Babies start to grow and change from day one, and each month holds a whole new set of milestones and accomplishments. While there is wide variability in the progression of abilities, understanding these milestones enables parents to provide their baby with a greater variety of age-appropriate learning opportunities.

Dr. Deb Lonzer, pediatrician and chair of the department of Regional Pediatrics at Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital, explains that these varied learning experiences stimulate and enrich a child's growth. She encourages parents to actively engage with their baby right from the start.

Terry Meersman agrees that learning begins at birth. Meersman is vice chair of the Talaris Institute, a research and communications foundation that works to improve the social, emotional and cognitive development of children from the prenatal period through age 5.

"This is the period when a child's brain is developing and growing at a remarkable rate," says Meersman. Your warm interactions and responsiveness to your baby foster her growth and nurture her feelings of security. It is this positive bond that will allow your baby to openly explore, discover and learn from the fascinating world around her.

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