Children's development 0-1 years - the seven "leaps"

Becoming a parent means a thousand new things to learn, to relate to, and to try to understand. Even though you have had several months to prepare, the day, once it comes, can still feel surprising - you have become a parent, and life has changed, forever. So what happens during the baby's first period? Here you can read about children's development 0-1 years.

Children's development 0-1 yearsThe development of a child during the first year of life is incredible! The child not only learns to see, hear, feel, taste, but he also begins to understand what he sees, hears, feels and tastes. The development takes place in what is called "leaps", and during the first year there are no less than SEVEN such leaps. In short - a lot happens with children's development 0-1 years!What is important to remember, however, is that all children - all children - are different. Some children develop motor skills first and walk early, while others learn to talk earlier and walk a little later. It's easy to end up in front of the computer and google "when children learn to walk" to check how their child is doing, but never compare your child with another - be confident that your child develops at his or her own pace, just as it should . And if you are worried, there is very detailed information to read on: 1177.However, the seven leaps for a child's development 0-1 years are so general that they apply to the vast majority of children.

The seven stages of development

4-5 weeks

This is the first leap, and it can take a day or several days. The child, who has slept a lot during the very first time, and perhaps even for the most part had his eyes closed, is now starting to be more alert and his vision develops so that he can more easily focus his eyes on people and take things into his surroundings. The intestines and stomach have now begun to get used to having to take care of the food, and many children no longer vomit and belch as often.During this leap, the child can sometimes become a little extra sensitive and scream and sleep a little anxiously. It is best to continue to give the child as much closeness as possible. Feel free to continue with skin-to-skin.

8 weeks

This leap is about changes in brain activity, and can last from a few days to several weeks. When this leap takes over, the child has learned to smile, and is happy to do so often. The vision is developed so that the child can now take in the surroundings more and more, and distinguish shadows and light. It can also recognize shapes, patterns and structures.The changes in brain activity also mean that they learn better to control their movements and their body. They discover their fingers and toes, and understand that they belong to the body, and try to start using them consciously.

2 ½ - 3 months

The child begins to try to communicate with different sounds, and its movements begin even more smoothly. All the senses develop further, but in this step it is above all the vision that improves. The child can now follow things with his eyes, even from a distance. The ability to perceive sound improves, and the child can now perceive different tones, volume, and understand where a sound comes from. It often begins to experiment more with its own voice.You can promote your child's development by talking to him a lot, and showing him different things.

4 months

The fourth development leap is a slightly larger leap, and can last for up to six weeks. The child now begins to understand the world around them even more and investigates what happens when they do certain things. For example, it can reach for a toy, grab it, look at it, turn it over, and put it in your mouth for careful examination of how it tastes and feels. It communicates more and more with different sounds.This leap involves intense physical development. Some children can now turn from stomach to back and vice versa. Toys tend to be interesting during this leap, they can be made of different materials, which feel different in both hands and mouth.

6 months

This leap can also last for several weeks. Some children can now sit alone or with support. The child has now begun to perceive himself in relation to others, and learns that it is small and the outside world large. It can also be painfully aware of the distance between oneself and one's parents that can sometimes be perceived as frightening, and make the child a little anxious. It may therefore need a little more closeness, become a little more shy, and have difficulty sleeping.Do not be completely shocked if your child now understands when you say that the toy car is next to the bed - the child now understands concepts such as on, under, next to and in. It also begins to understand cause and effect. It is simply beginning to become more aware of how things work.Letting your child explore a kitchen drawer on their own is usually an appreciated activity.

9 months

This leap can last between three and six weeks, and often involves a great deal of physical achievement - the baby can move on its own! Some crawl, others eel or rush forward. The child understands words and feelings, and that the world consists of a lot of different things that can be divided into groups and categories. For example, it can be understood that a cat in a picture is the same as a cat walking past outside, even if the cat in the picture is pink and the one outside is black. The child simply starts to keep up!You can now give your child simple instructions and expect the child to understand and be able to do as you say. At the same time, the child is becoming more independent as it can now move from place A to place B on its own, and sometimes even get up against furniture. This new motor skill means that they can often dream a lot, sleep restlessly and need extra security.Blocks or things that can be taken apart are good tips, and singing moments with movements are often appreciated. The child likes to examine different types of textures, and this is often where the child's love of pressing buttons begins.

11 months, last jump

In this leap, some children begin to take their first staggering steps. Other children may have already started walking, and for some it will take a few more months. The child practices and improves all the skills he possesses. The language, the body and the awareness around oneself develop a lot. The child can now learn the course of events and understand what is connected. For example, that the pajamas are connected to sleeping, or that you start the washing machine by pressing the button.The child often points and tries to communicate what things are called. Although the words are often the same for several different things, the child is now well on his way to developing the language.Feel free to involve the child in everyday chores such as cleaning, washing or washing dishes - they like to be helped.If you want to read more in detail about children's development 0-1 years, you will find it here:

We parents - children's developmentBarnlandet - the child's first year

Get more information using apps

The development in children is (as I said) very individual, and the seven leaps can change places and occur a few weeks earlier or later than what the guide says. There are apps where you can follow your child's different developmental phases and get more information about each phase.Here you will find a guide to the 9 best apps right now!On psykologiguiden you can read even more about children's development.Here you can read more about children's development 1-2 year and speech difficulties.On our blog we have collected a lot of texts that have to do with children. Among other things, you can learn all about CPR for children, read about autism and adhd, and Get tips on what to do if your child suffers chicken-pox, constipation or somebody else childhood disease.You will also find recipes for good cakes and fancy dress you can easily do it yourself!