When you have a baby, one of the first things you look forward to is your baby’s milestones. From the first time they smile at you to the first time they crawl, every milestone they cross is a memory that will be etched in your heart forever. You might have read that your baby has to achieve certain milestones when they hit a certain age. For example, traditionally a baby rolls over by around six months of age. Some of them do it earlier than others (1). So, if your infant takes a while longer than others, you don’t have to panic instantly. Remember that every child is different and every baby takes their time to achieve their milestones. Either way, there will be a few milestones that stand out for mothers, and today, we are here to share them with you. We asked some of them to tell us which of their baby’s milestones were their favorite and we’ve curated a list for you. Keep reading to find out:
Eye Contact
“The first few months of motherhood felt quite unfulfilling to be honest (don’t judge me, I know it’s not just me who has felt this way). My baby barely recognized me and all my communication with him felt unreciprocated. It almost felt like I was talking to a wall because my baby did not respond to anything I said or did. But then, that day came! He held his head up and made eye contact with me. It felt as if my whole world was complete and I finally knew what every mother meant when they raved about their baby. I felt fulfilled.” – Catherine
Rolling Over
“Everyone told me how important tummy time is for my little one and I followed it religiously. What made things difficult was that my baby didn’t like it. She planted her face on the floor and bawled the whole time. Because of how much my baby didn’t like it, I didn’t like it either. There were days when I would just let her lie on her back because of how much it distressed her. Then one day, she turned over from her back to her tummy and then again back. She did it in one continuous momentum and I was so proud of my little gymnastic champion!” – Lauren
The Umbilical Stump Falling Off
“The umbilical cord care is something I took very seriously. I followed all my doctor’s instructions to the tee. Even after the umbilical cord is cut off, a tiny stump-like structure remains on the baby’s belly button. It requires utmost care because it has a high risk of infection. So, when my baby’s belly stump fell off, it was a good day. I was overjoyed that it came out without any complications and my baby did not have any infection.” – Brenda
Sense Of Humor
“Imagine realizing that my little one has an awesome sense of humor — it’s got to feel great! It was a random evening when I was sitting with my baby on the floor. My husband and I were playing a game of Ludo while watching my little one crawl around us. He let out a tiny fart. It was hilarious because of how faint a sound it produced but what was more funny was when he began laughing at his own fart. Seems like he has a great sense of humor because if he can laugh at himself, he can laugh at anything. Man, I love my baby and can’t wait for all the other astonishing things he is going to do when he grows up!” – Hailey
Holding Their Own Bottle
“Having twins is twice as hard — literally! When my little one held her bottle on her own, it was a total hallelujah moment! It felt great and I knew it’s going to make my life a lot easier. Now, I can be rest assured that mealtime will be less arduous. Another favorite milestone was when the twins figured out how to put their pacifier in their mouths all on their own.” – Jessica
First Teeth
“I spotted my baby’s first set of teeth and I was super excited! I even called up a few people to spread the happy news. I have no clue why seeing those tiny white pearls brought me so much joy!” – Hannah
Sleeping All Night
“There’s nothing more satisfying than your baby sleeping through the night. My husband and I finally got some shuteye after months of sleepless nights. It was going to be a great life from here on out.” – Norah
The First Walk
“ I know this is all too common and probably many parents have other more ornate moments they consider their favorite. But when I witnessed my baby take her first steps without any support, I just couldn’t stop my tears of happiness. And the beauty of the moment was that both my partner and I were present together when she took her first steps. We even got to capture it on my phone and no wonder I show it off to friends and family every chance I get.” – Tina
First Time He Called Me “Momma”
“ My baby had a bit of late blooming when it came to being able to say words. So the day when he said “momma” in between the gibberish that he would usually keep blabbering, it just caught me off guard. At first I thought it might be gibberish and I probably heard it wrong. But then he said it again. Nothing can come close to this beautiful moment in my heart.” – Tallulah Every parent waits for milestones, big and small, to celebrate them with their child. It’s a big deal to ignore and there’s nothing that can stop you from feeling like you’re on top of the world when your baby crosses a developmental milestone. Did these milestone memories make you nostalgic? Let us know in the comments below what your favorite baby milestone is!
