Dr. Komarovsky on the development of newborns and infants by month

Particularly in the early months, parents frequently have a plethora of questions regarding their infant’s development. Every milestone, from the first weeping to the first grin, can seem like a momentous occasion. Some of the anxiety that comes with raising a newborn can be reduced by knowing what to anticipate at each developmental stage.

A reputable pediatrician renowned for his down-to-earth guidance, Dr. Komarovsky provides insightful information on the month-by-month growth of newborns. His method focuses on educating parents about the normal developmental phases that their infant will experience and how to promote the physical and mental health of their child.

Based on recommendations from Dr. Komarovsky, this guide will walk you through every month of your baby’s first year, highlighting significant milestones and warning signs. Whether you’re wondering how your baby’s senses develop or when they’ll start sitting up, this summary offers clarity and comfort as you navigate parenting.

Month	Developmental Milestones
1 month	Starts focusing on faces, begins to recognize parents
2 months	Smiles at people, follows objects with eyes
3 months	Raises head when lying on tummy, coos, and makes sounds
4 months	Reaches for toys, holds head steady, responds to affection
5 months	Rolls over from tummy to back, begins to laugh
6 months	Sits with support, starts to babble
7 months	Responds to own name, can pass objects from one hand to another
8 months	Crawls, shows anxiety with strangers
9 months	Pulls to stand, picks up small objects with fingers
10 months	Cruises while holding furniture, says simple words like “mama”
11 months	Stands alone, tries to imitate words
12 months	Takes first steps, plays simple games like peek-a-boo

Newborn

Your baby is considered a newborn from the moment of birth until he reaches the age of 28 weeks. Four calendar weeks – this is the period allotted by nature for the formation of basic skills. During this period, the little person"s senses are improved, with the help of which he will study the world around him. For now, he sees only blurry spots of varying brightness; the newborn will learn to focus his vision later. Hearing is slightly reduced at birth, but already on the 3-4th day the baby begins to hear the world in the same way as adults do. He distinguishes tastes well (bitter, sweet, sour), the sense of touch is quite developed, so tactile contact is a very important element of learning about the world in the first weeks of independent life.

A newborn’s daily schedule during the first month of life greatly influences their future development. The way parents manage the baby’s diet, bathing, walks, and sleep will determine how robust and healthy the child grows. The infant only appears small and defenseless. His abilities are governed by nature, and contrary to what parents believe, he is quite capable. Up until the age of one month, a newborn exhibits unique reflexes that eventually become unnecessary as they get older. The primary reflexes are easily assessed by parents themselves:

Reflexive grasping. When you place your index finger near the baby’s palm, he will undoubtedly grasp it firmly.

Hug reaction. After placing the infant on a hard surface—such as a changing table—sharply strike the table’s surface with your palm. The baby will behave when he hugs like an adult would if there were a loud noise and vibration; he will bend back and spread his arms wide before bringing them back up to his chest.

Crawling reaction. The infant will automatically begin to move in the prone position in order to prepare for crawling.

Stepping response. Hold the infant vertically while placing him beneath your armpits. He will spring off with his legs if you gently place them on a hard surface. With his legs, the baby will take several "steps" forward if you tilt his body forward slightly.

Height and weight

In the first month of life, a child typically gains between 450 and 700 grams of weight and 1.5 to 2 centimeters of height, regardless of gender. Komarovsky argues that these parameters are highly individual, so you shouldn’t use them to compare your child to other people.

Recommendations

Parents should establish a clear daily routine and pay close attention to the baby’s reflex formation during the first month of life. The foundation of a newborn’s care should be the creation of ideal conditions for the immune system to develop (walks, cool water baths using the Komarovsky method, air temperatures no higher than 20 degrees, and air humidity levels between 50 and 70%).

