Brain development stages in infants
Infants (0-1 years) | CDC
Developmental Milestones
Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving “bye-bye” are called developmental milestones. Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age. Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, behave, and move (like crawling, walking, or jumping).
In the first year, babies learn to focus their vision, reach out, explore, and learn about the things that are around them. Cognitive, or brain development means the learning process of memory, language, thinking, and reasoning. Learning language is more than making sounds (“babble”), or saying “ma-ma” and “da-da”. Listening, understanding, and knowing the names of people and things are all a part of language development. During this stage, babies also are developing bonds of love and trust with their parents and others as part of social and emotional development. The way parents cuddle, hold, and play with their baby will set the basis for how they will interact with them and others.
Positive Parenting Tips
Following are some things you, as a parent, can do to help your baby during this time:
- Talk to your baby. She will find your voice calming.
- Answer when your baby makes sounds by repeating the sounds and adding words. This will help him learn to use language.
- Read to your baby. This will help her develop and understand language and sounds.
- Sing to your baby and play music. This will help your baby develop a love for music and will help his brain development.
- Praise your baby and give her lots of loving attention.
- Spend time cuddling and holding your baby. This will help him feel cared for and secure.
- Play with your baby when she’s alert and relaxed. Watch your baby closely for signs of being tired or fussy so that she can take a break from playing.
- Distract your baby with toys and move him to safe areas when he starts moving and touching things that he shouldn’t touch.
- Take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Parenting can be hard work! It is easier to enjoy your new baby and be a positive, loving parent when you are feeling good yourself.
Infants (0-1 year of age) pdf icon[PDF – 793K]
Child Safety First
When a baby becomes part of your family, it is time to make sure that your home is a safe place. Look around your home for things that could be dangerous to your baby. As a parent, it is your job to ensure that you create a safe home for your baby. It also is important that you take the necessary steps to make sure that you are mentally and emotionally ready for your new baby. Here are a few tips to keep your baby safe:
- Do not shake your baby―ever! Babies have very weak neck muscles that are not yet able to support their heads. If you shake your baby, you can damage his brain or even cause his death.
- Make sure you always put your baby to sleep on her back to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (commonly known as SIDS). Read more about new recommendations for safe sleep for infants here.
- Protect your baby and family from secondhand smoke. Do not allow anyone to smoke in your home.
- Place your baby in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat while he is riding in a car. This is recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration pdf icon[1.15 MB / 1 page]external icon.
- Prevent your baby from choking by cutting her food into small bites. Also, don’t let her play with small toys and other things that might be easy for her to swallow.
- Don’t allow your baby to play with anything that might cover her face.
- Never carry hot liquids or foods near your baby or while holding him.
- Vaccines (shots) are important to protect your child’s health and safety. Because children can get serious diseases, it is important that your child get the right shots at the right time. Talk with your child’s doctor to make sure that your child is up-to-date on her vaccinations.
Healthy Bodies
- Breast milk meets all your baby’s needs for about the first 6 months of life.
Between 6 and 12 months of age, your baby will learn about new tastes and textures with healthy solid food, but breast milk should still be an important source of nutrition. - Feed your baby slowly and patiently, encourage your baby to try new tastes but without force, and watch closely to see if he’s still hungry.
- Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed your baby, but it can be challenging. If you need help, you can call the National Breastfeeding Helpline at 800-994-9662 or get help on-line at http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeedingexternal icon. You can also call your local WIC Program to see if you qualify for breastfeeding support by health professionals as well as peer counselors or use an online directory to find an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultantexternal icon in your community.
- Keep your baby active. She might not be able to run and play like the “big kids” just yet, but there’s lots she can do to keep her little arms and legs moving throughout the day.
Getting down on the floor to move helps your baby become strong, learn, and explore. - Try not to keep your baby in swings, strollers, bouncer seats, and exercise saucers for too long.
- Limit screen time. For children younger than 18 months of age, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that it’s best if babies do not use any screen media other than video chatting.
- Make sure your child gets the recommended amount of sleep each night: For infants 4-12 months, 12–16 hours per 24 hours (including naps)
For More Information
- Infants and toddlers
- Preschool
- Middle childhood
- Adolescence
CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” Campaign
For more details on developmental milestones, warning signs of possible developmental delays, and information on how to help your child’s development, visit the “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” campaign website.
CDC’s Parent Information (Children 0―3 years)
This site has information to help you learn how to give your child a healthy start in life.
CDC’s Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers
Learn ways you can help build a safe, stable, and nurturing relationship with your child.
