Ages & Stages

First trimester (0-12 weeks)

As your body adjusts to your growing baby during the first 12 weeks, it will undergo many changes. You'll feel some discomfort but this should lessen as your pregnancy progresses.

Many women suffer nausea and morning sickness. The symptoms are usually worse in the morning, however you could feel nauseous at any time of the day. Eating plain biscuits or even a piece of chocolate the moment you wake up will raise your blood sugar level and may help prevent you feeling queasy.

For most women, morning sickness ends by the fourth month of pregnancy, when hormone levels begin to slightly decrease. If nausea and vomiting persist or prevent you from eating or drinking altogether, tell your doctor or midwife.

A pregnant woman may experience mood swings similar to premenstrual syndrome, caused by a surge in hormones.

Many women also find they're exhausted in the first trimester. This is normal, and is just your body's way of telling you you need more rest. Rest when you are tired, and try to get eight hours of sleep every night. Fatigue may be aggravated by an iron or protein deficiency, so eat plenty of healthy foods. Enjoy some gentle exercise, let others help you with chores and housework, and try not to subject yourself to poor quality air, poor lighting or noise.

Second trimester (13-28 weeks)

Pregnancy is often more enjoyable for many women during the second trimester (13-28 Weeks) as morning sickness, nausea and the initial discomfort tend to decrease.

Sleeping positions can take a bit of getting used to as your baby grows so you should cease sleeping on your back at this stage. Try sleeping on your left side, as this will relieve pressure on major blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the foetus.

You may be able to feel the movement of the foetus for the first time - typically by the end of the fifth month. Variation in timing, however, is normal, with women who have had a baby before likely to sense movement earlier. By the end of the seventh month, fluttering movements will normally give way to kicking and stronger movement.

Third trimester (29-36 weeks)

As your baby continues to grow, you should start thinking about and getting ready for the birth. Childbirth and breastfeeding classes are a great way to prepare. During this time, you may feel increasingly uncomfortable as you gain weight and false labour contractions begin.

A growing foetus radiates heat, so you will probably begin to feel hotter in the later stages of pregnancy. Your basal metabolic rate can increase to more than 20 percent above normal, so you may also perspire more than usual, especially at night.

1 month

Social

Recognises parents' voices.
May start to smile at faces.
Baby sleeps most of the time.
Much behaviour is automatic (reflexive).
Cries if under or overstimulated (for example, when hungry, uncomfortable, tired. Baby usually stops crying when picked up or spoken to calmly.)

Physical

Walking and standing reflexes apparent during the early weeks.
Baby has a sucking reflex, a rooting reflex (i.e. when cheek's touched, turns and attempts to suck).
Needs support to head.
Enjoys the touch of skin (Skin to skin contact can also assist with bonding and increasing breast milk supply).
Has large, jerky movements.

Visual

Can see a distance of about 15-20cm.
Can follow brightly coloured toy.
Will follow a face when moved slowly in front of baby.
Prefers looking at high contrast toys and objects.
Turns eyes towards light.
Can appear to be cross eyed at times.

Vocal/Auditory

May coo gently.
Enjoys being talked to.
Responds to voices.
Startled by sudden loud sounds.

2 months

Social

Responds to faces with smiles.
Personality traits start to emerge; baby starts to show emotions.
Becomes more alert and responsive.
Stops crying when picked up.
Accepts baths and dressing routines more happily.

Physical

Muscles relax more and (twitch less) not so jerky.
Opens hands more - may briefly hold small objects.
May lift head slightly when put on stomach.

Visual

Follows brightly coloured moving toy, held about 20 cm away.
Seeks visual stimulation, eg. from your face or a toy.
A defensive blink is present by 6-8 weeks.

Vocal/Auditory

Coos, squeals and gurgles.
Turns head toward sounds of nearby voices.

3 months

Social

Becoming very alert.
Moving head deliberately to look around.
Smiles at faces.
Eagerly anticipates the breast or bottle.
Fixes eyes on mother or carer feeding them.
Begins to react to similar situations, eg. Smiling at parent, coos and shows excited movements getting ready for the bath etc.
Responding happily to playful tickle and cuddle.
Distinguishes between parents and strangers.

Physical

When pulled gently to sit, holds head up.
When lying on stomach lifts head up.
Fully stretches arms and legs.
Waves hands together.
Can hold small objects for longer.
Can briefly bear weight when held on legs, sags at knees.

Visual

Visually very alert.
Holds toys but cannot coordinate hand and eyes.
Looks at own hands and plays happily.
Makes eye contact.
Likes detailed contrasting objects.

Vocal/Auditory

Sudden loud noises still distress them.
May begin laughing.
Makes different cries according to need.
Turns head to the sound source.
Makes longer sounds

3-6 months

Social

Still friendly with strangers, but does like a familiar face close by.
Learns that people and objects have names.
Makes gestures to communicate needs.
Enjoys social interaction.
When offered a toy, reaches for it immediately .