1 month

The time of the newborn is over. The baby has somewhat less muscle tone, and their arms and legs move more erratically but less tightly. It’s healed, the umbilical wound. The child continues to sleep for 17 to 20 hours every day. The typical child at this age should be able to hold his head in a prone position for a brief period of time. The child’s vision is getting better; he can already focus for several seconds on a large, bright object that is motionless.

The baby’s emotional sphere is growing; he can already identify his mother by voice, touch, and scent, even though he cannot see her yet. However, he already knows how to show her how happy he is by scattering the handles and bending the back (a reflex of an embrace). The infant tries to mimic sounds for the first time.

Height and weight

Girls who weigh more than 3 kg at birth typically weigh between 4150 and 4400 grams at one month, and they stand 53–55 cm tall. Boys are 54–56 cm tall and weigh 4400–4900 grams.

Recommendations

Swimming and taking cool water baths are both beneficial at this age. Evgeny Komarovsky suggests moving the youngster into a spacious bathtub. If parents are hesitant to allow their one-month-old child to swim with some assistance, you can purchase a customized swimming ring. The child’s neck is comfortably fixed, and it allows them to swim and perform somersaults in the water.

2 months

The child looks completely different now; he no longer looks like an alien, his face has cute features, and overall, he has calmed down a lot. His movements are also less abrupt and erratic. Baby sleeps for roughly 19 hours every day. Sleep quality improves. The infant has the ability to focus his gaze on moving objects in addition to his mother’s movements throughout the apartment.

The infant holds its head for fifteen to twenty seconds while it is on its stomach. It will turn on your back if you place it on the side. In two months, many children start to deliberately smile from the bottom of their mouths at people they know well, like their parents. The peanut’s swaying vowels are amusing. He discovered that he could turn his head toward the source of the sound.

Height and weight

The average monthly growth and weight gain for a two-month-old baby is approximately 800 grams and 2 centimeters, respectively.

Recommendations

Keep a close eye on how skills are developing at this age. A two-month-old baby should be examined by specialists (pediatrician, neurologist, lorus) if he does not attempt to raise his head and hold it, does not react to sounds, and does not show emotion in response to his mother’s loving words.

Please refer to Dr. Komarovsky’s program regarding whether or not to drive a baby to swim in the pool.

3 months

A three-month-old baby’s body becomes plumper and some develop dimples on their cheeks due to the growth of subcutaneous fat, making them truly beautiful. Most likely, the infant already knows how to roll over from his back to his stomach and lean on his forearms. When he is on his stomach, he gets to his full height by leaning on his arms. When the child finds something interesting, he reaches for it and, if successful, pulls it into his mouth right away.

He can identify all the primary colors, and because his tactile perception is developing, he enjoys toys and fabric pieces that feel different to the touch.

Height and weight

An average person gains 800 grams of weight and 2.5 to 3 centimeters of height each month.

Recommendations

It’s time to experiment with rattles, rattles, and squeakers because the child will already perceive developmental games as games, meaning he will become interested in the game’s mechanics.

In order to strengthen the back, neck, and abdominal muscles, massage can be added to the daily, mandatory gymnastics program for physical development.

4 months

Certain unconditioned reflexes, like the Moro reflex, also known as the hug reflex, are gradually diminishing or have vanished entirely. Parents shouldn’t be alarmed by this because while the arms’ muscles are no longer toned, the legs might still be tense. Because of the fast development of the digestive system, many children at this age no longer experience the unpleasant and painful physiological phenomenon known as infant colic.

The infant actively coos, adds voiceless consonants to vowel sounds, voluntarily smiles, some even start laughing, and shows an interest in music, all signs that he is in desperate need of emotional communication.

The baby sleeps for approximately fifteen hours every day, and during his two hours of wakefulness, every moment counts. Make the most of this time by giving the baby a massage twice a day, going for walks with him at least twice a day, and engaging in developmental activities.

Weight and height

During the fourth month of its independent life, the baby should grow by approximately 2.5 centimeters in height and 700 grams in weight.

