Every child is different and their development is as unique as they are.  These guidelines are meant as a general overview of milestones children achieve at specific ages.

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Your Baby Will:

• Begin to imitate facial expressions
• Begin to smile socially
• Focus at 8-12 inches
• Follow caregiver with their eyes
• Look for familiar faces
• Recognize sound
• Sleep about 16 hours a day, 4-6 hours at a time
• Smile at the sound of a parent's voice
• Turn head toward sound

Brain Development Tips

Interacting with your child is the best way to stimulate and develop your child’s brain.

• Feed your baby at least every 3-4 hours; breast milk is recommended.
• Hold your baby during feeding times and talk in a soothing and reassuring tone.
• Interact with your baby by talking, singing and reciting rhymes.
• Make reading part of your daily activity.
• Respond to your baby whenever he fusses or cries.  At this age there is no such thing as spoiling a child.
• Surround baby with books and read out loud.

Concerns

• Every child is different and they develop uniquely, too.
• These guidelines are meant as a general overview.
• Please contact your child's pediatrician if you have development concerns.
• You can also call the Minnesota Children With Special Health Needs (MCSHN) at 1-800-728-5420 or visit: www.health.state.mn.us

More

• Screenings and assessments—These can help you better understand and support your child's development.
• Resources—Find parenting and family tipsheets, game ideas, recipes, community resources and more.

Sources: Born Learning (www.bornlearning.org), Minnesota Early Childhood Indicators of Progress, American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org)