Milestones of Infant Development

New Zealand Listener, Volume 11, Issue 278, 20 October 1944, Page 22

Milestones of Infant Development

(Written for "The Listener" by DR.

H.

B.

TURBOTT

Director of the Division

| of School Hygiene, Health Department)

OTHERS are often worried as to whether their babies are developing correctly. There are monthly milestones: along the development road that indicate whether all -is well. In the first four weeks, most of baby’s time is spent in sleeping and eating. An average infant weighs about 7lb., but loses weight the first week, This should be made up about the twelfth day, and from the third week for the first five months baby should put on 6-8o0z. weekly, and thereafter about 40z. a week till a year old, Baby will double his birth weight at five months and treble it at one year. Weekly weighings should be done, for they are a guide to progress. There will not be an even gain in weight-there will be more one week than another-but there should be a steady gain if all is going well. Shortly after birth, the baby will probably follow a bright light with his eyes, and should certainly do so by one month. At two or three months, mother will be recognised. General development can be gauged, too, by muscular control. After the first month baby will lift his head now and then. At two months he waves his arms about when lying on his back. Between three and six months he will balance and hold his head steady, and about five months he will sit up with slight support. He will sit alone for half a minute at six months, and a month later will manage to sit steadily without support. He will also be able at seven months to roll from back to stomach. At 10 months he will pull himself up to a standing position, and by 13 months will be walking alone.