months
Toddlers (18 to 24 months)
2 year olds
3 year olds
4 year olds
5 year olds

From birth to 3 months, babies

…are comforted by being held close to your body and cuddled in your arms.
…learn to suck and swallow easily.
…look at faces and watch people’s expressions.
…smile, coo and gurgle.
…should move their arms and legs easily.
…lift their head when upright or while lying on their tummies.
…like to be held during feeding and burped regularly throughout.
…take naps as long as two to three hours.

Babies who are 3 to 6 months

…can hold their heads upright without support.
…prop themselves up on their arms.
…look around at sounds and movements.
…reach for, grasp and bring toys to their mouths.
…transfer toys from hand to hand.
…roll from their backs to their tummies, and vice versa.
…babble, squeal and laugh out loud.
…play with their toes while on their backs.
…look at and play with their hands.

Babies who are 6 to 9 months

…communicate with loud sounds and gestures.
…prefer to be with familiar people rather than strangers.
…sit without help while playing with toys.
…take two to three one-hour naps a day.
…bang objects to make noises.
…say their first words (such as mama, dada, and other babbling).
…move around on their tummies and push up on their hands and knees.
…imitate sounds and body movements.
…play give-and-take games with objects.
…begin to eat solid foods.

Babies who are 9 to 12 months

…play peek-a-boo.
…creep or crawl.
…wave “bye-bye.”
…pick up tiny objects using their index fingers and thumbs.
…can sit upright by themselves.
…use their index fingers to point or poke.
…can feed themselves using fingers.
…are able to put things in containers.
…pull themselves up to stand.
…walk while holding on to things, like furniture, for support.
…respond to simple questions (such as “Where is mommy?”).
…look at pictures.

Babies who are 12 to 18 months

…use spoons to feed themselves.
…change from bottles to cups (with some spilling).
…stack toy blocks.
…identify things by pointing to them or pictures of them.
…climb stairs.
…help you do things.
…walk without help.
…verbally ask for things (such as, “Cookie?”).
…are messy.
…scribble with crayons.
…sometimes show off.
…give hugs and kisses.

Toddlers (18 to 24 months)

…listen to short stories.
…turn pages of books.
…jump and run.
…take off their shoes and socks.
…communicate with broken sentences (such as, “Casey needs doll”).
…make simple choices (such as, “Would you like to look at this book or that one?”).
…imitate writing, coloring or drawing strokes.
…use inflection to ask questions.
…walk up and down stairs with help.
…copy the way other children play.
…wash their own hands.
…say their own names.