Infant Development - A Journey of The First 12 Weeks

Executive Summary by Michelle VanderHeide

Infants Development

It’s incredible how much children grow and develop in only a few weeks time. No wonder babies sleep so much given the amount they are learning each day! We would all have to sleep that much if we were processing and learning everything for the first time! Here are the notes about infant development for the first 12 weeks :

2 weeks old: You are growing so much! I just love to cuddle with you on the couch as you sleep, but it doesn’t happen often with two older sisters in the house. I treasure the time I spend with you in the middle of the night when the house is dark and quiet.

4 weeks old: You are starting to be awake more now. You are eating more, which is helping you sleep longer stretches at night. I can’t wait to see you smile for the first time.

6 weeks old: What a difference two weeks makes! You are now smiling, but it’s not without effort. It makes you very tired to figure out that beautiful facial expression. I’ll start talking to you with a smile, and you’ll respond with your lips out, then a kick, then your head turns to the side, then your arms flair out, then a yawn-and then, for one precious second, you’ll give me a smile while looking right at me.

8 weeks old: You smile all the time now! It’s amazing how easily the smile comes compared to two weeks ago. When your dad walks near you, your arms and legs start moving and a big beautiful smile radiates across your face. We can’t get enough of that beautiful smile, and yet already we are pushing for a little giggle. We love the beginning sounds of your giggle, and are anticipating you laughing soon.

10 weeks old: You have been nick-named ‘guy smiley,’ because anytime you see someone you give a big radiating smile. You are now giggling easily, and your sisters love to make you laugh. You are following a typical developmental path, as it’s already evident that you enjoy the dynamic world. What once made you giggle (other than tickles) is no longer as funny; we have to work harder or try something new. It’s amazing to me how you are already picking up on patterns in your life and anticipate the continuance of something you enjoy. Your dad was tickling you the other day, and when he would pause before he tickled you would giggle in anticipation.

12 weeks old: You are now visually scanning and tracking what’s in the environment all the time. You love to sit in your exersaucer and watch your sisters play, but you do get tired quickly in it as you are still developing head and neck strength. You like the black and white visual contrast, and are more interested in toys with faces than toys without. The baby babble is so cute!

If you are the parent of a child with autism, reading about the developmental progress I’m noticing in my infant development may be difficult for you. To me, this is one of the most important reasons to choose Relationship Development Intervention (RDI)® as your primary treatment approach. You will learn to guide your child to develop these critical developmental milestones that occur in the early months and years of life. You will receive guidance to understand your child’s development in a new way, and to begin building the foundations necessary for more advanced communication and relationships.

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