Watching babies reach different milestones can fill our eyes with wonder — that a child so new to the world can adapt and learn different ways of functioning so quickly. Within a baby’s first year of life, they learn the tastes of different foods, the ability to laugh and recognize when something is funny, and how to babble and form bits of speech.

When children begin to communicate from babbling to words, the progression can sometimes seem to sky-rocket. At one point your infant was only giggling in your lap, and now they're trying to form sentences and make jokes with you. Babies begin reaching speech development milestones as early as 1 years old. To help navigate and keep an eye on your child’s growth, here is all you need to know about early language development and your child.

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Autism awareness campaigns have done their job, and one of the first questions I hear from parents who have a child demonstrating delays is: Could he have autism? Parents know that autism is a much more common diagnosis today than it was in the past and that kids are being diagnosed early.

Just how early? Some local districts in my state do a comprehensive evaluation (including a school psychologist, speech pathologist, and social worker as part of the team) as early as 18 months, qualifying children for special education services under autism spectrum disorder. A pediatric neurologist is opening up an autism clinic in my town, welcoming kids as young as newborn. I have a new referral on my desk right now from a pediatrician who says the child is exhibiting signs of autism. The baby is 8 months old.

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Ankyloglossia, also known as tongue-tie, is sometimes the cause of a baby’s troubles with latching during breastfeeding. It’s a condition that occurs in 10% of newborns though it is more common in boys. Signs and symptoms can vary or may not be present at all making it difficult to diagnose. That’s why it’s helpful to be aware of exactly what is tongue tie in babies and how it presents. Read on to recognize the symptoms of tongue tie and learn how it’s treated.

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Having a baby during any month of the year is exciting news. And every month comes with its own perks for pregnancy and for welcoming a baby into the world. Some people enjoy being pregnant during the summer months where you can hang out by the pool and get away with wearing a bathing suit instead of real clothes. Others like the colder months of fall or winter to help counteract how hot we can feel while growing a baby.

Then, when the baby is born, science says some months bring different personality traits and perks. Also, there are some predictions that can be made on who they’re more likely to be based on a lot of science and data that’s not for sure but still fun to think about.

If you’re expecting a baby to be born in April, or you’re already parent to one, here are some interesting facts about April-born kiddos, according to science.

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There are few greater joys than hearing your baby’s first laugh. The way they smile and giggle is adorable beyond words. Not only is it the sweetest sound you’ve ever heard, but your baby’s first laugh is one of our favorite milestones. After all, when your baby starts laughing, it’s one of the first ways they start communicating with you.

Although it isn’t necessarily the first milestone that comes to mind in your baby’s development, today we’re going to talk all about this cherished experience. Like, when should we expect to hear that first cute chuckle? If you can’t get enough of those giggles, how can you encourage your baby to laugh? And if they haven’t hit that milestone yet, when should you talk to your provider about it?

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Infants have smooth skin, right? After all, the phrase “baby soft” had to come from somewhere. Well, not necessarily. Acne is actually common in newborns, and often starts soon after they’re born.

As mom Claire Swinarski told Mom.com, seeing little pimples on a baby’s face can be quite a surprise. “I thought we weren’t washing his face well enough, but it turns out that’s perfectly normal.”

So, take a deep breath, cuddle your little one, and read on to get the whole story about baby acne.

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Tummy time can help strengthen the head, shoulder, neck, and upper body muscles which will help your baby later on when they’re ready to crawl, reach and roll over. Here are some ways to ensure your baby receives the benefits of tummy time during these rapidly changing infant developmental stages and milestones

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Some babies — and therefore some parents — hate tummy time at first, while others are into it right away. Whatever the case for your little one, though, the goals are consistent: Keep your little one engaged and interested in tummy time — and do it in a safe and expert-approved way. Here’s everything you need to know about when to start tummy time and how to make it enjoyable for all.

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January is always exciting, and for parents who are welcoming a new baby this month, there’s a whole lot to look forward to. A new year means new goals and new dreams, and a new baby makes it that much more special. There’s some worry and stress that comes with welcoming a new human into the world, but there are definite perks to having a January baby.

If getting a potential glimpse into the life of your January baby is of interest, here are seven facts about babies born in the first month of the year that might shape who your baby becomes.

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One of the truths you’ll eventually figure out for yourself as a parent is that there are many valid ways to be a good one! (Although, sometimes, it feels as if other parents are constantly judging you if you don’t agree with them on their methods.) One of the numerous methods of parenting is called attachment parenting (AP).

So what is attachment parenting? In a nutshell, AP has the goal of creating a strong bond between child and parent by encouraging parents to respond consistently and lovingly to all of a baby’s needs.

We break down what practices AP consists of, and how it looks in the real world.

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