Child Development Stages

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Featured at Raise Your Child. org
By P. Banas

As newborn babies grow, these are the various stages of development those they go through:

1-4 Months
• At this age, the baby’s average length is 50.8 - 68.6 cm, with a growth rate of about 2.54 cm per month.
• The average weight is .7.9 - 16 lb and the growth rate is about 0.24 - 0.48 lb per week.
• The baby breathes using the abdominal muscles.
• The legs may be slightly bowed.
• The baby’s eyes begin to move in unison with each other.
• While sucking reflexes are developed, swallowing is not perfect, which is why babies drool.
• The baby can grasp things with the entire hand.
• The baby’s movements are jerky, random, and uncoordinated.

4-8 Months
• At this age, the babies’ average length is 69.8 - 73.7 cm, with a growth rate of 1.3 cm per month.
• The weight gain rate is about one lb per month.
• The breathing continues to be abdominal.
• Teeth begin to appear, with the lower and upper incisors sprouting first.
• The bowing of the legs gradually disappears.
• Baby fat becomes visible on the thighs, arms, and neck.
• The true color of the eyes becomes established.
• The blinking reflex develops.
• The swallowing reflex becomes increasingly voluntary.
• The baby can use the finger and thumb grip to pick up objects.
• At this age, the baby develops the ability to transfer things from one hand to the other.
• The baby develops the tendency to put things in the mouth.
• At this age, the baby can sit without help using the arms for support.

8-12 Months
• At this age, babies usually achieve almost one and half times the length at birth.
• The average weight is 21.12 lb, which increases by about one lb per month.
• The baby continues to use abdominal muscles for breathing.
• The baby shows cephalocaudal development where the arms and hands grow faster than the feet and legs.
• The legs may still appear somewhat bowed.
• Baby fat continues to develop on the body.
• Both eyes can now function in unison and the child can see objects that are15 to 20 feet away.
• The baby reaches out to take objects with one hand.
• The child examines new things by using a finger to poke and press.
• The child starts to balance things in a pile or put things inside other things.
• At this age, the child starts trying to stand.
• The child also starts crawling, using the hands.

About the Author

P. Banas provides recommendations on planning a baby, pregnancy, parenting and child development stages for dads and single dads.

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January 18 2008 10:09 pm | Baby and Child Development

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