CDC’s Breastfeeding Information
This site has answers to frequently asked questions about breastfeeding.
CDC’s Information on Infant and Toddler Nutrition
Tips for Parents – Ideas to help children maintain a healthy weight.
CDC’s Protect the Ones You Love
CDC’s Injury Center has information on how you can protect your child from drowning and other common causes of injury.
CDC’s Information on Vaccinations
View the immunization schedule for infants and children and find out if your child’s vaccinations are up to date.
My Plate – Infantsexternal icon
The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides information on health and nutrition for 2 through 5 years of age.
My Plate – Toddlersexternal icon
The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides information on health and nutrition for toddlers
HealthyChildren.orgexternal icon
AAP’s Healthy Children website provides information on feeding, nutrition, and fitness for all developmental stages from infancy to young adulthood.
Just in Time Parentingexternal icon (JITP)
Quality, research-based information to families at the time it can be most useful.
Healthy Kids Healthy Futureexternal icon
You will find information on physical activity for young children and on ways to keep them moving.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationexternal icon (NHTSA)
NHTSA has information on safety recalls and safety tips for children riding in motor vehicles, walking, biking, playing outside, waiting at school bus stops, and more.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.external icon (NICHD)
Visit NICHD to learn how to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and about safe sleep environments.
World Health Organization information on infant nutritionexternal icon
This site has information to promote proper feeding for infants and young children.
CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” Campaign
For more details on developmental milestones, warning signs of possible developmental delays, and information on how to help your child’s development, visit the “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” campaign website.
CDC’s Parent Information (Children 4−11 years)
This site has information to help you guide your child in leading a healthier life.
CDC’s Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers
Learn ways you can help build a safe, stable, and nurturing relationship with your child.
CDC’s Healthy Weight Information.
Tips for parents – Ideas to help children maintain a healthy weight.
CDC’s Youth Physical Activity Guidelines
This site has information on how to help children be active and play.
My Plate- Preschoolersexternal icon
The U.
S. Department of Agriculture provides information on health and nutrition for preschoolers.
HealthyChildren.orgexternal icon
AAP’s Healthy Children website provides information on feeding, nutrition, and fitness for all developmental stages from infancy to young adulthood.
Just in Time Parentingexternal icon (JITP)
Quality, research-based information to families at the time it can be most useful.
Healthy Kids Healthy Futureexternal icon
You will find information on physical activity for young children and on ways to keep them moving.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationexternal icon (NHTSA)
NHTSA has information on safety recalls and safety tips for children riding in motor vehicles, walking, biking, playing outside, waiting at school bus stops, and more.
CDC’s Parent Information (Children 4 — 11 years)
This site has information to help you guide your child in leading a healthier life.
CDC’s Healthy Weight Information.
Tips for parents – Ideas to help children maintain a healthy weight.
CDC’s Youth Physical Activity Basics
This site has information on how to help children be active and play.
CDC’s Kids Quest
Kids Quest is a CDC website designed for students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades, to get them to think about people with disabilities and some of the issues related to daily activities, health, and accessibility.
CDC’s BAM! Body and Mind
CDC’s BAM! Body and Mind is a website designed for kids 9 through 13 years of age to give them the information they need to make healthy lifestyle choices. The site focuses on topics that kids told us are important to them—such as stress and physical fitness—using kid-friendly lingo, games, quizzes, and other interactive features.
My Plate – Kidsexternal icon.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides information on health and nutrition for children over 5 years of age.
HealthyChildren.orgexternal icon
AAP’s Healthy Children website provides information on feeding, nutrition, and fitness for all developmental stages from infancy to young adulthood.
Visit this website to learn more about emotional problemsexternal icon, learning disabilitiesexternal icon and other health and development concerns.
Just in Time Parentingexternal icon (JITP)
Quality, research-based information to families at the time it can be most useful.
Let’s Move-Kidsexternal icon
Five simple steps for parents towards creating a healthy environment at home.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationexternal icon (NHTSA)
NHTSA has information on safety recalls and safety tips for children riding in motor vehicles, walking, biking, playing outside, waiting at school bus stops, and more.
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StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on how children, parents, educators and others in the community can prevent or stop bullying.
SAMHSA’s KnowBullying appexternal icon
A free app for parents to help prevent bullying, created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Agency (SAMHSA).
Teens Healthexternal icon
Visit this site for information on healthy eating and exerciseexternal icon for children and teenagers, safety tips for your child at homeexternal icon when you can’t be there, and other important health and safety topics.
