Naomi Braun

If you’re a new parent or you know someone with a newborn, you might have noticed that babies tend to stare at things for an awfully long time, much longer than any adult would or could without blinking. 

Babies staring can be a concern for new parents as it’s a common misconception that this could mean that there’s something wrong with their eyesight.

Because of how commonplace baby staring is, some people might even get a little paranoid, asking themselves, ‘why do babies stare at me?’

Is It Normal For Babies To Stare?

It is entirely normal for babies to stare, and the behavior should lessen as they grow.

A baby’s eyesight is pretty poor to begin with, and you should start to see the staring behavior change over time as they start to see a little better.

Baby staring is actually a good thing as it allows them to develop their knowledge and understanding of the world around them.

(If you’re interested in baby development, read ‘when do babies start talking‘.)

If The Baby Staring Continues…

Babies may stare up until around 6 months old depending on the speed of development.

The more sensory objects and experiences you expose them to, the faster their brains can adapt and learn. 

If your baby continues to stare just as frequently after this time, you might want to consult with your pediatrician to make sure everything is okay with their eyesight. 

When To Worry About A Baby’s Sight?

Although a baby’s vision works very differently from an adult’s, there are certain signs that you’ll need to look out for to make sure that nothing’s wrong.

Staring usually isn’t one of these. 

1. It’s pretty standard for babies to have a slight misalignment in their eyes at first. You may notice that it looks like they’re trying to look off to the side a little or that one eye is slightly off-center in comparison to the other.

This is normal and generally corrects itself very quickly. However, if you notice that one of your baby’s eyes is off-center all the time, take them to a pediatrician.

If it’s caught early, eyes can be realigned using patches to correct their sight. 

2. At 4-5 months of age, your baby’s vision should be able to track movements, which is the very reason that they stare, as the action is what interests them.

For example, your baby should be able to follow your finger from a foot away from their face. If you get no reaction, then you may need to seek medical advice. 

3. If you see that your baby’s pupils appear cloudy, this may indicate that something is wrong. Even at an early age, babies should have perfectly clear, black pupils just like an adult’s. 

So, Why Do Babies Stare?

There are a few reasons that babies might stare excessively at people or objects. 

1. Their brains are growing incredibly quickly, and they aim to take in as much information as possible to help them develop.

So the more people and objects that they’re exposed to, the faster their brain will grow. This is why sensory toys are great for babies.

Things with bright colors, noises, and different textures really help to add to their early experiences. 

2. Newborns don’t have great eyesight and are sensitive to light. As a result, they can only see things right in front of them and have minimal peripheral vision.

They’re also very short-sighted; their long-sight vision only starts developing at around 3 months.

This makes them appear to be staring when actually, they’re just trying to get a better focus on something in front of them. 

Baby Staring At Moving Objects

Objects that move are particularly fascinating to babies.

The different ways in which things move and the result of that on the environment around them helps them to generate better depth perception.

So you’ll often catch them staring at repeated movements, such as fans or swings for long periods to take in information.

Their depth perception will start to develop properly at around 4-5 months, so you might begin to see staring increase around this time, especially when they’re paying more attention to objects in their line of sight. 

Babies often smile when looking at moving objects as they enjoy the sounds or color changes.

However, if you find that your baby turns away from a moving object, it might be because their brain is processing too much at that moment, and the movement appears confusing. 

Baby Staring At Colorful Objects

Colors that contrast next to each tend to draw a baby’s attention; this is why most baby toys are brightly colored.

However, they may also be drawn to other objects around your home for this exact reason.

For example, if your couch is in stark contrast to your walls or carpet, it might appear that your baby is staring at the couch for an extended period which seems odd to an adult that would be more used to this. 

It’s often why people find it a little creepy that their baby is staring at the corner of the room. They’re probably just admiring your furniture, not looking at a ghost, so don’t worry. 

Baby Staring At Objects That Make Noise

Babies love objects that make different noises; this is why rattles and other sensory toys are among their favorites.

Staring at things that make noises is common as it helps a baby associate that noise with that object.

They may also be staring because the sound and color combinations trigger a recall in their memory, as they’ve seen that combination before.

The staring helps them to develop and strengthen memory recall. 

Baby Staring At People

Staring at people helps with a baby’s development as they learn the difference between different faces.

This can help them differentiate between Mom and Gran or Dad and Uncle, helping them develop family ties later on.

A baby will focus on the different features for each individual, trying to understand that Daddy has a beard while Uncle Jim doesn’t. 

Do Babies Stare At Attractive Faces For Longer?

