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.
My son waving is one of my favorite memories from his first year. These are awesome milestones. We always used Dreft!
i lovee this post. she is soo cute and that last photo is adorable. lol. #toocute.
How adorable! Some days I miss these older baby milestones. Now I have bigger kid ones!
My baby is 5 weeks. I have so many fun milestones to look forward to seeing! Right now I can’t wait to see her smile!
She is adorable! I love the last photo. I’ve also look forward to these milestones when my kids were little.
Those older baby milestones are some of the most special to me! Those are at the stage when the baby is turning into a real person!
I always thought the sitting thing was the most amazing. Walk around the corner and there they are sitting up. Just loved it.
These are all great milestones. I love when they first learn to crawl. It is so fun to watch them explore.
I loved it when the kids started waving to us. Crawling is a fun stage to as long as you baby proof.
I remember some of these older baby milestones. It always so fun to see babies do new things.
These are some great ones! I love the baby photos! The first words are so exciting!
I’m due with my son in 2 weeks…I loved these milestones with my daughter and cannot wait to experience them again with my son!
I can’t wait until my baby says her first word. To me, that’s the beginning of a whole world of communication and higher learning.
Oh she is way too cute. I love watching little ones grow, its amazing how fast they grow and quickly things change!
I loved all the milestones. That first wave… that first kiss… all so special. I miss those moments 🙂
Waving and clapping was one of the first milestones my nephew learned, before any of the others, perhaps even early on? He loved interaction and he figured out that waving and clapping got him attention, quick!
She is adorable!! It is so much fun to watch babies grow up and go through new stages.
She is too cute! I always loved the baby milestones. As they get older they get more fun and this is the first step to that!
Their first word is always one of my favorite moments! It’s such a bittersweet milestone, but aren’t they all?
You have some adorable pictures here!
Although I am not a parent, I have a sister-in-law who has four little boys and would absolutely love your article. I think I will forward this to her; I love your developmental list and overall article organization.
I never heard of Dreft before, but I will send this to my sister, or at least ask her about it as well – she has a 7yr old daughter who makes plenty of stains on her clothes!
It’s so amazing to watch them grow and do things for the first time, isn’t it? I miss my boys being that little.
Oh I love the wave and clap!!! So precious! I also love the blowing kisses!