CDC’s Adolescent and School Mental Health
Learn how connection is key to good adolescent mental health.
CDC’s Parent Information (Teens 12— 19)
This site has information to help you learn how to guide your teen to be safe and become a healthy and productive adult.
CDC’s Healthy Weight Information.
Tips for parents – Ideas to help children maintain a healthy weight.
CDC’s Youth Physical Activity Guidelines
This site has information on how to help children be active and play.
CDC’s Pregnancy Prevention for Teens.
Tips and information especially for teens and designed with input from teens.
CDC’s BAM! Body and Mind
CDC’s BAM! Body and Mind is a website designed for kids 9 through 13 years of age, to give them the information they need to make healthy lifestyle choices.
The site focuses on topics that kids told us are important to them—such as stress and physical fitness—using kid-friendly lingo, games, quizzes, and other interactive features.
CDC’s Information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth Health
Learn about the physical and mental health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatryexternal icon
The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry has many fact sheets for parents on child and adolescent health and development.
My Plate – Teenexternal icon
The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides information on health and nutrition for teens.
HealthyChildren.orgexternal icon
AAP’s Healthy Children website provides information on feeding, nutrition, and fitness for all developmental stages from infancy to young adulthood.
Just in Time Parentingexternal icon (JITP)
Quality, research-based information to families at the time it can be most useful.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationexternal icon (NHTSA)
NHTSA has information on safety recalls and safety tips for children riding in motor vehicles, walking, biking, playing outside, waiting at school bus stops, and more.
National Institute of Mental Healthexternal icon
The National Institute of Mental Health has information on mental disorders affecting children and adolescents, including anxiety and depression.
StopBullying.govexternal icon
StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on how children, parents, educators, and others in the community can prevent or stop bullying.
SAMHSA’s KnowBullying appexternal icon
A free app for parents to help prevent bullying, created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Agency (SAMHSA).
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)external icon
SAMHSA works to improve the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, alcohol and drug addiction treatment, and mental health services.
Teens Healthexternal icon
Visit this site for information on healthy eating and exercise for children and teenagers.
How your baby’s brain develops
How your baby’s brain develops | Pregnancy Birth and Baby beginning of content5-minute read
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The experiences and relationships your baby has in their early years help shape the adult they will become. Creating a supportive, loving environment filled with warm, gentle interactions helps your baby’s brain to develop. It lays the foundation for your baby’s future development and learning.
Play is the main way your baby learns and develops. It helps them solve problems, explore and experiment. Other factors that can influence healthy brain development are:
- your baby’s health
- the food your baby eats
- genes
- the quality of the relationship your baby has with you and other carers
- how active your baby is
- the experiences your baby has
While babies develop skills at different times, development happens in the same order in most children.
For example, children learn to walk before they learn to run.
Your baby’s brain development
Your baby’s brain has been developing since they were in your womb. In the first trimester of pregnancy nerve connections are built that enable your baby to move around in the womb. While in the second trimester, more nerve connections and brain tissue are formed.
In the third trimester, the cerebral cortex starts to take over from the brain stem, preparing your baby for future learning.
By the time your baby arrives, they can hear (they will know your voice!) and also see a little. Their brain will then continue to grow and develop for many years.
The human brain has 3 main parts:
Brain stem and cerebellum — these connect the brain to the spinal cord and control the body's breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, balance and reflexes.
Limbic system — this sits on top of the brain stem and looks after many different functions including emotion, thirst, hunger, memory, learning, and the body's daily rhythms.
Cerebral cortex — this consists of a left and right hemisphere and sits on top of the limbic system. The cerebral cortex contains:
- occipital lobe — for vision
- temporal lobe — for hearing, language and social interaction
- frontal lobe — for memory, self-regulation, planning and problem solving
- parietal lobe — for bodily sensations like pain, pressure, heat and cold
Diagram showing different parts of the brain.
Loving relationships and stimulating experiences are vital for your baby's development since they give your baby opportunities to communicate, move and learn about their world.
How you can help your baby’s brain develop
Your baby's brain develops through use — by your baby interacting, observing and doing things.
You can help your baby's development by creating an interesting environment with different types of activities that offer your baby the chance to play. It's through play that your baby will learn important skills like talking, listening, moving, thinking, solving problems and socialising.
You can play and spend time with your baby by:
- singing together
- reading books
- talking about what you’re doing and seeing
- playing games like peekaboo
- giving lots of cuddles
Creating a warm, loving environment helps your baby feel safe and loved. This promotes brain development. Everyday moments, such as having a bath and eating, are great opportunities for you to get to know each other and build your relationship.
