"Babies" is a term generally referring to children from birth to 1 year old. During the period, babies typically transform from an almost helpless newborn to a young child who can crawl or even walk and make his or her wishes known by pointing or speaking single words -- including "no."
During their first year, babies usually gain 10 inches in height, triple their body weight and double the size of their brains.
Babies Newborn to 3 Months
A newborn's nutritional needs are met by breast milk or formula in a bottle. Breastfed infants will nurse for about 10 to 15 minutes on each breast every one and a half to three hours, or up to 12 times a day.
Bottle-fed babies will drink one to three ounces every two to four hours. As the weeks pass, babies begin to need fewer feedings but will take more each time.
Newborn babies continue their eating schedule around the clock. Because their stomachs are very small and their nutritional needs are great, the possibility of sleeping through the night is not likely for several months. Even then, they may only sleep five straight hours.
Putting babies to sleep on their backs on a firm mattress with no bedding will reduce the chances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS.
While babies can smile from birth, their first "social smile", or smiling in response to someone comes at about 2 months. By 3 months, they' re smiling regularly.
Babies 3 to 6 Months
At 3 months, babies are usually able to raise their heads and chests when placed on their stomachs and grasp objects. The next month, they laugh and often imitate sounds, but not words, of caregivers.
During this time, babies learn to roll, first from front to back, and then back to front. Some begin "commando crawling," or pulling themselves along with their arms while on their stomachs.
First teeth often appear at this stage. Babies may be introduced to infant rice cereal if they're taking more than 32 ounces of formula per day. Many breastfed babies begin to eat cereal at 4 to 6 months.
Babies of this age often begin sleeping for six hours at a time and napping during the day for a total of 14 to 16 hours of sleep.
Babies 6 to 9 Months
At 6 months, babies begin to sit up without support, sitting with ease by 7 months. They can support their weight on their legs while being held up and begin regular crawling. Most babies double their weight by 6 months.
During this period, babies respond to their own names and begin to imitate speech sounds. They start to understand the concept of object permanence; when caregivers disappear for a second, babies understand they will be back -- thus the delight over peek-a-boo games at this stage.
By 9 months, many babies are sleeping from nine to 12 hours at night, and napping twice a day. They're eating single-grain cereals; pureed meats, vegetables and fruits; and finely chopped, soft finger foods.
Babies 9 to 12 Months
During the last quarter of their first year and up until the age of 3, babies and children need 13 hours of sleep a day, including naps.
He or she begins eating many finger foods including "O"-shaped dry oat cereal, cooked pasta and ripe, sliced fruit such as bananas, peaches and pears, and cheese cubes. At 12 months, they can switch from formula to 2% milk and drink from a "sippy" cup.
At 10 months, the "pincer grasp" develops, improving their grip so they can better feed themselves. By 1 year, they should pass objects from hand to hand. From 9 to 12 months, babies cruise a room by holding onto furniture. Many begin to walk on their own by their first birthday.
During this period, babies learn to say "bye-bye, " "mama" and "dada" and other short words and to understand simple commands such as, "Give it to Mama."
What Products Do Babies Need?
Besides love, being held, sleep, food, diapers and clothing, babies’ needs are few, though there are many products on the market specifically for babies. A few basics are all that are necessary.
- Car seat: Must be appropriate for baby's age and weight.
- Crib: Drop-side cribs are no longer recommended and may be banned. Older cribs with corner posts higher than 1/16 of an inch are also unsafe because babies' clothing can catch on them, causing them to choke.
- High chair: Not needed until about 6 months.
- Toys: Rattles, stackable rings and other toys that babies can grasp promote development at 3 months and later.
- Books: Reading to babies beginning in infancy helps their development and promotes bonding.
- Swing: Not a necessity, but safe swings can soothe babies and give mom or dad a small break.
Related Babies Resources
About.com Baby Parenting All About First Year [1]
About.com Pediatrics Bottle Feeding [2]
About.com Pediatrics Breastfeeding and Solid Food [3]
About.com Baby Parenting Caring for Babies [4]
About.com Changing a Diaper [5]
About.com Pediatrics Developmental Milestones [6]
About.com Pediatrics Eating [7]
About.com Baby Parenting Formula to Milk [8]
March of Dimes Pregnancy and Newborns [9]
About.com Baby Products High Chairs [10]
About.com Multiples The First Year of Life with Twins or Multiples [11]
About.com Baby Parenting Names [12]
About.com Pregnancy Newborns [13]
About.com Pediatrics Newborns [14]
About.com Parenting Newborns [15]
About.com Premature Babies [16]
About.com Baby Products Products [17]
About.com Baby Products Reading to Babies [18]
About.com Pediatrics SIDS [19]
About.com Pediatrics Six Month Old [20]
About.com Baby Parenting Sleep [21]
Baby Parenting Sleep Video [22]
About.com Baby Parenting Swings [23]
About.com Toys [24]
About.com Baby Products [25]
About.com Toys [26]
Baby Center Sleep [27]
Baby Medical Questions [28]
Centers for Disease Control Interacting with Babies [29]
Google Books Brain Growth [30]
Mayo Clinic Sleep [31]
National Institutes of Health Development [32]
Parenting.com Milestones [33]
Social Security Administration Names [34]
Web MD Milestones [35]
Wondertime Babies 3 to 6 Months [36]