Studies have shown that, yes, babies do stare at people more if they think they’re more attractive.

A group of university professors presented babies with people who met societal expectations of beauty, alongside people who were considered less attractive.

They found that babies would stare at the more attractive test example for much longer.

However, babies don’t hold societal views on beauty, and it may just be that they find something about you fascinating.

Perhaps you’re different from other people that they’re used to.

For example, if you have a beard, wear glasses, or have a different hairstyle from the people that they see daily…

They’re more likely to stare at you because they’re interested in your appearance. It’s the same reason that babies always seem fascinated with long hair. 

So, if you’re constantly asking yourself the question, ‘Why do babies stare at me?’ you should take it as a compliment.

Babies stare at you because they think you’re fascinating.

Why Do Babies Stare Into Your Eyes?

Before the age of 3 months, babies have extremely limited vision and are more easily able to see things that are right in front of them if they’re colorful.

When you’re holding them, they’ll be naturally drawn to your eye color, as it’s something that stands out from the rest of your face. 

Why Do Babies Stare At You And Smile?

Babies are completely innocent to everything going on globally, and everything around them is good until proven otherwise.

Babies smile at you because, well, why shouldn’t they?

They don’t yet understand all of the social norms we use, so smiling and direct eye contact is the best way to get your attention.

It’s also possible that they just like the way you look, which is always a good thing. 

It would be best if you smiled back; this reassures them that the interaction was a good one, and you can develop your great relationship from there. 

Why Do Babies Stare At Walls?

If your baby seems to be staring at the wall a lot, it’s nothing to worry about. 

• If they’re still really young – up to 5 months – it may be because their vision hasn’t fully developed yet, and they’re staring in the direction of a sound that they hear and trying to figure out what it is. Once their vision starts to get a little better, you’ll notice that their stare is more focused on actual objects as they begin to recognize them. 

• It could be that your wall is a bright color. Babies love colors and will be drawn to anything bright as, at first, color is all they’re able to see – shapes come a little later. 

• If your colored wall contrasts with a piece of furniture next to it, they can start to make out the shape of the furniture, and their brains will try to decide what it is. The contrast in colors draws their attention. 

• If they’re staring at what looks like a blank, boring wall to you, then it could be that they’ve just learned a lot that day, and they’re busy processing. This processing period is crucial to help them remember and learn from experiences. Even staring at blank spaces is normal. 

Why Do Babies Stare Into Space?

During the first three months of a baby’s life, their brain grows by around 64%.

Humans, unlike other animals, have an underdeveloped brain at birth because it allows for the birthing process to run more smoothly.

This explains why other animals can immediately get up and run pretty much as soon as they’re born.

However, as humans look after their babies completely, there’s no need for this.

Instead, babies need to develop exceptionally quickly after birth to increase their strength and resilience to the world around them. 

Because of this rapid growth, your baby is taking in many new things all in one go.

Staring into space or at nothing in particular usually means that they’re processing information.

For this reason, you should allow their staring time to continue without distraction. It means that they can fully process everything that’s happened to them in the last hour to effectively learn from those experiences. 

Summary

So, if you find yourself passing babies in their strollers constantly thinking, ‘why do all babies stare at me?’ then you should absolutely take it as a compliment.

The baby either feels that you’re interesting to look at, that your outfit has excellent contrasting colors, or that they want to start some interaction with you.

You should encourage this right up until the 6-month period.

Remember, the more staring they do, the more they’re having to process, which means their brains are growing and developing. 

When you’re a new parent, one of the most frustrating things, and possibly something that you’re expecting, is that your baby cries a lot during the night.

It means you won’t get a whole lot of sleep, and your baby will appear cranky when they’re awake.

So, if your baby clearly needs sleep, why do they seem to fight sleep and wake up so often? 

So, Why Do Babies Fight Sleep?

Baby Sleep Cycles

Babies have much shorter sleep cycles than adults while their brain is developing. Generally, they have 45-minute sleep cycles.

Within this sleep cycle, only 20 minutes of sleep is deep REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. This is when dreams occur.

The other 20-25 minutes are light sleep, and during this period, they’re susceptible to outside stimulation.

It could be a tiny noise, change in room temperature or smell that wakes them, and it’s usually something so small that you wouldn’t even notice it.

If your baby appears to constantly wake up around 20 minutes after you’ve put them down to sleep, it’s not because they’re deliberately fighting sleep; it’s because it’s so easy to wake them when they’re in this light sleep stage. 

To maintain their sleep, you’ll need to ensure that they’re completely settled when they’re transitioning from light sleep to REM sleep. To do this, you’ll need to look at:

Temperature

Getting your baby’s temperature just right is the key to getting a good night’s sleep for them and you.

