“Inchstones” in Baby’s First Year

The small achievements, or “inchstones,” during a baby’s first year lead up to the major milestones and are worth celebrating. These early successes help form their understanding of self and others. One inchstone to look forward to between 6-12 months of age is sharing attention. “The infant can read facial expressions and is looking to see if their parent’s expression is mirroring their own feelings about the object,” said Fadiyla Dopwell, M.D., a board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatrician at Pediatrix® Neonatology of Texas. “They’re also looking to see if their parent is seeing what they see and initiating a shared experience.” Consistent, loving responses are key to supporting a baby's development and milestones. “Praising a child’s attempt at behaviors that a parent models is always a good motivator and reinforcer of learned skills,” said Dr. Dopwell.

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