This Blog is about how to get holistic growth in kids while conquering the milestone, it also briefs about the timeline of development from 0 – 12months.
Milestone vs growth: what really matters?
In child growth milestone is used like markers, mean measuring our child progress on daily basis and by doing so unknowingly we shape are little ones according to our expectations. While raising your kids you must have heard this question: “has your child start talking? has your child start walking? Is his teeth start coming? These all question gives stress to the parents if their child little bit lags, they start thinking that their baby is behind of others but in reality, it’s not like that every child has own story of growth as God make everyone different.
Milestones are actually certain parameter on the basis of which child growth is judged. How are these parameters made? these are the rigid timelines based on population averages. Below is the suggested table showing growth of babies at different months.
Baby Growth chart from 0 -12 months
| 0 month | communicate through cries reacts on loud noise looks for the nipple of a breast or bottle to feed |
| 1 month | hearing is fully developed may respond to familiar sound |
| 2 month | begins to lift head during tummy time start smiling comfort by touch recognize your face |
| 3 months | opens and close hands follow moving objects with their eyes like to play with others |
| 4 months | may begin teething hold their head up unsupported start to chuckle |
| 5 months | start babbling start to differentiate between colors |
| 6 months | learn to sit up rolls from stomach to back reaches for toys and places them in their mouth love to see themselves in mirror |
| 7 months | like to drop things on floor start to copy sound and gestures finds partially hidden objects |
| 8 months | begins to crawl start to lean over to pick up toys |
| 9 months | sits up unassisted points at things responds to their name start to understand object permanence(durability) |
| 10 months | pick up the things develops separation anxiety |
| 11 months | crawl up stairs make sounds like speech |
| 12 months | pulls up to stand may start walking with help start calling ”mama” and ”dada” start gestures like waving and shaking heads start using brushes and cups correctly |
these tables are generally used to assess the growth of child by health workers, but these are flexible timetable don’t hold it heavily, but softly. it’s okay to stumble growth is never linear so be relaxed.
growth: it is blossoming into
The word ‘”blossoming” refers to the opening of flower, it is used metaphorically to suggest positive development and progress in your babies. As growth is subtle which leads to inner journey.
Cognitive Development Chart from 0-12 months
| emotional development | learns empathy, self-awareness and resilience |
| social learning | learn boundaries, cooperation and confidence |
| mental shifts | learns curiosity,focus,creative thinking |
| body awareness | learn coordination and self-awareness |
The above tabulated things don’t Fit in” monthly development trackers” for baby but matters more in long run.
Why Growth matters more than on time” achieving milestones”?
It is possible that one may speak later but express emotion clearly, another may walk early but take longer to adjust society. That doesn’t mean that they are growing different.
Here’s why prioritizing growth over strict milestone
- Foster patience: Prioritizing growth over milestone incorporate trust and patience in your child
- Emotional safety: Prioritizing growth over milestone promote emotional safety in kids, not a performance pressure.
- Acceptance: It encourages you to accept your child as they are, not just what is expected of them.
What if your child blooms a little later?
If your child isn’t hitting milestones “on time “, take a breath.it doesn’t mean something wrong.it simply means they are unfolding at their own pace. It is said late talkers can become brilliant storytellers’ late walkers often become graceful movers’ sensitive children may take longer to adapt but may grow into the most empathic and emotionally intelligent souls .
So, if your child blooms a little later know this :
They are still blooming. Still becoming. Still worthy of celebration. Growth isn’t a race, it’s a relationship
What you can do as a nurture warrior
- Celebrate small wins of your child that reflects your child’s effort
- Let go timelines that don’t fit your child
- Be present more than perfect your steady love is the greatest foundation for the growth of your child
Conclusion :
Milestone help us measure Growth helps us understand
At nurture warriors we believe that growth isn’t about keeping up, but it is about becoming. What really matters is how supported your child feel when they fall and try again
Share with us what part of your child inner growth has amused you recently in comments.