Recommendations

Four-month-old babies’ nails and hair start to grow at an unprecedented rate, so you’ll need to trim their nails more frequently to prevent injuries.

Additionally, Komarovsky suggests that parents should support their child’s individuality more frequently because at this age, he is already beginning to recognize himself as a unique individual and separate himself from his surroundings.

5 months

Communication that is emotional is highlighted. The child sings, coos, and babbles with great expressiveness. Smiling and laughing are already entirely conscious. Not every child can sit with a back support by the end of the fifth month, though some can. At this age, almost all babies learn a new, fascinating pastime: while lying on their backs, they can easily put their heels in their mouths and pull their legs up.

The infant exhibits strong conscious anxiety when his mother leaves the house for a brief period of time, yet he can recognize faces perfectly and can already distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar people. He also enjoys looking at himself in the mirror. The infant’s hand-eye coordination is nearly flawless; he can reach for an object with it, pick it up, and put it in his mouth right away. The infant can now play on their own for five to fifteen minutes at a time.

Height and weight

Using these indicators, a straightforward approach can assist in determining whether everything is in order: The birth weight of the child should be multiplied by two. After five months, you will receive the average weight. In the fifth month, there was a gain of roughly 700 grams. The baby grows three centimeters in height.

Recommendations

Komarovsky advises against making any dietary changes for the infant at this time.

The initial complementary foods may have been introduced for very valid reasons, such as insufficient breast milk, minimal weight gain (a pediatrician, not a concerned grandma), frequent tummy troubles, and frequent regurgitation.

6 months

Since the muscles grow quickly, many children can sit without assistance by the time they are six months old, and some even try their hand at crawling for the first time. Usually, the child gets very active, so you have to watch him closely. Saliva production rises, and many infants receive their first teeth, which are typically the lower incisors.

As the baby’s coordination improves, he can now effortlessly pick up an object that has fallen out of his hands in addition to reaching for an engaging toy. The toddler’s mental development is advancing rapidly; he can already create cause-and-effect relationships with objects, such as shaking a rattle to make it rattle, throwing something to make it fall, screaming to make mom come, screaming loudly to make mom come running, and so on.

The child responds to his own name with a smile, listens intently to spoken words, and becomes visibly animated, splattering his arms and legs. The infant attempts to associate distinct noises with syllables. Even though they don’t make much sense, the child finds great joy in him simply trying to publish new sound effects. A six-month-old infant fully comprehends the need to open its mouth wide during feeding if they are fed with a spoon.

Height and weight

The baby grows by 2 centimeters and gains over 600 grams of weight on average during the sixth month.

Recommendations

Parents shouldn’t make a six-month-old sit down if he hasn’t done so yet. In this instance, Komarovsky calls for encouraging crawling in every manner that he can. There are no exceptions to the rule that some kids learn to crawl before they learn to sit.

Watch the program to learn what factors to consider when a baby is crawling.

Parents must comprehend every stage of their child’s development. In this post, we explore Dr. Komarovsky’s professional advice on the month-by-month growth of newborns and infants. To help families support their child’s physical and emotional growth during the first year of life and ensure a healthy and happy start to life, we highlight important milestones and offer helpful advice.

7 months

Every day, the baby changes. He no longer appears to be a defenseless being; most infants of this age sit perfectly, many crawl, and some attempt to stand up while holding onto something. It’s interesting to note that a child who uses his left hand more frequently does not necessarily have a left-handed brain. This is because the right hemisphere of the brain develops more quickly than the left. The infant has highly developed vision; in addition to being able to follow moving objects, he can also tell them apart at various distances.

Through the use of objects, the baby actively explores his environment by shaking, turning over, tasting, throwing, and moving them. A seven-month-old baby can hold a bottle of water by himself, eats well with a spoon, and has already mastered using a mug.

Weight and height

The child gains two centimeters in height and 600 grams in weight on average during the seventh month.

