Child development refers to the changes that occur as a child grows and develops in order to be physically healthy, mentally alert, emotionally sound, socially competent and ready to learn. When talking about normal development, it includes developing skills like using muscles to sit, stand, walk, run, etc., keeping balance, and changing positions; using hands to eat, draw, dress, play, write, and do other things; speaking, using body language and gestures, communicating, and understanding what others say; thinking skills, learning, understanding, problem-solving, reasoning, and remembering; interacting with others, having relationships with family, friends, and teachers, and cooperating.

What are developmental milestones?

Developmental milestones are a set of functional skills or age-specific tasks that most children do at a certain age. The pediatrician uses milestones to check how the child is developing. Each milestone has a specific age level.

The first five years of a child's life are vital. These years shapes children's future health, happiness, growth, development and learning at school, in the family and community, and in life.

The first five years are also important for the development of the child's brain, and the first three years are the most critical in building the child's brain architecture. Children learn more quickly during their early years than at any other time in life. They need nurturing to develop a sense of trust and security that turns into confidence as they grow. Babies and children grow, learn and develop rapidly when they get proper love and affection, attention, nutritious meals and good health care.

In many cases, early childhood programmes support parents and their children from infancy through age 8, which includes the important transition from home to school. Children have the right to grow up in an environment in which they are able to reach their full potential in life.

It is the responsibility of parents and family members to ensure that these rights are respected, protected and fulfilled. Every child is unique in his or her own way.

As a newborn baby grows and develops, there are various child development stages and milestones that they go through.

1-4 Months

• In this stage children have an average length of 50.8 - 68.6 cm, with a growth rate of about 2.54 cm per month.
• The average weight is .7.9 – 16 lb.
• The baby breathes using the abdominal muscles.
• The baby's eyes begin to move in unison with each other.
• The baby grasps things with the entire hand.
• This stage is also marked by random and uncoordinated movements.

4-8 Months

• In this stage the baby's average length is 69.8 – 73.7 cm with a growth rate of 1.3 cm per month.
• The weight gain rate is about one lb per month.
• Teeth begin to appear.
• Baby fat becomes visible on the thighs, arms, and neck.
• The true color of the eyes appears.
• The baby starts using finger and thumb to pick up objects.
• The baby develops the tendency to put things in mouth.

8-12 Months

• In this stage of child development babies achieve one and half times the length at birth.
• The average weight is 21.12 lb.
• Baby fat continues to develop on the body.
• Both eyes function in unison and the child is able to see objects that are15 to 20 feet away.
• The child learns to balance things in a pile.
• At this stage babies also starts trying to stand.
• The child also starts crawling using their hands.