Growth and Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months

Promoting Healthy Growth and Development

Babies thrive when all of their needs are fulfilled consistently and with loving care. A baby goes through so many changes that it can be hard for you to keep up with all the things experts say you "should be" doing to promote healthy growth and development. Remember that the best things for your baby are usually the simplest. Loving, holding, feeding, changing, and talking to your baby are the things to focus on. The rest will fall into place.

But you can always learn more about how to help your baby grow and develop in healthy ways.

To promote physical health and development:

• Breast-feed for at least the first year of life. Introduce solid foods at the appropriate time, ideally after breast-feeding exclusively for the first 6 months.
• Learn your baby's rhythms. You will gradually get a sense of your baby's unique sleeping and eating patterns and be able to help establish a routine by about 3 months of age. But be prepared to make adjustments as needed.
• Always put your baby to sleep on his or her back. This sleep position helps reduce the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). For more information on SIDS, see the topic Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• Allow your baby "tummy time" while he or she is awake and you are closely watching.
• Keep your baby safe from injury, drowning, burns, poisoning, and other dangers.
  • Buy safe baby equipment(What is a PDF document?) and use it properly. Just because a product is marketed for babies does not mean it's safe. For instance, baby walkers are not recommended.
  • Use a car seat every time your baby rides in the car.
  • Do not leave your baby alone with a pet.
  • Never leave your baby alone or in the care of an older child, even for a moment, during baths or while he or she is on a changing table.
• Post emergency numbers near the phone. Include information about how to reach your doctor, friends, and neighbors. Keep your local Poison Control Center number handy, too.
• Never shake your baby. Shaking your baby in anger or frustration can lead to shaken baby syndrome. Get help right away if you feel that you or another caregiver might hurt your baby.
  • Call 911 if it is an emergency.
  • Call your doctor, a friend, a relative, or a parent hotline if you are feeling overwhelmed to the point that you feel you are not able to care for your baby.

For more information, see the topic Health and Safety, Birth to Age 2.

To help promote the healthy emotional development of your baby, you can:

• Encourage bonding. Consistently interact with and provide loving attention to your baby.
• Recognize and reinforce behaviors. For example, when interacting with your baby, encourage smiling and eye contact.
• Respond appropriately to crying. Your baby cries to communicate needs, such as feeling hungry or uncomfortable. You are not spoiling your baby by promptly responding to these cues. Some babies may experience colic, which is the extreme end of normal crying behavior that peaks at about 6 to 8 weeks of age. Using comforting techniques, such as carrying your baby with you in a front pack, may help. For more information on crying behavior, see the topic Colic or Crying, Age 3 and Younger.
• Manage separation protest. Beginning around 6 months of age, your baby begins to feel uneasy when you go away. You can help your baby manage these emotions by making sure your child is well-rested and well-fed before you leave. It may also help to distract your baby, such as with a favorite toy.

To help your baby gain new skills, you can:

• Stimulate learning. You help promote your baby's cognitive development through emotional bonding, interaction and play, and providing unconditional love.
• Nurture speech and language development. Talking to, interacting with, and reading to your baby are all natural ways to promote language development. For more information, see the topic Speech and Language Development.

As a parent or caregiver of children, it is also important for you to:

• Learn and use effective parenting and discipline techniques. Do not spank or use other types of corporal punishment. A baby between 1 month and 12 months is too young to understand what is "good" and "bad" behavior. Try distracting a child who is doing something wrong or something that might be dangerous. For example, if your baby tries to pull the dog's tail, find a toy to get his or her attention and move the dog to another area. You cannot "spoil" a baby between 1 month and 12 months. Hold your child and give him or her as much love and attention as you can. Your love and patience are critical for helping your child develop into a happy and confident toddler. Parenting classes are offered in most communities. Ask your doctor or call a local hospital for more information.
• Learn healthy techniques to manage stress and resolve conflicts. Taking care of your baby is an exciting time, but it can also be stressful. Babies need a lot of love and attention. As a parent or caregiver, you must make changes in your daily routine and some days you may simply feel overwhelmed. Also, parents often find that they have a harder time communicating with each other. Feeling tired can make you more sensitive and lose patience more easily than normal. You can help meet these new challenges by learning stress management skills. For example, think about ways to let others know your feelings before you reach your breaking point. Also, try new ways to relieve stress, such as exercising or listening to relaxing music. For more information, see the topic Stress Management.
• Ask for help when you need it. Call a family member or friend to watch your baby and give you a break if you feel overwhelmed. Investigate community resources that are available to help you with child care or other needed services. Call a doctor or local hospital for some suggestions. Some communities have respite care facilities for children. A respite care facility is a place that provides temporary child care during times when you need a break.

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Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH	Last Updated: April 3, 2008
Medical Review:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Louis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics
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