Most experts will tell you not to overdress your baby for bed, but it’s tempting to add too many layers, especially in the winter, for fear of them being too cold. 

When dressing your baby for bed, a good rule of thumb is to add a single extra layer to what you’re wearing yourself.

Yes, they’re more sensitive to cold temperatures, but they’re also more susceptible to heat, and one of the leading causes of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is suffocation due to overheating. 

If you’re wearing a thin cotton nightshirt, then a baby grow, and a thin pair of PJs will work for them.

If it’s a little colder and you’re finding yourself wearing woolly PJs, then a baby sleeping sack with fleece lining may work better. 

Remember that the best way to control your baby’s temperature is to control the room temperature rather than adding extra layers.

Turn down your aircon or turn up the heat to keep them warmer. 

Routine

A proper sleeping routine is key to getting your baby to sleep through the night faster.

It would be best if you tried to put them down to sleep at the same time each day, even going as far as to keep their nap times to the same time each day.

This helps them to get used to the environment around them at that time of day.

They’ll get accustomed to the temperature, the noises around them, and any smells if you happen to be cooking dinner then. 

Creating A Good Bedtime Regime To Prevent Your Baby From Fighting Sleep

It’s not just the times that you need to focus on when creating a routine that will help your baby to sleep.

You’ll also need to focus on the task right before the sleep too so that they feel comfortable when you’re putting them down to sleep.

This will help them be less alert, meaning that they can start to sink into REM sleep faster and not be affected by their environment. 

• Bath time – make sure your baby has their bath at around the same time each evening. 
• PJs – Make sure your baby is dried thoroughly and is comfortable in their clean PJs. 
• Feeding – Feed your baby a short while before bed, making sure they’re not hungry while they’re asleep (this can wake them up too). Give them a bottle or a sippy cup or a portion of fruit when they’re a little older before they head off for bed. 
• Burping – If your baby is still at an age for burping, make sure you do this before bed to prevent gas. 
• Diaper Checking – Right before you put them down, make sure the diaper is completely clean and dry; babies won’t relax into sleep if they’re uncomfortable. 
• Hugs and Kisses – Cuddling your baby before bed will make them sleep as they’re full, comfortable, and warm from your body. 

If you complete each of these actions every evening at scheduled times, you’ll find that your baby relaxes into sleep much more quickly, and you’ll convert to sleeping through the night much faster than a baby with no routine. 

Feeding

Feeding is crucial to giving your baby that relaxing, sleepy night.

At first, your baby will wake in the night for feeding; even if you fed them right before bed, there’s no avoiding it.

However, it’s about managing that time that they wake up and minimizing the break up of that sleeping pattern. 

When your baby wakes up during the night, having some bottles prepared to feed them is essential.

Don’t decide to make the bottles from scratch in the middle of the night. You might:

1. Make them up incorrectly with the wrong quantities if it’s formula, or heat them incorrectly.
2. It’ll take much more time. Have two or three bottles ready to go. 

When your baby wakes up, get to them as soon as you can, quietly pick them up and do a feed. Try to minimize talking and lights when you do this.

You need your baby to remain in a state where they can just go back to sleep.

Making a ton of noise and turning on all the lights will make them feel like it’s morning, and their mentality will adjust to being awake.

(It’s just like when you wake up earlier when it’s sunny outside because your body feels like it’s time to be awake, whereas, in the winter, when it’s darker, you’ll find it much more difficult to get out of bed). 

Complete the feed as quickly as possible with minimal disruption and try not to talk to them too much.

Burp your baby as normal and put them right back down to sleep. The faster you get through this process, the easier it’ll be to get them back down again. 

Once you’ve mastered the art of stealth feeding, your baby should start to go longer during the night without waking up. 

White Noise

White noise works well for some adults, but not all; however, it does work for most babies.

A low, quiet hum will help your baby to tune out other noises in the environment around them that may trigger them to come out of light sleep.

Babies also find the constant low noise comforting as it mimics the noises they would have heard in the womb. The ideal white noise provider is a small desk fan.

You should place this away from the baby’s crib, so it’s not directly blowing on them – this could trigger a temperature change that would wake them.

Leave it on a medium blow during nap time. The continuation of noise will keep their light sleep going until they drift back into REM sleep. 

This is only recommended for nap time while you’re awake. It would be best if you didn’t leave a fan overnight without your supervision for health and safety reasons.

However, if you have an aircon in your home which can be placed on low, this will work just as well and can be left on. 