Physical

Raises head when lying on back.
Sits when propped up, and turns head side to side to look around.
Hold arms out when they want to be picked up.
Bears weight on legs and loves jumping up and down supported.
Can roll from tummy onto side to back.
When lying on stomach lifts head and chest well off the ground.
Learns about objects by tasting them.
Everything goes straight to the mouth.
Very interested in toys and small objects and reaches out for them.
May start transferring toy from hand to hand.
Enjoy their feet as well as hands in play.

Visual

Can see across a room by 6 months.
Lifts head 90 degrees to locate people.
Eyes move together.
Stares at interesting small objects.
Easily distracted.

Vocal/Auditory

Enjoys social interaction.
Turns immediately to a familiar voice in a room.
Starts using sing-song vowel sounds.
Changes mouth shape to change sounds.
Laughs when tickled.
Chuckles and squeals aloud in play.

Social

Baby displays varied moods - can throw body back and stiffen when annoyed, and can vocalise at the same time.
Often shy of strangers.
Likes their reflection.
Plays peek-a-boo.
Imitates hand clapping.
Likes to try and feed themselves with a spoon.

Physical

Can roll onto either side, back or front.
Often pull themselves up to stand and move around the furniture.
Picks up small things with thumb and forefinger.
Reaches accurately.
Can feed themselves and drink from a cup.
Starts moving on the floor by either rolling, wriggling on stomach or crawling.
Sits unsupported on the floor.

Visual

Carefully studies objects.
Can concentrate on one thing at a time.
Understands distance and relationship between objects.
Starts poking and pointing with index finger at things of interest.

Vocal/Auditory

Shouts to attract attention.
Experiments with sound volume and pitch.
Makes two-syllable sounds eg. Dad-dad, mam-mam.
Baby likes to babble.
Responds upon hearing their name.

Social

Explores environment by touch.
Loves being praised, 'good girl/boy'.
Enjoys repetitive and noisy games.
Enjoys sound making toys.
Plays 'pat-a-cake' (hand clapping games).
Waves 'bye-bye'.
Drinks well from a cup.
Attempts self-feeding.
Doesn't put objects in mouth as much.

Physical

Crawls well.
Can stand when supported.
Climbs on furniture.
Walks with support.
Enjoys self feeding.
Picks up small objects, using thumb and index finger, known as the 'pincer grasp'.

Visual

Points index finger at things they are interested in, eg. plane, dog, truck, bottle etc.
Enjoys looking at pictures, a great time to look at books regularly.
Repeats a range of sounds, babbles a lot when playing.
Speaks simple words.
Understands simple phrases and requests eg. may hand an object to an adult on request, or demonstrate the use of a hairbrush, or point at nose, belly, and eyes when asked.

1 - 1/2 years

Social

Enjoy pushing large toys around when standing.
Like throwing toys or objects to the floor and watching where they fall.
Very active, looking around and on the move constantly (therefore needs constant supervision as they have no sense of danger).
Enjoys praise from familiar adults.

Physical

By 18 months your baby should be walking by themselves.
Begin to feed themselves with a spoon.
They start removing loose clothing and begin to help when getting dressed and undressed.
They enjoy building towers with large bricks.
Walks up and down stairs with assistance.
Climbs up onto chairs.

Visual

Enjoys looking at simple picture books.
Enjoys scribbling.
Recognises familiar people at a distance.

Vocal/Auditory

Enjoys nursery rhymes and tries to join in.
By 18 months can usually say between 6-20 recognisable words (they understand many more).

1/2 - 2 years

Social

Beginning to notice the need to go to the toilet.
Content to play by themselves near a familiar adult.
Feeding themselves more competently, not as messy but easily distracted.
Follows carer around the house imitating domestic chores.
Plays contentedly near other children but not with them, this is known as 'parallel play'.
Likes 'make believe' type play with dolls, teddies and cars etc.

Physical

Learn to kick and throw a ball.
Enjoy scribbling with crayons.
Walk up and down stairs with little assistance, using a rail.
Sits on a tricycle and steers it but cannot peddle yet.

Visual

Holds pencil and scribbles.
Likes drawing circles.
Enjoys picture books, turning the pages and pointing at familiar objects.
Can build a tower of 6 or 7 blocks.

Vocal/Auditory

Uses 50 or more recognisable words.
By 2 years can usually put two words together.
Carries out simple instructions, go get your hat etc.
Can point to their body parts confidently eg. hair, eyes, mouth, tummy etc.
Loves joining in with nursery rhymes and songs.
Constantly talking to self during play.
Likes repeating words.

Social

Has a fear of separation.
May become negative.
May display strong emotions.
Plays tricks, exhibits a sense of humour.
Is possessive about toys.
Insists on routine.
Begins to play with other children.

Physical

Begins to ride a tricycle.
Can jump off a step.
Uses crayons to draw.
Uses different facial expressions for different emotions.

Visual

Copies parents' actions.

Vocal/Auditory

Explores use and effects of language.
Starts to use short sentences.
May stutter occasionally.