 Your baby’s development from birth to two years
Your baby will change more during his first two years than at any other time,
developing from a helpless newborn to a walking, talking child with a personality all of
his own. During this time your baby will learn about the world around him mainly through
his senses; only towards the end of his first two years will he be able to use language to
help him or to think things through for himself. Your baby’s development is
determined partly by genes and temperament but there’s lots you can do to help him
along the way and to make using his newfound skills more rewarding.
Click on the age of your baby to find out more:
Babies learn by playing, so the more your baby plays, the faster he will learn, and the
more fun he will have. Even newborn babies play in their own way - looking and listening,
making small movements, learning the invaluable connection between crying and being fed.
But no matter how old your baby is, the best way to keep him happy and learning is to make
things fun. Remember that any toys you buy need to be age appropriate and safe - you'll
find more about this in our section on choosing
toys.
A word of warning about the developmental changes mentioned below: all babies follow
the same progressive pattern in their development, for example, all babies learn to walk
before they can run, but the pace at which babies move from stage to stage is entirely
individual. Your baby will learn at his own rate. This means that at best, comparisons
with other babies are pointless, and at worst distressing.
However, if you do have concerns about your baby’s development talk to your health
visitor. The sooner you voice your concerns, the sooner you will have some answers to your
worries.
Click on the age of your baby to find out more:
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