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Home › Articles › Milestones › Momentous Milestones

Momentous Milestones

The First of Many Markers in Your Baby's Physical and Emotional Development

By Jessica Williams

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Your baby is born with some very interesting reflexes and physical traits. From a twitching nose to a quivering chin, it's obvious that your baby's nervous system has a long developmental journey ahead. But even the first few months after birth bring incredible milestones -- and so much to anticipate!

Jessica Gibbons of Boise, Idaho fondly remembers the first time her daughter showed that she recognized her mother's voice. "She heard my voice and started kicking her legs wildly because she was so happy to see me," Gibbons says.

Strengthening and Controlling Muscles
In the first few weeks, many parents are faced with a grandparent's waggling finger and nagging words, "Be sure to support her head!" Your baby's head is like a bowling ball sitting atop a twig. She's been floating around in amniotic fluid up until birth, after which an amazing force was introduced: gravity. Gravity is something she'll have to contend with if she is to gain head and neck muscle control.

"Developing neck strength becomes one of the important developments in the first three months of life," says Dr. John Tedeschi, chief of pediatrics at Virtua West Jersey in Voorhees, N.J. "By the end of the first month, a baby's movements, which have previously been very jerky, become more mature and their muscle control improves. The baby's neck muscles will also develop more rapidly, giving the baby more head control."

Dr. Andrea C.S. McCoy, associate professor of pediatrics and medical director at Temple University Children's Medical Center in Philadelphia, Penn., explains how quickly this control occurs.

"As a newborn, a baby can usually lift his head while lying on his belly only briefly," she says. "But by 2 months of age, a baby should be able to lift head and chest up while lying on the belly and sustain the position for a minute or more. While holding the baby at the shoulder, the head will be steady, but still requires some support."


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