My daughter, Morgan, was 8 months old when she started saying her first word: ‘dada.’ My husband may have “won,” but seeing how happy it made him and knowing how proud we were eased the pain of losing. After all, ‘dada’ is much easier to pronounce than ‘mama.’

As much as my husband loved hearing his child say ‘dada,’ he knew she called everything ‘dada.’ It was all she could say, which made it a bit less meaningful. Even still, he didn’t waste a second bragging about our baby’s first word.

I was feeling a bit down, but hopeful, when a mere week later, she looked up at me during a diaper change and said ‘mama.’ The excitement of hearing those two syllables took over my body, and tears began to flow while my smile continued to widen.

I could tell it was more difficult for her to say, but she continued with her new word. It took curling both lips over her toothless gums to pronounce it correctly. She would drag out the second ‘ma’ to pronounce as “mamaaa-aaa,” in almost a whining/singing tone. But it was the most beautiful sound I ever heard.

After that day, it took weeks to hear ‘mama’ again, while ‘dada’ was bountiful. Yet in the rare occurrences that ‘mama’ was spoken, it was only while I was around and was directed at me. On the other hand, ‘dada’ referred to books, food, bath time: just name it.

At 13 months, Morgan’s personal dictionary has been filled with a few more first words, including hi, yes, yuck, and up. And with each new word, I always feel a sense of pride in knowing her language is developing, and she’s reaching this important baby milestone. However, I will always remember her identifying me as that ‘mama’ she’s been hearing about, and saying my name in the most loving way possible.

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When you’re a new mom, every day is a cause for celebration, but the days your child hits a new baby milestone call for extra jubilation (as well as bragging rights to friends and family!). From walking and talking to starting solids, here’s how to mark each of your little one’s accomplishments so you’ll remember it always.

First solid food
Starting solids (a baby milestone that many children hit at around four months) is a messy (and delicious!) adventure for your tot. To honor this big transition, post photos of her with her first foods -- whether it’s sticky bananas on her cheeks or orange squash in her hair -- to a photo sharing website. The colorful shots of your baby’s first meals won’t just be cute to look at; they will also provide a useful reminder of what food you fed your baby and when, as pediatricians recommend keeping track of this information to help identify allergies.

First tooth
Your child’s first baby teeth could poke through as early as 4 months or as late as 15 months. Whenever the initial pearly white does appear, document it with photos galore as well as a note in her baby book. But don’t stop there. Pack the family in the car and head to your nearest pharmacy to purchase your baby’s first infant training toothbrush. It may seem early to start brushing, but getting into the habit of cleaning her tiny tooth twice a day can help decrease the chance of cavities as your child gets older (ask your pediatrician about adding a bit of toothpaste when she’s about 2 years old).

First steps
The joy your new baby feels when she’s learning to walk is matched only by the pride you’ll experience as you watch her. While most tots begin to walk around their first birthday, the age range is as wide as 9 to 15 months. In addition to capturing your baby’s first wobbly walk on video, consider making a simple footprint frame to mark your baby’s walking milestone. Brush nontoxic, childproof paint onto your tot’s toes and then carefully stand her on a piece of sturdy paper. Date the page and have it professionally framed so you always remember her initial steps.

First word
Did she say “dada” or was she trying to say the dog’s name? Either way, you’ll probably hear her first word anywhere from 12 to 15 months, so keep the video camera rolling as much as possible and a journal and pen nearby to jot down what she says. If you can, keep a running tally of all the words she learns, both so you can report her ability at her well baby visits and as a keepsake in her baby book.

Missed one of your little one’s baby milestones? Try not to fret! Even if your husband got to serve pureed peaches for the first time or your babysitter saw the first wobbly step, there will still be more chances. Your sweet new baby will take many more steps and spoonfuls -- and the words will keep on flowing (the next one just might be “mama”!).

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If you’re like most new moms, you want your baby’s first birthday celebration to be magical. Sure, your new baby won’t remember the day, but luckily the pictures and videos you take will capture the moment forever. To make the party unique, incorporate birthday traditions from around the world into your festivities. These ideas will be fun for everyone involved -- including the birthday boy or girl.

Start the day with gifts. 
In some countries, parents place presents around their child’s bed at night. The birthday child gets to open the gifts as soon as he wakes up. Opening presents in the morning (even if you’re the one unwrapping the presents for your new baby) is a fun way to kick off the birthday celebrations.

Fly a flag.
In Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, parents hang the country’s flag outside their homes to recognize the birthday child’s big day. You can find birthday flags at most craft stores. Let it wave outside your home along with a few balloons to direct neighbors and friends to the birthday festivities.

Pop a piñata.
This Mexican-inspired birthday activity is a favorite of children everywhere. For this activity, blindfolded kids use a stick to whack away at a papier-mâché object until it bursts open, spilling candy and toys for kids to collect. If your child is too young for the game (and the candy), decorate the party with piñatas instead. They’ll add a fun pop of color to the celebration.

