Baby’s First Year: A Checklist for New Parents
Your baby is finally here and there’s so much to look forward to in that first year! Here’s a handy checklist so you won’t forget a single milestone moment, plus tips to make life easier.
0-3 Months
[ ] Make appointment for baby’s newborn well checkup
[ ] If nursing, set up your breast pump and clean all parts
[ ] A tight-fitting sheet is the only thing your baby needs in a crib
[ ] Complete and submit the paperwork for baby’s Social Security card
[ ] Complete and submit the paperwork for baby’s birth certificate
[ ] Pursue CPR and first-aid training if you haven’t already
[ ] Carefully mind baby’s umbilical cord until it falls off
[ ] Start bathing baby in infant tub once cord is gone
[ ] If nursing, pump to establish a breast milk supply
[ ] Make appointment for baby’s 1-month well checkup
[ ] Send out baby announcements
[ ] Hire a babysitter, so you can enjoy some baby-free time to recharge
[ ] Line up child care if returning to work
[ ] Pull out age-appropriate developmental toys for baby
[ ] Join a parenting group
[ ] Consider creating a will and trust
[ ] Record baby’s first weeks in his/her baby book
[ ] Make appointment for baby’s 2-month well checkup
[ ] Give baby daily tummy time
[ ] Read daily to baby
[ ] Consider starting and keeping a journal for your child
[ ] Talk to your baby every day throughout the day
[ ] Talk and sing to baby, describing what you're doing and naming familiar objects
[ ] If returning to work, prepare baby’s supplies for daycare center or other child care provider
[ ] Stimulate baby’s senses with varied textures, objects and soft sounds
[ ] Imitate baby’s sounds and say them back
[ ] Play tracking games by moving your face and toys back and forth
[ ] Respond promptly to baby’s cries
[ ] Give baby plenty of tummy time while awake, but always put him on his back to sleep
[ ] Take 3-month photos
3-6 months
[ ] Schedule baby’s 4-month well checkup
[ ] Continue regular, daily tummy time for strengthening neck and shoulder muscles
[ ] Exchange laughs with your baby by making silly faces and playing peek-a-boo
[ ] Talk to your doctor about when and how to introduce your baby to solid foods
[ ] Dad: Get your share of time bonding with baby
[ ] Get down on the floor and play with your baby each day
[ ] Give bright-colored toys to hold
[ ] Set up your child’s college savings plan
[ ] If breast-feeding, continue to do so exclusively until at least 6 months, per guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics
[ ] Join a play group or mommy-and-me class
[ ] Start baby proofing your home, if you haven’t already
[ ] Take your baby for walks outside or at a local shopping center
[ ] Drop a noisy toy and let baby look for it
[ ] Place baby in front of an unbreakable mirror
[ ] Look at and read colorful books
[ ] Help baby learn to sit independently
[ ] Sing and talk to baby; play music
[ ] Work on establishing a routine for sleeping, feeding and playtime (like a warm bath at nighttime)
[ ] Schedule baby’s 6-month well checkup
[ ] Take 6-month photos
6-9 months
[ ] Encourage your baby to crawl with plenty of tummy time
[ ] Introduce touch-and-feel books to baby
[ ] Encourage baby pushups during tummy time by raising and lowering a rattle over baby’s head
[ ] Smile and laugh together; enjoy baby’s wonder at the world
[ ] Take baby places with you to increase comfort with others
[ ] Start brushing baby’s first teeth as soon as they appear with a wet cloth or gauze
[ ] If nursing, continue to do so while eating a healthy diet
[ ] Play with baby in sitting position
[ ] Help your baby learn to walk by having him/her “cruise” from furniture piece to furniture piece
[ ] For a fun game, ask baby: ‘How big is (child’s name)?’ Then lift his arms up into the air and say: ‘Sooooo big!’
[ ] Point out things of interest as you walk around, and tell her what you’re doing
[ ] Sing along with children’s music
[ ] Roll a ball to baby; every time she leans to reach a toy, she strengthens muscles
[ ] Play with large, bright-colored toys that make noise or have moving parts
[ ] Let baby imitate what you do with toys
[ ] Praise baby for accomplishments
[ ] Schedule baby’s 9-month well checkup
[ ] Take 9-month photos
9-12 months
[ ] Consider starting your baby in a parent-tot swim class
[ ] Build vocabulary by reading and naming people and objects in the environment
[ ] Begin planning first birthday party
[ ] Invite family to contribute to baby’s college savings account for a 1-year birthday present
[ ] Provide large toys that can be pushed to encourage walking
[ ] Introduce finger foods cut into tiny pieces
[ ] Regularly check floors and other areas of your home for small objects that could present a choking hazard
[ ] Encourage first words by repeating simple words like “mama” and “dada”
[ ] Save a lock of baby’s hair for the baby book
[ ] Start exploring: Go to the mall or the zoo
[ ] Provide picture books that he can thumb through
[ ] While playing peek-a-boo, let baby pry your hands away from your smiling face
[ ] Ask for behaviors that you want; for example, instead of saying “don’t stand,” say “time to sit”
[ ] Teach hot and cold through play
[ ] Point to and label simple objects at home and in books
[ ] Avoid television time until age 2, per AAP guidelines
[ ] A transition object (such as a blankie) may help decrease separation anxiety
[ ] Scrapbook baby’s first year photos and mementoes
[ ] Schedule 1-year well baby checkup
[ ] Take 1-year photos