Developmental Guides (listed by age)
Welcome Baby’s newsletter, Welcome Words, discusses the milestones and challenges of each age. Welcome Words covers the changes in children and the concerns of parents at each age. They include specific information about Durham County. The newsletters are available bi-monthly until your child is age 1 and then twice per year until age 5.
Click on a newsletter title below to see the newsletter for the corresponding age group. (All are in PDF format.)
Prepare for Parenting
- Planning for the Emotional Roller-Coaster, p.1
- Bringing Baby Home, p.2
- What to Expect in the Beginning, p.2
- Suggested Reading, p.2
First month
- First Milestones, p.1
- Getting to Know Your Baby, p.1
- Feeding Your Baby, p.2
Second month
- Milestones, p.1
- Crying and Colic: Here's What Works, p.1
- When calling the doctor is a must, p.2
- Newborns & Sleep, p.2
- Forming a Partnership with Your Baby's Medical Provider, p. 2
- Suggested Reading, p.2
Third month
- Milestones, p.1
- The Rhythm of Routines, p.1
- Baby's Body Language, p.2
- Playing With Your Baby, p.2
- Suggested Reading, p.1
Fourth month
- Milestones, p.1
- Starting Solids: Now or Later?, p.1
- Making the Most of Siblings, p.2
- On the Safe Side, p.2
- Suggested Reading, p.1
Fifth month
- Milestones, p.1
- Baby's First Teeth, p.1
- The Unfamiliar Face, p.1
- Parents and Babies Together, p.2
- Safety Tips, p.2
- Games with Baby, p.2
- Suggested Reading, p.1
Sixth month
- Milestones, p.1
- Playthings for Babies: How Much Is Enough? p.1
- Balancing Baby, Work and You, p.2
- Baby on the Move, p.2
- Suggested Reading, p.1
Seventh month
- Milestones, p.1
- Keeping Mealtimes Safe, p.1
- Dreams of Sleep, p.2
- Working with a Caregiver, p.2
- Suggested Reading, p.1
Eighth month
- Milestones, p.1
- First Finger Foods, p.1
- Setting Limits for Babies, p.2
- Creeping and Crawling: How to Keep Your Baby Safe and Sound, p.2
- Suggested Reading, p.1
Ninth month
- Milestones, p.1
- Play Time is Learning Time, p.1
- Settling Into Parenting: The Ongoing Adjustment, p.1
- Safety and Your 9 Month Old, p.2
- Suggested Reading, p.1
Tenth month
- Milestones, p.1
- When Good-Bye Brings Tears, p.1
- What's Your Baby's Major?, p.2
- Toys for Your 10 Month Old, p.2
- Baby Talk, p.2
- Suggested Reading, p.1
Eleventh month
- Milestones, p.1
- Breast or Bottle: What About Weaning? p.1
- First Steps, Big Steps, p.2
- Using a Cup, p.2
- The Challenge of little Brothers and Sisters, p.2
- Suggested Reading, p.2
Twelfth month
- Milestones, p.1
- How Babies Learn Limits: Laying the Foundation for Discipline, p.1
- The First Birthday Party, p.2
- Fun with your One year Old, p.2
Twelve-18 months
- Milestones, p.1
- What's Happening Here?, p.1
- Tantrums, p.1
- What About Biting? p.2
- Tips for Encouraging Good Behavior, p.2
- Suggested Reading, p.2
18 months - 2 years
- Toddler Talk, p.1
- Toilet Training: Signs of Readiness, p.1
- Fears and Phobias, p.1
- At 24-Months - I:, p.2
- Childcare for Toddlers, p.2
- Suggested Reading, p.2
2 - 2 1/2 years
- Your Contradictory Child, p.1
- At 2-1/2, p.1
- Saying Good-bye to Diapers, p.2
- Taming Tantrums, p.2
- Moving to a Big Bed, p.2
2 1/2 - 3 years
- Limits You Can Live With, p.1
- At 3 years, p.1
- Enjoying Your 3-Year-Old, p.1
- Fantasy and Fun, p.2
- Keeping Sibling Peace, p.2
- Potty Patience, p.2
- Suggested Reading, p.1
3 - 3 1/2 years
- Starting Preschool, p.1
- At 3-1/2, p.1
- A Foundation for Learning, p.2
- Time to Reduce Stress, p.2
- Challenges times 3 (and a half!), p. 2
3 1/2 - 4 years
- Teaching Responsibility, p.1
- At 4, I am, p.1
- Making the Most of TV, p.1
- Playing Doctor, p.2
- Fabulous at Four, p.2
- Giving Up the Nap, p.2
- Suggested Reading, p.2
4 - 4 1/2 years
- Expecting Extremes from Your 4 year old, p.1
- At 4, I am, p.1
- Preschool Profanity %*!?&, p.2
- Lies and Learning to Wait, p.2
- Pre-School Skills, p. 2
4 1/2 - 5 years
- School Readiness, p.1
- Here and Now at Five, p.1
- Setting Limits: Less is More, p.2
- Bedwetting, p.2
- What About After-School? p.2