Separation Anxiety

When your baby gets to around 8 months old, they’ll naturally start the clingy phase.

This is right when you begin to feel that it’s okay to leave them in their cribs with a baby monitor.

When they’re young, you’ll be with them all the time, and naturally, they’ll start to get scared or anxious when you’re not around. 

This is a phase that lots of babies go through, and you may find that they wake up regularly and cry just because they want you to come to them. 

To minimize the effects here, you should always comfort your baby by letting them know you’re there. This could be by talking or singing to them.

However, picking them up each time they cry may worsen this issue.

Reassure them that you aren’t too far away but try to refrain from giving them too much attention; otherwise, they’ll come to expect this when they cry, and this can cause them to wake up more often. 

Environmental Changes

If you’re on vacation, you may have changed the environment around your baby and the crib too. Babies like routine; that’s why your sleep routine is essential.

Although you may still put them to bed at the exact times and follow the same routine as at home, there may still be some disturbance if the environment looks or smells different. 

Be prepared for this to happen and ensure you put your baby down to bed regularly to prevent them from becoming overtired.

The last thing you need is an overtired, cranky baby on your vacation. 

Why Do Babies Fight Sleep When They’re Tired?

Babies are noticeably fussier when they haven’t had much sleep, and despite all efforts, they seem to be determined to stay awake for longer.

Parents are often left puzzled that it seems to take more effort to get a baby to go to sleep when they’re tired. 

While adults would actually sleep better when they’re super tired, babies who get overtired are the opposite.

The lack of sleep makes them anxious and frantic and causes them to look more awake. 

In turn, this leads to parents trying to ‘tire their children out’ to help them sleep better the next night.

This exacerbates the problem, meaning that the baby is more tired and less likely to sleep. 

Babies Who Fight Sleep Are Smart – Fact or Fiction?

There’s a common misconception that babies who fight sleep are more intelligent, and the reason they fight it is simply because they don’t need as much sleep as other babies.

Some scientists claim that there’s actually no benefit to a regular sleep pattern where your baby sleeps for more extended periods and that it doesn’t have any lasting effect on their cognitive or mental abilities. 

However, there has been significant research to the contrary.

The University of Montreal asked 60 parents to keep sleep diaries for their babies aged between 12 and 18 months.

The results showed that those babies that slept through the night more often and had a regular sleep routine had faster motor skills and performed better on tasks to test their mental abilities. 

It was also found that there’s a definite positive correlation between a high amount of regular sleep and the memory, language development, and cognitive functions of babies.

Briefly put, babies develop faster if they experience a better sleep cycle.

And, there’s also a good chance that they’ll be better behaved and will more easily fit into a routine when they get older and need to go to school, as you’ll have developed a routine at an early age. 

Depriving a baby of regular sleep or not enforcing a regular sleeping schedule could affect your baby’s intellectual development later on. 

How To Get A Baby To Stop Fighting Sleep

Ensure that you always stick to your routine; developing this is key to your baby’s successful sleep cycle and ultimately, their development. 

• Go through the bedtime routine at the same time every day.
• Minimize contact with your baby when they wake up – it’s easier to get them back to sleep.
• Have a stack of bottles to give to your baby when they wake up, so you don’t waste time making them up. 
• Ensure your baby is comfortable in their bedtime clothing and with the temperature around them.

Above all, maintain the routine as much as possible. Once it’s broken, you’ll have an uphill battle to try to repair it.

The faster your baby gets into a sleep routine, the faster you’ll reach the stage where they’ll sleep through the night. 

Summary

Routine is vital when trying to get a baby to stop fighting sleep.

They need to understand that when certain things happen at specific times, it’s a trigger for them to start to go to sleep.

Try to minimize disturbance throughout the night, even if you need to feed or change your baby. 

The more effort you put into their sleep cycle when they’re young, the easier it will be to get them to sleep through the night at an early age.

The more sleep they get, the more sleep you’ll get. 

Toddlers can be worse than a hurricane sometimes because, well, they talk back.

Toddlers are talking, and many of them also start walking, double trouble for first-time parents.

Babies are incredibly diverse when it comes to their development and progress at vastly different rates.

Walking is a big milestone, though, and parents want to ensure that they are doing everything they can to help prepare their future walker for success.

Most pediatricians will say that babies begin to walk anywhere between 8 and 18 months, but it has taken some babies up until 24 months to learn to walk successfully on their own.

One of the youngest babies to ever learn to walk was Xavier King.

Xavier King was only three months old when he sat up unassisted and was six months old when he learned how to walk on his own.

