Baby milestones that really matter

You’ll cherish every new skill that your baby masters, but some are especially important. Read on to discover the key developments to watch out for in your little one. ..

No matter how laidback we try to be, we’re all secretly obsessed with our babies’ development. After all, it’s only natural to want to know your tot is hitting his targets and developing as well as his friends (competitive? Us?), and it’s easy to worry if your baby seems to be falling behind in some areas. To put your mind at rest, here’s our guide to the milestones that really matter, and when your little one should reach them.

1 Tracking a moving object

Babies have pretty poor eyesight at birth, but even newborns will gaze at your face while you feed them. Your little one’s ability to focus continues to develop over the coming months. “By six weeks your baby should be able to follow a moving object,” says M&B UK paediatrician Su Laurent. “It still needs to be quite close to him (about 20cm away) and brightly coloured enough to capture his attention, but it shows his sight is getting better,” she says. Problems focusing could indicate sight difficulties or a general developmental delay. “But most mums can tell if their baby seems to have problems seeing, so if you have concerns, speak to your doctor as soon as possible,” says Su.

2 Head control