I would like to share my baby’s guide book(Credits from Nestle). Parents can use this as your baby’s milestone checklist. By the way, some babies have different milestone especially if born prematurely. You can check with your pediatrician if the listing below is not your baby’s milestone.
My baby's guide book (credits to Nestle)
Physical Development:
– Your baby should be growing at a rate of approximately 30g (1oz) per day during the 1st month.
– Normally baby’s sleeping and walking hours are evenly distributed throughout the day, averaging 16 hours of sleep with brief awake, feeding periods.
Milestone checklist:
First Month:
Second Month
Immunization Checklist for the first two months: (Please note that there are combination vaccines right now such as 6 in 1 vaccine. It is advisable to ask your pediatrician) Make sure your baby gets the following vaccines within his first two months:
1. BCG- protects your baby against pulmonary tuberculosis.
2. Hepatitis B vaccine- protects your baby against diseases caused by hepatitis B virus such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.
3. DPT – combines vaccines against diptheria, pertussis and tetanus.
4. OPV/IPV – for protection against polio.
5. HiB vaccine- protects against pneumonia and meningitis.
6. PVC – as conjugate vaccine or polysaccharide against severe pneumonia, meningitis or ear infection.
7. Rotavirus – against the most common viral cause of sever gastroenteritis.
What to expect after injection:
While vaccines are safe, like any medicine they do sometimes cause reaction. Mostly these are mild “local” reactions (soreness or redness where the shot is given or a low-grade fever.
Newborn Screening
Newborn Screening is mandated by the government. This help determine the risks for certain diseases:
1. Congenital Hypothyroidism – test for thyroid deficiency that can lead to severe growth failure and permanent mental retardation.
2. Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia – test for most recessive diseases resulting from gene mutation that can affect the development of primary and secondary sexual characteristics.
3. Galactosemia – tests for the body’s ability to process the sugar galactose. Inability to process this sugar can lead to liver diseases, renal failure and even brain damage.
4. Phenylketonuria – tests for deficiency of the enzyme PAH in the body. The deficiency can lead to progressive mental retardation and seizures.
5. G6PD Deficiency – test for the levels of the enzyme G6PD in the body. This enzyme is essential in red blood cell metabolism. This can lead to bleeding, anemia, jaundice and even heart & lung failure.
Physical Development:
– Between 3 and 4 months of age, your baby’s rate of growth slows to approximately 20 g/day. By 4-6 months, his birth weight has doubled.
– By this time, your baby has already established a regular sleep-wake schedule. Total sleep requirements are approximately 14-16 hours in a day, with about 9-10 hours of sleep at night and 2 naps during the day.
MILESTONE CHECKLIST
Third Month
Fourth Month
Fifth Month
SIGNS that baby may not be developing on time:
– Poor head control by 3 months
– Does not smile at others by 3 months
– Fists still closed by 4 months
Immunization Checklist(Always ask advise from your pediatrician):
Make sure your baby gets the following vaccines within his 3rd to 5th month:
1. Hepatitis B vaccine
2. DPT
3. OPV/IPV
4. HiB vaccine
5. PVC
6. Rotavirus
(This is also the time baby will start on an important new journey: solid food! Be sure to start him on the right kind of food, with the right nutrition for his age.
Physical Development:
– Growth slows down (approximately 20g/day)
– Majority of babies can sleep for a 6-8 hr stretch by age 6 months
– Tooth eruption occurs, usually starting with the mandibular central incisors
Milestone Checklist:
6 Month
7 Month
8 Month
Signs that baby may not be developing on time:
– Does not turn towards sounds by 6 months
– Not laughing during play by 6 months
– Unable to hold objects by 7 months
– No eye contact
Immunization Checklist (Always ask advise from your pediatrician):
Make sure your baby gets the following vaccines within his 6th to 8th month
1. Hepatitis B vaccine (3rd dose)
2. Measles vaccine – may be given as early as 6 months if measles is endemic in the community (but usually 9 months)
Physical Development:
– By his 1st birthday, baby’s birth weight has tripled and his length has increased by 50%
– Personality really starts to blossom at this age. Babies may already start showing what their character is going to be like when they grow up.
Milestone Checklist
9th – 11th Month
12 Month (1 year)
Signs that baby may not be developing on time:
– Does not sit independently by 10 months
– Does not babble or use gestures by 12 months
Immunization checklist:
(Always ask advise from your pediatrician)
Make sure your baby gets the following vaccines within his 9th to 12th month:
– Measles vaccine (given by 9 months)
– Varicella/ Chickenpox vaccine – against chickenpox and its complications (given by 12 months)
