The first year is full of exciting changes. Your baby will begin to eat new foods and develop new skills. The way you respond will shape his understanding of how things work. “He learns that when he’s hungry, someone feeds him. When he’s uncomfortable, someone changes his diaper. And when he’s crying, someone picks him up,” says Veronica Hendrix, a nurse and lactation consultant.

As a parent, you play the most important role in the way your baby develops. Here are some milestones to look for and things you can do to make sure your baby has the healthiest start in life. If you are ever concerned about your baby’s development or feeding habits, talk to your health care provider or a WIC nutritionist. We’re here to help!

1. Breastfeed your baby for as long as you can. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding until age 2 or longer if desired.
2. If your baby drinks formula, she will need it until she is 1 year old. 
3. Touch and cuddle your baby.
4. Talk, sing and read to your baby every day.
5. Get regular medical checkups for your baby.
6. Take your baby for routine immunizations at ages 2, 4, 6 and 12 months.

Remember:

• Every baby grows in their own way.
• Babies born early may take a little longer to develop than other infants of the same age. 
• Ask your baby’s health care provider if you have any questions or concerns.

1. Drink only breastmilk, formula or a combination of both.
2. Show hunger by:

   - Moving his head from side to side and opening his mouth toward your breast or the bottle.
   - Sucking on his hands and fingers.
   - Clenching his fists.
   - Crying; it’s a late sign of hunger so try not to wait till your baby starts crying. Feed your baby as soon as he shows you that he’s hungry.

3. Eat and sleep a lot without having any kind of schedule.
4. Have plenty of wet and dirty diapers in a 24-hour period. Learn what to expect during your baby’s first month. Change dirty diapers as soon as you can to keep him from getting a rash or being uncomfortable.
5. Cry often — sometimes crying is the only way that your baby can communicate. Be patient and ask for help if you find yourself getting frustrated. Never shake your baby.

1. Continue to drink only breastmilk, formula or a combination of both until about 6 months old.
2. Sit with support and have good neck and head control.
3. Be ready to try pureed foods at around 6 months. It is a good idea to talk with your health care provider or WIC nutritionist before starting solid foods. Choose foods with only one ingredient and wait three to five days after introducing each new food to be sure there are no food allergies. Once your baby starts solid foods, she will still need breastmilk, formula or a combination of both until 1 year old.
4. Turn her head, push the spoon away or hold her mouth shut to tell you she’s done eating.
5. Be ready to start learning to drink from a cup.
6. By 6 months old, she will weigh at least twice as much as she did at birth.

1. Bring his head toward the spoon.
2. Take many tries before liking some foods.
3. Like to play with a spoon, but not use it very well.
4. Slowly get better at drinking from a cup.
5. Be ready to try foods that are strained or mashed with a fork.
6. Learn to move food to the sides of his mouth and chew.
7. Still need breastmilk, formula or a combination of both until 1 year old.
8. Need his gums and teeth cleaned twice a day.
9. Start teething! Getting teeth doesn’t mean that your baby is too old to breastfeed. Sometimes, when a baby is teething, he may try to comfort his gums by biting down. There are many ways to help avoid this. If you are concerned about teething while breastfeeding, ask your WIC peer counselor or lactation consultant for help. Learn helpful tips in our online lesson, “Breastfeeding Beyond 6 Months.”

1. Learn by making a mess! Be patient — your baby is just curious.
2. Hold a spoon but need your help using it.
3. Drink from a cup most of the time.
4. Still need breastmilk, formula or a combination of both.