The good news for parents is that babies don’t typically just wake up and start walking; there are certain milestones along the way that help parents assess the baby’s readiness to walk.

By the way, after this, you should check out these 24 exercises to help your baby walk.

So, When Do Babies Start Crawling And Walking

First, Crawling

Babies become mobile between 6-13 months old. Crawling on your baby’s hands and knees helps them move at surprisingly quick speeds.

Note: Some babies actually never crawl, and they might skip the crawling stage altogether and opt straight for pulling up and walking assisted.

Crawling is an exciting stage as babies start to explore the world around them.

Then, Standing

Babies always start by pulling themselves up to a standing position before they can walk. This happens at around 8-11 months.

This usually happens after babies learn to sit up on their own. Before toddlers learn to walk on their own, it would make sense that they need some support to start.

Then, Assisted Walking

Assisted walking is the next stage that parents will see from their kiddos.

This can happen between 6-13 months, and this is a really important step for toddlers.

Assisted walking helps babies build the motor patterns and balance needed to allow them to walk on their own.

At this stage, it’s important to make sure that you’re toddler-proofing your furniture.

This involves making sure that there is no furniture that might topple over if the baby decides to try and use it to pull himself.

Lastly, Standing & Walking Alone

Next, babies need to learn how to stand without help. This can happen between 6-14 months, and this can really help the baby’s balance.

Balance is the key skill in helping baby gain the confidence to start walking on their own.

Again, don’t stress if your baby is just getting good at this skill a little after their 1^st birthday. It’s totally normal.

After the baby has learned how to stand on their own, the first steps will likely follow!

Your baby has an innate drive to become mobile, so as they are learning, it can be best to try and sit back while they explore their abilities.

Strategically placing toys just out of reach, calling them toward you from a few steps away, or asking them to go get something might be the little bit of motivation they need to take those first few steps.

When To Seek Support

If they aren’t standing on their own and attempting those first few steps by the time they’re 18 months old, it might be time to talk to a doctor and have them evaluated.

Some other possible signs that babies might need more support as they learn to walk is if they are walking lopsided.

If your baby is better at moving on one side than another, they might need some physical therapy.

Also, if your baby learns a skill but then loses it entirely, that would be another good reason to reach out to your pediatrician for support and to figure out what the next steps might be.

In Conclusion

Try not to stress too much as your baby goes through all of these stages.

Many parents expect that kids will breeze through each stage and move effortlessly on to the new one, but that’s almost never the case.

Setbacks, falls, and failures are all normal parts of development, and it can be hard to see babies stumble and fall, but they will get back up and on their feet.

Parent unleashes a whole new kind of stress.

People love to warn you about the impending changes saying things like “you just won’t understand until you have one of your own,” and, while it may seem cheesy, the sentiment is mostly true.

You don’t really understand the new heights that worry can reach or the depths of overwhelm until you’ve brought a child into this world and find yourself googling for a DIY saline solution to shoot up your child’s nose the first time they get a cold.

Most parents are concerned with their child’s development, with the proud few boasting that their baby is further along than most.

When it comes to language and speech, it’s important that your child is developing on par with the developmental markers.

It doesn’t mean that once your baby turns one, he will start speaking in full sentences, but there are different development steps and stages that parents should be aware of.

How Many Words Should An 8-Month-Old Baby Say

At eight months, babies are still babbling and mumbling most of the time and using non-verbal forms of communication even more.

An 8-month-old baby will learn to shake their head yes or no and may even point to their favorite stuffie at bedtime.

You might notice that your child repeats the same sounds and noises as they begin to mature.

Babies at this age might have learned one or two words like “mama” or “dada,” but they are still preparing for their big speaking debut.

The more that parents can associate objects with the words they encourage their baby to learn, the better off they will be down the line.

What To Look Out For

If you notice that your child doesn’t respond to sounds, music, or talking, that would certainly be a cause for concern at this age.

Babies will typically coo, mumble, and babble anywhere from 4 to 10 months before they start spitting out words that adults may be able to understand.

If you notice that your child doesn’t coo, babble, or attempt to make a lot of noises, it might be a good idea to discuss the things you notice with your pediatrician.

How Many Words Should A 12-Months-Old Baby Say

By this age, babies should have made a teensy progression into more understandable language.

Babies who are a year old should be interested in imitating speech sounds and will likely try speaking like their caregivers.

They will turn and look in the direction of a sound when they hear one.

Babies who are one year old will say a few words like “mom,” “dad,” “no,” and “uh-oh.”

These words are simple, one or two syllables, and may still be a little bit unclear to adults who don’t know your specific child.

