After the NICU ~ Congratulations, you finally get to bring that bundle of joy home. Until now, the NICU has been a very intimidating place, while at the same time it offered great security for your child.Please click on childs hand icon to find a list of advice for when you finally bring baby home.
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES
Maureen Mulligan LaRossa, R.N.
Each child is an individual and will grow and develop at her own rate. However, broad guidelines for development can be helpful in understanding what is realistic to expect a child to accomplish by certain ages. If your child was born prematurely it is very important that you use her corrected age when looking at these milestones.
At birth a prematurely born baby's muscles and nervous system do not function at the same level as do a full-term infant's. It takes roughly forty weeks for all systems in an infant's body to be at the point of maturity we associate with a newborn. If a child is born early she will continue to develop as if she were still in the womb. Experiencing the world prematurely will not accelerate the normal progression of development. However, the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) environment and some of the complications of prematurity may have a significant effect on her developmental maturation.
TWO TO FIVE MONTHS
Remember to use your childs corrected age when comparing her accomplishments to a developmental chart! If your baby went home from the hospital in generally good health and is able to feed from breast or bottle you may expect that sometime from two to five months she will begin to:
~smile and coo.
~watch a persons face intently.
~follow people and objects with her eyes.
~laugh out loud.
~lift her head and chest when on her stomach.
~independently hold her head steady when pulled to sit.
~grasp a rattle placed in her hand.
~startle when she hears a loud sound.
SIX TO NINE MONTHS
~babble and begin to combine vowel consonant sounds. For example, "dadadada."
~turn to locate the source of a sound.
~respond to her name.
~roll over.
~move from sitting with support to sitting independently.
~transfer objects from hand to hand.
~support her weight on her feet when held in an upright position.
~use the thumb and fingers to pick up small objects (rather than using the whole hand in a raking motion).
~crawl (supporting her weight on her hands and knees rather than pulling herself along in a semi-lying position).
TEN TO TWELVE MONTHS
~carry out a simple action on verbal request. For example, wave "bye" when she hears the word. She no longer has to see someone wave first.
~purposefully say "mama" and/or "dada" as a greeting or to call a parent to her.
~play with an object with both hands while sitting independently.
~independently move herself across the floor to get a desired object.
~pull to stand and cruise holding onto furniture or an adults hand.
~pick up small objects with thumb and fingers.
~try to communicate by pointing or reaching for what she wants.
~turn the pages of a board or thick plastic book.
~visually and manually explore toys, revealing a growing curiosity.
~indicate recognition of familiar people by facial expression or by physically approaching the familiar person.
~use both hands equally well.
THIRTEEN TO EIGHTEEN MONTHS
~be able to scribble with a large crayon (if she can keep from putting it in her mouth).
~walk alone with heels flat on the floor.
~feed herself finger foods and begin to try to use a spoon.
~walk up stairs with one hand held.
~use a vocabulary of four to ten words.
~follow simple verbal directions to perform a single task. For example, "Give me the ball."
~coordinate the use of both hands well. For example, hold a container in one hand while putting something into it with the other.
~respond to her name.
~"talk" in long, jabbering sentences as if holding an understandable conversation with you.
~point to at least two pictures on request.
~use her thumb and first finger easily to pick up a very small object.
~throw a ball easily.
