Understanding The Stages Of Newborns, Infants, And Toddlers

What occurs during the stages of newborn, infant, and toddlerhood? Does your child transition into toddlerhood even if they haven’t begun walking yet? If you’re feeling bewildered by the different terms used to describe your baby, you’re certainly not alone. Professionals often interchange these terms, prompting questions about when your newborn transitioned into an infant and if significant developmental milestones were potentially overlooked.

At its core, developmental refers to the ways in which a child grows, adapts, and matures, covering all aspects like physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development. Early development is typically categorized into three principal stages:

• Newborn (0-3 months)
• Infant (3-12 months)
• Toddler (1-3 years)

Understanding the developments that take place during the newborn, infant, and toddler phases is crucial, along with being aware of the milestones your child should reach. Let’s delve deeper into each of these stages.

What is the newborn stage?

In the first three months, your newborn will be referred to by various terms. Nurses may label them as newborns, social workers might call them infants, while you may simply refer to your new arrival as a baby. Most experts designate the term newborn for those under three months (12 weeks). Every child develops at their own pace, but during the first three months, you will witness some significant milestones. These include improved focus in vision, the ability to differentiate colors, and following objects with their eyes. They will respond to your voice and charm you with their adorable, gummy smile.

What is the infant age range and stage?

The term infant may also apply to newborns and continue until they celebrate their first birthday. Beyond the three-month mark, you’ll notice more movement in their hands and feet, with actions like waving, clapping, crawling, and eventually, taking their initial steps. You’ll see them start to grasp small items using the thumb and pointer finger (known as the pincer grip), particularly if you are trying baby-led weaning. Infants will begin to coo, babble, respond to music with movement, blow raspberries, explore their vocalization, and often produce their first words—usually ‘da da da’ and ‘ma ma ma,’ much to everyone’s joy.

During tummy time, they will start lifting their heads, which aids in muscle strengthening, another major developmental achievement, potentially leading to rolling over. This is a delightful period for infants as they discover more about their surroundings, their voices, and their physical capabilities.

What is the toddler age range?

Once your child celebrates their first birthday and begins to walk, they transition into toddlerhood, regardless of your emotional readiness. Many experts agree that toddler years start when they reach their first birthday and continue through age three, a period marked by rapid growth and development.

Your child is around one year old and has begun to take their initial steps. Generally, the toddler phase spans from 1 to 3-4 years of age, until just before they enter preschool. At this stage, children remain dependent on their caregivers but display a strong sense of curiosity and will achieve various milestones. These include the ability to follow basic instructions, sorting colors and shapes, forming simple words, improving their self-feeding skills, as well as engaging in activities like playing, running, and climbing (good luck keeping up with them!).

Newborn, Infant, and Toddler FAQs