Child Development Guide: Birth to Six Months

Developmental Tasks

To learn to trust others and be secure in the world.
To begin unconsciously to learn what to do to get his/her needs met.

Indicators Related to Developmental Lag

Feeding problems: rejection of breast or bottle; excessive vomiting, colic, or diarrhea, resulting in weight loss.
Developmental regression: depression; unresponsiveness; failure to smile, show displeasure, or cuddle; rejection of comforting efforts.
Inability to see or hear. Extreme lack of sensory stimulation (touching, seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling) resulting in failure to thrive and possibly death. This deprivation is tied directly to the quality of care.

Note: Although these tasks and indicators may apply from birth to one year, each may be more observable at specific times. Some indicators of lag may be caused by factors that affected the baby in utero or at birth.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT: Birth to Six Months
Normal Characteristics	Suggested Behaviors for Effective Parenting
Develops own rhythm in feeding, sleeping, and eliminating.	Adapt schedule to Baby's rhythms as much as possible.
Grows rapidly, e.g., doubles birth weight.	Supply adequate food. Change baby's position frequently; hold and cuddle often.
Gains early control of eye movement. Develops motor control in orderly sequence: balances head, rolls over, pulls self to sitting position and sits alone momentarily.	Exercise baby's arms and legs during bathing and changing. Supply visual stimuli, such as mobiles and bright colors.
Begins to grasp objects.	Let baby grasp fingers as you pull him/her up.

	Physical Development for Six Months to One Year
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INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT: Birth to Six Months
Normal Characteristics	Suggested Behaviors for Effective Parenting
Learns through senses.	Provide objects to see, hear, and grasp, e.g., rattles.
Coos and vocalizes spontaneously. Babbles in syllables.	Talk and sing to child a great deal, repeating many words, not just sounds.

	Intellectual Development for Six Months to One Year
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SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: Birth to Six Months
Normal Characteristics	Suggested Behaviors for Effective Parenting
Discriminates primary caregiver (usually mother) from others; is more responsive to this person.	Do not change primary caregiver before six months.
Imitates movements. Gazes at faces. Smiles to be friendly.	Play pat-a-cake and peek-a-boo.
Likes to be held, played with, tickled, and jostled.	Bounce the child gently on your knees, gently rock, carry, gently pat on back.
Smiles at self in mirror.	Provide a mirror.

	Social Development for Six Months to One Year
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EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Birth to Six Months
Normal Characteristics	Suggested Behaviors for Effective Parenting
Shows excitement through waving arms, kicking, wiggling. Shows pleasure in anticipation of being fed or picked up.	Show facial expressions of smiling in response to child's anticipation.
Cries in different ways when cold, wet, hungry.	Learn to "read" the different cries. Respond to crying consistently. Don't be afraid of spoiling the infant - crying is the only way an infant has to express needs.
Fears loud or unexpected noise, strange objects, situations or persons, sudden movements, and pain.	Respond to the child's fears by talking in a calm manner and by picking up and cuddling the child.

	Emotional Development for Six Months to One Year
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