It's these moments that help your baby's brain form new connections. This in turn prepares your baby for the next stage in their development.
Other things your baby needs include:
- Healthy food to help them grow. Good foods for your baby are breast milk (or formula). Once your baby is ready for solid foods, iron rich foods and a balanced diet of fresh vegetables, fruit, grains, dairy and proteins (such as meat, chicken and eggs) is important.
- Moving and being active to develop their motor skills.
This allows them to explore their surroundings, which helps them think and learn. - Loving relationships and interactions with others. This will boost your baby’s communication skills and understanding about the world around them.
- Sleep helps your baby’s development. While all babies sleep in different ways at different times, you can help them sleep to help their development.
Milestones
Milestones are developmental achievements and they are helpful for keeping track of your baby’s development. They can be grouped into 6 categories:
- Gross motor skills — the control and coordination of large muscles. For example: walking, lifting, throwing and sitting.
- Fine motor skills — the control and coordination of small muscles. For example: holding or picking up items.
- Vision
- Hearing
- Speech and language
- Social and emotional development — learning to interact with others and to understand and control your emotions.
You can find more information about each milestone and when to expect them in your baby’s infant health record (Child Health Record Book). This book records important information about your baby from birth. You can also speak to your child health nurse.
Where to get help and support
See your doctor or child and family health nurse if:
- your baby isn’t meeting the milestones listed in their child health record book
- you think that there’s something wrong with your baby’s vision, hearing, communication, behaviour, movement or growth
Speak to a maternal child health nurse
Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.
Sources:
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (Bonding for Brain Development), Australian Early Development Census (Brain development in children), Acta Paediatrica (Nutritional influences on brain development), Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (Developmental milestones and the Early Years Learning Framework and the National Quality Standards)Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: June 2022
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The main stages of child development - "Globus"
A small child develops from birth. Every day, when he sleeps, eats, goes to the toilet, he develops. Even if you rarely approach him, or approach him very often, carry him everywhere on your hands, show funny pictures, or even just sleep next to him, at any moment in his life the child develops.
But this does not mean that the child develops on its own and we cannot influence this process. The child is receptive and reacts to the environment, people, sounds, smells and much more. It is only important to understand how and when we can influence? What environment is conducive to child development?
The environment is people and all the objects surrounding the child, this is the whole set of conditions in which the formation of a small person takes place. The environment can be developing, stimulating for some action, encouraging, or "poor". At the same time, an environment stuffed with toys may turn out to be “poor”. It can be “poor” for the development of thinking and imagination, and by no means based on the amounts spent on all these toys.
Now let's talk about when we can influence. The development of a child depends on the maturation of certain parts of the brain. Which, in turn, does not ripen spontaneously, but according to certain laws. Laws are due to evolution and vital necessity. Not taking them into account means stealing from your baby in obtaining certain skills, abilities and fundamentals. Therefore, it is important to know about them.
The brain develops progressively, from bottom to top and from left to right. By the time of birth, the brain of a child is almost no different from the brain of an adult. During the first year of life, the formation of the structure of the brain is especially active. In addition, during the first three years, there is an active creation of neural connections. That is why these years are called the most important, and there is an opinion that after three it is already too late. But even after the age of three, neural connections continue to be established and strengthened throughout life. When a child discovers his hand for the first time, raises it before his eyes and examines it, at this moment neural connections are created, and the representation of the hand zone in the brain is indicated. In simple words, the brain begins to feel and learns to control the hand. Every time later, when a mother strokes her baby’s hand, or when the baby begins to gradually feel his hand, fingers, try to reach out, grab, each time certain signals enter the brain, there are more and more neural connections, and the “hand control map” becomes clearer. and more detailed. And the hand becomes skillful over time.
If you take into account the stages of brain development, you can help the child develop without any resistance, but on the contrary with great interest and enthusiasm.
Here it is important to understand that during the formation of the main areas of the brain, the child has a great interest in everything related to these areas. Such periods of development are called sensitive, which means "particularly sensitive" to certain influences.
For example, the formation of the sensory zone of the brain in the cerebral cortex pushes the child to "sensory research": touch and taste everything, pull into the mouth, feel with all parts of the body, lie on the grass and eat sand, run on hot pebbles and cold dew bare feet, look for new sensations in everything. In cities and apartments, we cannot always provide children with sensory diversity. Our apartments are too "comfortable", the floors and furniture are too flat. Many "sensory pleasures" that were "commonplace" for our ancestors become something unique.