Children at this age will know simple instructions like “come here” and will be able to recognize a few common words like “shoe” or “bed.”

What To Look Out For

Some babies may take a little bit longer to start making sense of the words they say.

If parents notice their child is lagging behind a bit, they might rush to the doctor without necessity.

Professionals agree that if babies can make sounds like “ba” or “da” and don’t suddenly lose the ability around this age, they will likely still progress.

Parents might start growing concerned if their child doesn’t seem interested in imitating their speech or sounds they make because those things are what helps children learn a language in the first place.

If children do not attempt speaking or do not seem otherwise interested in verbal communication at this age, I would highly recommend talking to a professional.

How Many Words Should An 18-Months-Old Baby Say

Children who are 18 months old should have much-improved language skills than they did six months prior, as this a huge time of development for most babies.

Children should be able to recognize the names of familiar people, objects, and body parts.

Parents should also be able to give their kids simple directions accompanied by a hand gesture or pointing, and their child should be able to understand.

Babies at this age can say as many as ten different words, but they might not be clear, and adults may still have a tough time understanding them.

What To Look Out For

Vocabulary builds slowly for children, and typically after they can say one word, they will try for more.

Nouns are easiest for children to learn because they don’t change in many contexts.

Children who are struggling to articulate words clearly might need a little bit of extra support from caregivers in the way of reading and speaking.

If you notice that your child is not speaking words clearly or making sense at all, it might be time for outside help.

Children at this age so are able to understand one-step instructions like “get the toy,” and if they can’t understand or execute the task, it could be a warning sign that your child needs professional support.

How Many Words Should A 24-Month-Old Baby Say

By the time children reach two years old, they will have made leaps and bounds in their speech and communication.

Two-year-olds should be able to understand simple commands and answer simple questions.

Children at this age might even start asking simple, two-word questions like, “go bye-bye?”. They will also be able to use simple phrases like “more snack.”

Kids at this age can string as many as four words together, though they don’t always make sense.

By the age of two, your child should know about 50 different words and speak well enough to be understood by adults.

Linguists call the period that precedes this by a few months (typically babies around 20 months old) have a language explosion where kids can learn up to 9 new words every day.

The new ability to speak by age 2 is partially responsible for the terrible-2’s that parents typically talk about. Now, kids are whining, crying, and talking non-stop.

What To Look Out For

Children at this stage listen to their parent’s every word in an attempt to imitate it.

If you notice that your child isn’t trying to use language to explain emotion, doesn’t try to imitate your words or language, and isn’t learning any new words over the span of days or weeks, it might be a red flag.

You don’t need to count every word that your toddler says in an attempt to keep track.

However, if you notice that your child isn’t talkative and doesn’t seem to be expanding their vocabulary over the span of a week or two, it would be best to talk to a professional for help.

In Conclusion

Babies will always progress at their own rate and on their own time.

Just because one child is advanced for their age doesn’t mean that they will end up being smarter or better than any other child.

However, if you’re concerned that your child is falling behind and nothing that you do seems to help, it’s okay to talk to your doctor or a speech professional to get help.

When it comes to speech and language, it’s important to intervene as early as possible if there is a delay.

This way, your child won’t miss important schooling milestones and will be able to catch up to peers before a gap gets too large.

Remember, there is no shame in asking for help. You’re a parent, after all, not superman!

Becoming a parent can feel like a daunting task. You’re not only worried about yourself anymore, but you’re also at the beckoned call of a small human.

You track and monitor everything from feedings and sleep schedules to make sure that you’re doing everything “right.” Or as “right” as anyone can.

A huge source of anxiety for new parents is the different developmental stages their children go through.

Because, let’s face it, no parent ever wants to hear that their child is “behind” in any capacity.

So, When Do Babies Start Talking?

Every child is different, and they should be treated as their own individual but, there are certain benchmarks it can be helpful to look out for to know if your baby is on track.

If they’re not, there is no need to worry.

By tracking your baby’s development, you can get help or support sooner rather than later, and it’s okay to acknowledge that children all operate on their own unique timeline.

For parents wanted to ensure their child is moving in the right direction with things like speech, it can be important to start monitoring your children’s speak regularly and checking to see where they fall when it comes to typical child development.

First, Your Baby Will Be Making Random Sounds (3-6 Months)

Newborns are known for making one sound and one sound only: crying.

It’s how they communicate everything from wet diapers, hunger, thirst, sleepiness, and just about every other emotion you can think of.

It isn’t until about three months old that they start cooing and making different cry sounds for different needs.

