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Juniors

17th Jul 2017

Welcome to your wobbler’s amazing world: a year of incredible milestones

Katie Mythen-Lynch

Part of the magic of being a parent is witnessing each and every first; the first smile; the first word; that wobbly first step.

Milestones come thick and fast in the first 12 months. Our advice? Ensure the camcorder is fully charged at all times and keep your phone close for impromptu photo shoots.

Here are some of the precious firsts and when you can expect them. Keep in mind this is just a guide – all babies develop at their own pace so don’t panic if your little one hits a milestone earlier or later…

One month

At four weeks old, your baby can see black and white shapes and patterns so will likely be responding to visual stimulation. They’ll be able to lift their head a little and, if you’re lucky, you might be treated to a big old beaming smile! Prepare to practically burst with pride.

Three months

At 12 weeks, many babies are making plenty of noises and maybe even a giggle or two. Look out during tummy time; any day now they’ll be able to roll over all on their own!

Four months

This is where things get very exciting; at 16 weeks, babies may begin to imitate the sounds they hear at home. Will the first attempt yield a ‘Mama!’ or a ‘Dada’? Or will it be an incoherent mumble? Either way, you’ll spend hours deciphering it.

Four to five months

If your little angel has suddenly morphed into a drooling grouch, teething symptoms could be to blame. Happily, many babies hardly suffer any symptoms at all, but loss of appetite, excessive mouthing and chewing of toys and face rubbing are all common signs that those first teeth are making an appearance.

Six months

Anywhere between four and six months, many babies develop stranger anxiety. It’s totally normal for babies to recognise and seek out the faces of their parents or main carers and to be distrustful of strangers. This is a clever trick of nature to keep them safe as they learn how to crawl.

Seven months

Whether or not your baby is making an attempt to crawl or not, they now have the strength to pull themselves into a standing position while holding on to a shelf or coffee table so look out for low-standing ornaments and other dangerous items. When they’ve mastered the art of the wriggle, changing regular nappies can be more of a struggle. Our tip? Nappy-pants are a great alternative. You can pop one on in one, quick manoeuvre!

Eight months

At this age your little babbler will likely be quite vocal when it comes to his or her wants and needs. Look out for gestures such as pointing and head shaking for ‘no’ and waving for ‘bye-bye’. They’ll also respond when you say their name or ask ‘where’s daddy?’.

Ten months

Now very mobile and standing alone without support for a few seconds at a time, your baby will also be able to drink from a cup. Sure, a bottle would be less messy, but the proud look on their face when they successfully use the grown-up option will more than make up for it.

11 months

A walking, gurgling mimic-machine, your little wobbler should now be able to deposit toys into a container (handy for tidy-up time). This is usually when you’ll get at least another word besides ‘Mama’ or ‘Dada’. The family pet is popular, as are the words du jour for bottle, boob or dummy.

12 months

For months you coaxed each and every utterance from them, but now the babbling should be coming thick and fast… and at all times of the day and night, Don’t expect it to make a whole lot of sense but do capture the chat on video to enjoy later.

To find out more about choosing the best nappies for your baby, visit the Pampers website.