Having your first baby is so scary and no matter how many parenting books you have read, you can never be fully prepared. You are in for a lot of long nights and difficult days, but there are also some amazing things to look forward to.
Your baby will start growing from the day that they are born and they will have new experiences every single day. It’s a good idea to find a newborn photographer so you can catch all of these big moments and save those special memories. These are some of the biggest new baby milestones that you have to look forward to.
Their First Smile
Smiling is something that comes naturally to all of us, but we forget that it’s something that we learn as a baby. It’s their first social skill, and the first time you see them smile is an incredibly special moment. A baby cannot produce a social smile until they are around 6 to 12 weeks old. This is when their vision and their brain is developed enough to recognize something that makes them happy and give a physical response to it. Not only is your baby’s first smile incredibly cute, but it’s also a sign that they are developing emotionally and their personality is starting to shine through.
Cooing
For the first few months, you will hear nothing but cries from your baby, but eventually, they will start cooing. This is a huge moment because it is the first step in developing speech. Instead of crying, they begin trying to form sounds in response to your conversation. At this point, it is important that you encourage them by responding with similar cooing sounds and full sentences. It won’t be long before they start forming their first full words, and eventually, their first sentences.
Learning Their Name
When babies are first born, they respond to simple sounds. If you call out their name, they may respond to the sound, but they are not actually responding to their name. But after around 6 months, they will actually learn their own name and the first time you call out to them and they turn your head, it’s such a magical moment. You can encourage them to learn their own name by talking to them a lot and using their name often.
Their First Steps
This is one of the big milestones that every parent looks forward to, and you want to make sure that you have your photographer on standby for this moment. It’s so exciting seeing your baby stand for the first time and then take their first steps. It’s their first big experience of being independent and exploring the world on their own. However, it’s important that you make the house safe in time, so they can explore without any dangers. Make sure that you keep anything dangerous out of reach and cover any sharp corners so they can explore freely.
These are some of the big milestones that all new parents have to look forward to, but every single day is an adventure when you have a newborn.