At the end of six months, they’ll be making an even wider range of sounds. You’ll hear your baby gurgling, babbling, and squeaking.

Babies at this age can even use the tone of their voice to express delight or displeasure and will move their eyes in the direction of different sounds.

They enjoy music and will notice that toys make sounds. And crying. Babies at this age still do cry for most things.

Then, Your Baby Will Start Mumbling (6-12 Months)

When babies reach one year old, you’ll notice that they may have expanded their vocabulary.

Some babies will be able to say basic words like “mama,” or “dada,” or “uh-oh”.

Children at this age might be mumbling a lot but not making much sense as they practice imitating speech sounds from the adults around them.

They can turn and look in the direction of noises and might begin to recognize common words but not be able to speak them until they’re a bit older.

Then, They’ll Start Talking Clearly (18-24 Months)

When a baby reaches 18 months, they will have gained considerable speaking skills and will begin to progress relatively quickly.

By this time, your child should be able to say as many as ten words.

Your baby will also be able to recognize the names of people and follow simple directions that are accompanied by gestures.

They can more clearly be understood at this age than in the previous milestone, which is great for parents.

When a baby has reached two years old, they should be talking even more clearly.

You might notice that your baby is able to string a few words together, such as “no juice” or “go nigh-night.”

Babies at this stage should know about 50 different words and speak well enough to be understood by most caregivers.

Two-year-old’s can also follow simple commands or answer simple yes-or-no questions.

It’s at this age when their language becomes clearer. Kids can express themselves better with their language, and it can generally be understood.

Finally, They’ll Start Talking Fluently (36-48 Months)

Children don’t really start speaking fluently until they reach four years old.

When they’re three, they’ll likely have words for almost everything, with about half the words they use being accurate.

This chatty stage that all children go through is key in their development because it’s when they’re learning to pronounce things correctly and are making stronger associations between words and their corresponding people, places, or things.

When children reach age four, typical preschool age, they should be able to string together sentences using five or more words.

But your child’s vocabulary might vary widely, and their pronunciation of words may still be wonky.

A preschooler can usually speak without repeating the same words and can understand two-step instructions.

Talking can still be improved upon at this age into five or six-years-old where children may still be learning how to string sentences together properly.

How To Improve Your Baby’s Talking Skills

Reading and singing songs are great interventions for parents who are worried about language skills.

• Books help children learn to speak, even if parents are the ones who are doing most of the reading.
• Reading helps children add words to their vocabulary, start to help them internalize grammar, and link words to their meaning through pictures.
• Singing songs together can also be a fun way to practice new words or phrases for your child to get comfortable speaking.

Simply talking to children can also help them to expand their vocabulary and learn how to pronounce words properly.

Mealtimes and bedtimes can be a great time for parents to sit and have undivided talk time with their little ones.

These are simple moments where you can talk and listen to your kids, which helps them internalize names, places, and words for different objects and show your child that you’re happy when they speak.

Practice things like counting, animal noises and names, and clapping hands.

Teach your child to repeat after you with your language and tie your words to a corresponding action, person, or object to help them practice and learn.

As a child gets older, they might mix words up or get words turned around; just know that all of those things are normal as they are attempting to learn.

Show them what your mouth looks like when you make different sounds, like how your lips touch when you make an “m” sound, and they will gain traction in no time!

Baby Speech Development Warning Signs

If your child isn’t talking much or only saying a few words without interest in communicating, it might be time to seek help.

A child who frequently pauses while speaking or struggles to get words out might be letting you know that something is wrong.

Speech delays can occur for a multitude of reasons, like hearing problems or developmental disorders.

Here are some things that are important to watch out for, especially if you have an inkling that your baby might not be developing on schedule.

• A 2-year-old who doesn’t copy actions and words.
• A 3-year-old that doesn’t speak in sentences or has very unclear speech (mumbling)
• A 4-year-old that doesn’t use “me” and “you” correctly
• A 4-year-old that doesn’t speak clearly (mumbles)
• A 4-year-old who can’t follow a two-step command
• A preschooler who drools when they mispronounce words
• A child with a history of ear infections in conjunction with language problems may have difficulty communicating due to hearing loss

In Conclusion

As with all things that have to do with baby, it’s important to keep a close eye on your child’s language abilities as they grow.

When it comes to speech and language, early intervention is critical.

The earlier a child is able to gain support for their language and speech issues, the more swiftly they can get the support that will help them throughout school and life.

Children grow so much in their first few months Earthside. Parents eagerly start tracking milestones because they all seem to fly by in the blink of an eye.

One of the first milestones that parents start noticing is their baby rolling over.