At the same time, the value of the sensory component during the development of the child's brain has not lost its value. A huge area of the cerebral cortex, responsible for sensory sensitivity, actively develops when receiving stimuli. Thousands of new and new neural connections are built every moment when a very young child touches new surfaces for himself, feels different touches, plays finger games, rolls on a fluffy or vice versa prickly carpet. Growing up, he learns to determine the difference in materials, wood, iron, plastic, fine and coarse. And with every touch, neurons run along the nerve endings to build new neural connections in the brain. So that the child learns to feel his body well and control it. You can clearly see the manifestations of a well-formed sensory zone in a child in excellent control of his body, easy mastery of any kind of sports, precision in manipulating objects, good handwriting when writing, and many other manifestations.
The development of the sensory zone actively occurs during the entire preschool childhood from 0 to 6 years and continues throughout life. This is just one example of an actively developing brain.
Also actively developing during preschool childhood:
- Gross motor skills (large movements of arms, legs, whole body)
- Fine motor skills (point and precise movements in the body)
- Sensory
- Speech
- Color perception
- Emotional development
- Communication skills
- Auditory development
- Creativity
- Imagination
- Logic, memory, attention
- Mastering the established rules and boundaries
- Beginning of independent activity
- Mastering the correct manipulation of a specific object
sensitive periods and age crises. We do not engage in early learning of letters and reading at 1 year and even at 3 years, because we know that the area of the brain responsible for reading is formed closer to 5-7 years.
Therefore, our classes are always relevant.
Child's brain development from birth to age 3
70% of a child's brain development occurs in the womb, 15% during infancy, and another 15% during the preschool years. Until the baby is born, as well as in the first months after birth, that is, during the breastfeeding period, its development and health are almost completely dependent on the mother's nutrition. Therefore, it is extremely important that you carefully monitor your diet and remember a number of nutrients that are especially important for the development of a child's brain.
Important!
In the first year of life, your baby grows literally by leaps and bounds. In a year, his height doubles and his weight triples! But even more incredible speed of development at this time reaches his brain.
The medulla is laid in the cranium of the fetus already in the first weeks of intrauterine development of the baby. At the tenth week of pregnancy, the baby's brain is divided into three parts.
In a child who was born, the brain is almost no different from the brain of an adult. By twelve months, the final formation of the brain structure is completed. The number of neurons remains approximately at the same level until the end of life. And from birth, a lot of reflexes and skills are embedded in the brain: breathing, sucking, grasping...
From birth, the neurons of the brain exist for the most part independently of each other. The task of the brain during the first 3 years is to establish and strengthen the connections between them. At this time, the cells of the child's brain create 2 million new connections - synapses - per second! As the child develops, the synapses become more complex: they grow like a tree with many branches and twigs.
The period from birth to three years is the time of the highest brain activity. By the age of three, a child's brain is already 80% the size of an adult's brain. The increase in brain volume occurs due to special glial cells: they are necessary for the existence of neurons.
Starting from the age of three, a sharp slowdown in the rate of brain development begins, and after six years it almost completely slows down and the formation ends. The abilities of the brain of a six-year-old child practically coincide with those of an adult!
For the harmonious development of the baby's brain, an environment full of positive emotions and new impressions is needed. Such an environment will make the brain work more actively, stimulate its development. It is in the first three years that the future foundations of health, thinking, various skills, and adaptability to life are laid in the baby. Therefore, it is very important in these first three years to help the formation of the brain. The child should be surrounded by images, sounds, touches, smells. All these are stimuli that are perceived by the brain and help it form faster.
Adherents of the ideas of "early development" - the intensive development of a child's abilities at an early age (from 0 to 3 years) - pay special attention to this.
In their opinion, it is necessary to introduce the baby to various activities as early as possible: develop his speech, draw, sculpt, play musical instruments, etc.
Equally important is the baby's nutrition. Of particular importance in the development and proper functioning of the baby's nervous system are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. These include docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acids (DHA and ARA).
The daily diet for the "future genius" should include DHA and APA of breast milk or baby milk in case of supplementary feeding. Breast milk does not have an exact ratio of these fats, as their presence is highly dependent on the diet of the nursing mother and how much she consumes foods containing them. So, for example, the milk of Japanese mothers has a very high amount of DHA due to the high consumption of seafood, while the concentration of DHA in the milk of American mothers is very low. Also, sources of DHA in the mother's diet can be, for example, seafood, various vegetable oils, walnuts.
