Newborn Development

Many parents, especially new ones, wonder if their child is "normal." A newborn's appearance and behavior seems to change so rapidly at times, that it is typical for a parent to ask questions including:

• Should my baby be doing that?
• Is his/her skin color okay?
• Is this normal or should I take my baby to the doctor?

All of these questions are very "normal" for parents. Think of your newborn as a "work in progress." She or he has an enormous amount of developing to do, plus the tremendous task of adjusting to life outside the uterus. As a result, you may be surprised or concerned about normal behaviors.

In this section, you'll learn what physicians consider "normal" for the appearance and behavior of a newborn. Each infant is different, however, so slight variations should be expected and not cause overdue concern. If you do have questions, however, please contact your physician.

Developmental Handouts (.pdf) - First Year

• Newborn
• 2-4 weeks
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 12 months

Additional developmental handouts

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