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As a parent, every moment with your baby feels like a milestone. From their first smile to their first steps, each development marks an important phase in your child’s growth.
Understanding these milestones can help you recognize your baby’s progress and know when and how to support their development. At Safe Haven Chiropractic, we’re here to guide you through each of these precious stages, ensuring your baby’s nervous system is functioning at its best to support their milestones.
One of the first milestones you’ll notice is your baby’s smile. Around 6 to 8 weeks, most babies begin to smile as a response to stimuli, especially the familiar faces of parents. This early social smile indicates that your baby is starting to recognize their surroundings and interact with the world.
How to Support: Engage with your baby by making eye contact, talking to them, and smiling back. This positive reinforcement helps build emotional connections and encourages more social interaction.
How to Support: Engage with your baby by making eye contact, talking to them, and smiling back. This positive reinforcement helps build emotional connections and encourages more social interaction.
Rolling over is a significant physical milestone that typically occurs between 4 to 6 months. It marks the beginning of your baby’s ability to move independently. At first, they might roll from their tummy to their back, and then, as they gain strength, from their back to their tummy.
How to Support: Give your baby plenty of tummy time. This not only strengthens their neck and shoulder muscles but also helps them develop the coordination needed to roll over.
Around 6 to 8 months, most babies begin to sit up on their own. This milestone is crucial as it enhances their ability to explore their environment and interact with toys and people around them.
How to Support: Encourage your baby to reach for toys while sitting to improve their balance and core strength. Provide support as needed, but allow them to practice sitting independently.
Crawling is a major milestone in your baby’s motor development, typically happening between 7 to 10 months. Crawling helps in strengthening the muscles required for walking and supports cognitive development by allowing your baby to explore their surroundings.
How to Support: Create a safe space for your baby to move around. Place toys just out of reach to encourage crawling and explore different surfaces like carpet and hardwood floors to help them adapt to various textures.
As your baby approaches their first birthday, they’ll likely start pulling themselves up to stand and may even begin cruising—walking while holding onto furniture for support. This milestone is a precursor to independent walking.
How to Support: Provide sturdy furniture that your baby can use to pull themselves up. Encourage them by placing favorite toys on the couch or low tables. Always supervise closely to prevent falls.
Your baby’s first steps are an exciting milestone that typically happens between 12 to 15 months. This achievement marks their transition from infancy to toddlerhood and opens up a whole new world of exploration and learning.
How to Support: Encourage walking by holding your baby’s hands and guiding them forward. Allow them to walk barefoot as much as possible to help them develop balance and coordination.
Around the same time as their first steps, your baby may start speaking their first words. This milestone indicates growing communication skills and cognitive development. Common first words include “mama,” “dada,” and simple nouns like “ball” or “dog.”
How to Support: Talk to your baby frequently and clearly, naming objects and describing activities. Reading books together is also an excellent way to boost their vocabulary and language comprehension.
At Safe Haven Chiropractic, we understand that a healthy nervous system, or as we like to call it, the ‘neurofuse box,’ plays a vital role in your baby’s ability to reach these milestones. Misalignments in the spine can interfere with nerve communication, potentially delaying development. Our gentle, neuro-based chiropractic adjustments are designed to support your baby’s growth by ensuring their neurofuse box is functioning optimally.
Dr. Khan is devoted to providing the best care possible. She is certified in prenatal and pediatric care by the Academy Council of Chiropractic Pediatrics. If you have concerns about your baby’s milestones or want to ensure they’re on the right track, reach out to us at Safe Haven in Ashburn, VA. We’re dedicated to helping your little one thrive in every stage of development.
Morning
Afternoon
Monday
9:00 – 1:00
3:00 – 6:00
Tuesday
9:00 – 1:00
3:00 – 6:00
Wednesday
9:00 – 1:00
3:00 – 6:00
Thursday
9:00 – 1:00
3:00 – 6:00
Friday
Some Friday Appointments
44110 Ashburn Shopping Plaza, Suite 216, Ashburn, VA 20147.
Phone: (571) 549-6555
Fax: (571) 549-1776