Recommendations

At this age, special attention should be given to the development of speech. The infant can already combine sounds into syllables and use particular syllables in certain contexts.

It’s best to clearly name everything the child sees and to pronounce the names by syllables when they’re playing a game or going for a stroll. He will be able to refer to objects by their correct names more quickly in this way. Introduce coordinating foods in accordance with the timetable. A child this age no longer requires night feeding.

8 months

The infant can sit up and then lie back down from a laying position. Babies can typically roll over in a number of different directions at this age. Nearly all babies have mastered the ability to pick up small objects with their fingers, and some are even proficient at playing patty-cake (fine motor skills are developing). Children who are eight months old recognize themselves in pictures and the mirror with especially great joy. They already know how to remove the socks off of their feet.

At this age, babies start to cry if a blender or vacuum cleaner is turned on because they are afraid of loud noises. The infant is aware of praise. His goal is to become social; he reacts to other kids with energy and makes an effort to interact with them.

Height and weight

There is some slowdown in the growth rate. The baby grows by 1.5 centimeters in height and 500 grams on average during the eighth month.

Recommendations

It’s normal for an eight-month-old baby to not have teeth at this point; everything happens in its own time. Generally speaking, at this age, children’s developmental disparities widen. While some are just attempting to sit, others are already able to stand with assistance.

Komarovsky suggests considering the child’s uniqueness rather than comparing his development to statistical norms if the child is healthy and making good weight gain.

You can use his program to find out the doctor’s opinion on whether or not to use walkers.

9 months

The child is already confidently crawling. It also doesn’t really matter how he does it; crawling on all fours or lying on his stomach are both acceptable. The infant can sit, and some of them can even stand in the playpen while holding on to the sides quite well. The toddler already shows his preferences when he plays: he picks out a toy rather than the first one that comes to hand, tries to use two toys at once, knocks them against one another, and looks for other ways to use them.

The baby can learn the names of the body parts from you. He will be pleased to gesture toward them. Children at this age like watching their elders and attempting to mimic their behavior.

Height and weight

A child grows by 1.5 centimeters and gains, on average, 500 grams in a month.

Recommendations

The child is now quite active and inquisitive; he can start investigating furniture, chests of drawers, and drawers. This is the period of time when cuts, burns, hematomas, and bruises are more likely to occur. In addition to being more watchful, parents should keep all potentially harmful items out of their children’s reach.

10-11 months

The infant can start to walk at this time. Naturally, the first timid steps may occur later; this is not an unusual occurrence. The child can comply with basic parental requests, such as giving a ball or taking a spoon, and he fully comprehends appeals to himself. He can accurately detect and mimic the emotions and actions of others. While mental and emotional development take center stage, physical development falls into the background.

Speech is particularly dynamic during development. A baby is more likely to surprise his loved ones every day with a new word or a word that sounds similar if you read to him more and talk to him more frequently.

Height and weight

The tenth and eleventh months are when children gain 400–450 grams on average. Every month, height grows by 1.5 centimeters.

Recommendations

When parents check the development calendar, they will find more delays and advancements the older the baby gets.

The child has not yet begun to walk or speak in complete sentences, so the doctor advises you to be patient and not rush him. Furthermore, there’s no need to start dragging him to the doctor because of this.

Every child develops at their own pace, and it is crucial for parents to recognize and honor this, according to Dr. Komarovsky. Milestones can differ, and it’s usually okay to achieve them a few weeks apart.

You will be able to tell how much your baby can do each month by watching and interacting with them. Any little change is a sign of progress, from actions like holding up their head to recognition of faces and sounds.

The secret is to establish a welcoming atmosphere that promotes inquiry and education. As your baby progresses through each stage, have patience and show them lots of love and care.

Don’t be afraid to seek medical advice if you are worried about your baby’s development. Rely on your intuition and never forget that help is always accessible.

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