Rolling over is one of the easiest things for babies to do because it doesn’t require the same body control that sitting up does in the head and neck.

Not to mention the proprioception that sitting up requires as an infant.

Rolling over is typically where babies start learning how to control their head and their body for later development stages that come as they age.

So, When Do Babies Learn To Roll Over?

Babies start rolling over around four months old. They will start by rocking from side to side, the motion that is foundational for rolling over.

Your baby might look a little wiggly at first without much coordination, but after the baby spends some time rocking, they will inevitably learn how to flip themselves.

It’s common for babies to learn to roll over from their tummy to their back first before learning to roll from their back to their tummy.

Once your baby knows how to roll over, it may take a month or two of practice rolling over in one direction before they learn to roll in the other direction (tummy to back vs. back to tummy).

Once your baby has mastered rolloing, it will quickly turn into one of their favorite activities!

Make sure that he/she isn’t left high up on a changing table to the couch after they learn to roll themselves because they will want to wiggle all the time!

Struggling To Roll & What To Do About It

By the time babies are six months old, many of them have mastered the art of the roll and move on to different activities like crawling.

If you notice that your baby is struggling to roll over, there are some things to try with them to help develop their muscles and motor patterns necessary for this fundamental skill.

Tummy Time

There is a reason doctors prescribe tummy time to parents of newborns because it works!

Tummy Time is when parents let babies lay on their bellies for short periods of time.

Starting this practice as early as possible helps the baby build strength in her back, neck, and arms that they will need to roll over.

During your next tummy time, place a toy or your face just out of reach of baby and try to encourage them to come and get it/ you.

Babies who can’t roll certainly haven’t gained the ability to crawl yet, and many babies move on the floor by rolling.

If you can entice them to try and grab you or reach for the desired toy, they might begin rocking back and forth, which will soon lead to rolling over.

Side-Lying

Instead of placing your baby on their tummy, try placing them on their side. Take a towel or a soft blanket and roll it up so that it’s nice and long.

Place your baby on their side and put the rolled-up blanket behind their back.

Once the baby is in a comfortable position, put a book or favorite toy out a little distance away at eye level to encourage them to reach for it.

If your baby doesn’t seem interested in the book or toy, put your face where the toy was.

Smile and give them a little encouragement to see if they will reach out and start wiggling their way toward you and onto their tummy.

After your baby seems to get the hang of it, remove the towel and try to encourage them to roll over flat from their back.

Blanket

Another strategy that is similar to the others. If your baby is struggling to learn how to roll over, place them on a blanket flat on their back with a favorite toy just out of reach.

Entice the baby to the toy by shaking it, jiggling it, making it light up, and play music- whatever will catch your child’s attention.

As your baby shows an interest in the toy, grab the far side of the blanket and gently lift it no more than one inch off the ground.

Getting a small “boost” from the blanket might help your baby find some rolling over success and make them more apt to continue to practice.

Once the baby has built up the right muscles and movement pattern for rolling over, let them give it a try on their own!

Stop Swaddling

By the time baby is three months old, it’s time to move away from the nightly swaddle.

When babies first come home from the hospital, swaddling can be a useful tool to help relax and calm them to sleep.

However, once your baby is a bit older, a swaddle is no longer needed while they sleep and actually restricts their natural movement.

Babies experiment a lot while they sleep and in their cribs with things like rolling over, lifting their heads, and kicking their feet.

Being swaddled limits their range of motion and their ability to fully explore their movement.

What If Your Baby Doesn’t Roll Over At All?

There is a pretty wide timeline that professionals give for a baby’s first attempt at rolling over.

Some babies start the process as early as three months, while other babies are still working on the skill at six months.

Some babies skip rolling over altogether and go straight for things like sitting up and crawling.

Babies vary so differently in their development that it can be hard for parents to pinpoint where there is a problem.

Most experts agree that if the baby has learned to roll over but abruptly stops, to consult a doctor.

Additionally, if your baby is not rolling over at the 6-month mark, it is definitely important to bring it up to your pediatrician.

This becomes particularly urgent when parents aren’t noticing many attempts at other movements either.

When a baby suddenly stops performing a skill, it could be because they are learning a new skill entirely, and babies can only learn one skill at a time, so it might be nothing to worry about.

Other parents might want to be aware that if your baby is six months old and not rolling over and doesn’t seem interested in practicing any movement that it could mean that there is a developmental delay.

Getting to the root of the problem swiftly with a doctor by your side will help parents decide what the next steps would be, like physical therapy.

The sooner baby can get help, the easier their life will be, and the quicker baby will be back on the developmental track.