Child Development Capabilities Timeline First Six Months
Date Added: April 26, 2008 12:43:13 AM
This section deals with what your child should do, what he or she could do, and what he might possibly do in the first six months. Generally, these capabilities could occur from the middle to the end of the particular month.
One Month of Age
Should - lift head briefly when on stomach/ focus on a close face.
Could - focus on an object moving in pendular fashion 6 inches directly above his/her face. Respond to a bell by crying, becoming quiet, or other reflex.
May - lift head to 45 degrees while lying on stomach. Move beyond crying, with cooing. Smile response to your smile.
Two Months of Age
Should- lift head 45 degrees and follow object about 6 inches above the face past midline.
Could - Hold head steady when upright. Raise chest supported by arms, when on stomach. Roll over. Grasp a rattle. Reach for an object. Say ah-goo.
May - Smile for no apparent reason. Grasp hands together. Lift head 90 degrees on stomach. Squeal with glee. Laugh out loud (but not at your jokes).
Three Months of Age
Should - Lift head to 45 degrees on stomach.
Could - Laugh out loud. On stomach, lift head to 90 degrees. Squeal in delight. Grasp hands together. Follow object six inches over face for 180 degrees back and forth.
May - Hold head steady when upright. On stomach, raise chest supported by arms. Grasp rattle. Pay attention to small objects. For the advanced, bear some weight on legs when held upright. Reach for an object. Keep head level when lifted or pulled to standing. Say ah-goo and do a variation of blowing raspberries.
Four Months of Age
Should - By end of month, lift head up 90 degrees, laugh out loud, follow an object in an arc back and forth.
Could - Hold head steady when upright, raise chest on stomach supported by arms, roll over (one way), grasp objects, reach for an object, and squeal in delight. Could hold head level when body is pulled to sitting. Turn in the direction of a voice, particularly the mother. And blow raspberries.
May - Bear some weights on legs when held upright, sit without support, and turn in the direction of a voice.
Five Months of Age
Should - Hold head steady when upright, raise chest in lying position (supported by arms), roll over, focus on small object (cheerio, for instance), squeal with joy, reach for an object, smile, and grasp a rattle.
Could - Bear some weight on the legs, keep head level with body when pulled to sitting position, say ah-goo. and, yes, the familiar raspberries. You child should not attend a sporting event until this skill is evident.
May - Pull to standing position from sitting. Stand holding o to someone or something. Feed him or herself a cracker. Complain if you remove a toy or object. Pass objects between hands. Babble by combining vowels and consonants. Ma-ma, da-da, ga-ga, etc. are common.
Six Months of Age
Should - Keep head level when pulled to sitting position. Say ah-goo and other vowel-consonant combinations.
Could - Bear weight on legs when held or braced to upright position.Sit without support.
May - Stand holding onto something or someone. Feed self a cracker. Complain when an object is removed. change objects from one hand to the other. Turn indirection of a voice. Babble. Pull to standing position from sitting. Get into a sitting position from stomach. Say mama or dada at will.
