Child Development

A baby will soon join your family. Maybe through pregnancy, adoption, or foster care. Maybe you will be parenting a family member’s child. Or perhaps you are a relative or close family friend who will be part of a baby’s family.

You may have been waiting for years. Or perhaps you weren’t planning to be caring for a new baby now. You may already have a child.

No matter what your personal situation is, what you decide to say and do matters. It is never too early to begin building the strong and trusting relationship that your baby needs to thrive.

Here are some amazing facts about baby development:

• By the second month of the pregnancy, your baby’s heart is beating. You may be
  able to even hear the beat at the 3 month visit when mom’s health care provider
  moves an instrument called a Doppler across mom’s growing belly.
• Starting around 23 weeks of pregnancy, babies startle when they hear a sudden
  or loud noise. But if the noise is repeated often, they get used to it and stop responding. It’s a sign their brain is developing normally. (Eliot, 2000)
• During month 6 all tucked in the uterus, babies develop a pattern for sleeping
  and waking and can even open and close their eyes. (Note: This doesn’t
  mean your baby will sleep on a regular schedule after they are born
  —at least for awhile.)
• During the 8th month of pregnancy, there is very rapid brain activity and
  development. Baby’s brain—like yours—will continue to develop through life.

Useful Resources:

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