8 Older Baby Milestones to Look Forward To

This post is sponsored by Dreft. All opinions are my own. 

Brand new babies are so much fun. They just eat, sleep, and let you drink in their newness. Then they start smiling and laughing and just when you think they can’t get any cuter, they graduate from newborn milestones to older milestones.

After having three babies, I have realized that I love the older baby milestones even more than the newborn ones. I think it is because they share your excitement because they are old enough to understand that they are doing something new too. Here are a few of my favorites:

Returning To Sitting Position- Learning to sit on your own is cool and all, but when you figure out how to go from laying down to sitting all on your own, the world is your oyster! My little girl would get so frustrated when she would move from sitting to her stomach to get something, and then find she couldn’t get back! You could see how proud she was of herself when she figured it out.

Crawling- So many parents hate when their kids become mobile and into everything, but I just can’t be mad when I see that newfound independence in their eyes.

Turning the Pages in a Book- We are major book worms at our house, I start my kids on books when they are brand spanking new. The first time they reach out with their chubby, dimpled little fingers to turn the page of a board book, my heart just melts.

Learning to Wave and Clap- I think sometimes these milestones get missed and passed over, but they are some of the cutest! I love how once a baby starts clapping or waving they just can’t stop. Sometimes I pretend they are just cheering me on as I park the car or prepare their lunch.

Sign Language- Sign language has proven to be a huge help at our house. Since babies can’t speak, baby sign language is a great way to help them communicate their wants and needs. We start with our kids around 5-6 months, but they can’t sign back for quite some time. It can feel pointless and frustrating. Then all of a sudden they start signing back to you, their little brains are amazing!

First Word- What did your little munchkin say first? My oldest said, “Uh Oh!” and my little girl said “Mama!”. I can’t wait to hear what my youngest comes up with first, she seems to be trying really hard to say hi when she waves.

Drinking out of a Straw- For me this milestone is one of those that makes it seem like your baby is all grown up. Their little chubby cheeks work so hard to get the liquid up the tube. Too cute.

Favorite Foods- Eating solid foods is a whole new ball game. It is so much fun to see what kids like, and even more fun to see what they hate. Trying new foods always makes for the best faces (and the cutest messes). After three kids I have learned that in messy times I turn to Dreft.

Dreft Stage 1 is perfect for newborns and once those older baby milestones start rolling in you are ready for Dreft Stage 2 Active Baby Liquid Detergent which is specially designed with your developing baby in mind. That’s why it helps remove 99% of baby food stains and all the messes baby finds while crawling in grass and dirt. It is an absolute lifesaver. You can spend less time worrying about laundry and more time basking in all the new things your baby can do. Who knows, now that they can, they might even applaud your laundry victories.

Click here to learn more about Dreft.

What is your favorite older baby milestone?