Slurp up some noodles.
In Asian communities, extra-long noodles are served at the birthday meal to symbolize the family’s hopes for the child’s long life. Noodles are the perfect finger food for your new baby, so serve some up in addition to your usual fare.

Make your child king or queen for the day.
The birthday child in Holland is honored with a specially decorated chair at the dining room table. Family members adorn the chair with flowers, streamers, and balloons, turning it into a special birthday throne. Do the same with a high chair on your baby’s first birthday -- it will look wonderful in photographs!

You can start your own family birthday traditions by incorporating some of these global baby games and activities. However you choose to celebrate, your baby’s first birthday will bring many smiles to you and your child and will be fun to look back on for years to come.

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From the moment you bring your baby home, you’re spending almost every precious moment with her. And even though it seems as if all she does is eat, sleep, and poop, changes are happening.

Here are some major motor development milestones -- movements that use large muscle groups -- and ways you can support your baby on her way to her next breakthrough.

Reaching
One of the earlier motor development milestones is reaching. Your little one will begin working on this between 4 and 7 months of age. In this time frame, you may see her reach for things with one hand and learn how to pass things between hands.

How you can help: Blow bubbles in your baby’s direction and encourage her to reach for them. Place favorite toys slightly out of reach.

Sitting
Many babies are able to sit with support at around 6 months of age, and may soon move on to sitting without support. (Some babies take longer -- don’t be alarmed if your baby needs a little more time to master this.)

How you can help: Give your baby supervised floor time to play every day, and she will follow her own pace. Once she can sit for a few moments without toppling over, introduce simple games like clapping or rolling a ball. Keep sessions short -- just a few minutes at a time, and always stay close to her. A C-shaped pillow (such as a breastfeeding pillow) can offer some light support.

Crawling
Crawling often happens between 7 and 10 months. Your little cruiser may have a unique style -- a crab-style crawl, for instance.

How you can help: Start tummy time at birth, letting her spend some time on her tummy every single day. Those toys you put slightly out of her grasp to encourage reaching? Move them just a little bit farther away. As she starts to propel herself forward, and move on her own, make sure that the space she explores is safe and supervised. You can also try placing a thin, rolled-up receiving blanket under your baby and demonstrate rocking back and forth on your hands and knees. Rocking is the jump-starter to crawling; before you know it, you’ll be chasing her all through the house!

Standing
At around 9 to 11 months, your baby may pull herself up to stand. At first, she'll only stay on her feet for a few seconds, holding onto something for support, before plopping down on her bottom. Gradually, she'll improve her muscle strength, balance, and coordination until she's able to stand unsupported.

How you can help: Be sure to give your baby unrestrained playtime on the floor every day. Limit time in seating devices, such as baby seats and bouncers. You can also demonstrate a push toy and let her watch other babies who can stand.

Reaching milestones is an important part of a baby’s life. It’s in these months that your baby develops the crucial skills and motions needed to master the later, complex skills of walking, running, jumping and everything else. Encourage and help your baby throughout by challenging her to do a little bit more each day – she’ll be walking and running before you know it!

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From the day he was born, your baby has been trying to communicate with you. That’s what all the crying, smiling, cooing, and babbling have been about. He’s saying, “I’m hungry,” “I’m sleepy,” “You make me happy,” and “I love you.” With each passing day, his communication skills improve. Sometime around your baby’s first birthday, he’ll probably come out with his first real word.

What’s more, speech development and social skills go hand in hand. Learning how to express his thoughts, wants, and needs will eventually help your child learn to connect with the people around him and become a sociable toddler. How can you support this amazing process?

•     Help your child find words. At 6 to 12 months, your baby isn’t ready to start talking yet, but when he puts forth a syllable, he’s making an attempt at words. So when he says, “ba,” help him out: “Are you looking for your ball? Do you want your bottle? Where did you put your book?” Speak slowly and enunciate clearly so he can hear the different sounds and connect them to what they mean.

•     Pay attention to your child’s nonverbal communications. Speech isn’t the only means of communication your baby will use. Between 8 and 12 months, he may start sending more and more nonverbal messages by pointing, gesturing, looking at what he wants, making faces, and even dancing. Grabbing a toy and banging it on the table may mean, “May I have your attention, please?” or “I’m so happy with my truck!” Whatever he does, take notice and respond.

•     Have conversations with your child. While you can’t expect your baby to talk back at this age, asking questions and waiting for a response teaches him the rhythm of conversation: You talk and I listen, then I talk and you listen. And don’t forget to respond when your little one cuts loose with baby babble. You may not understand his words, but it will encourage him to keep trying if you engage him.

•     Narrate your day. Tell your baby what you’re doing, ask him what he wants, and name what you’re seeing: “Let’s go find your blocks. Do you want the red one or the blue one? Oh, look! There’s your stuffed bear.” Rest assured that even though he can’t reply with words yet, he’s listening to and learning from everything you say.

•     Read to your child. Sharing books is an important way to support your baby’s early childhood development. It reinforces the power of words and helps your child move forward on the road to literacy, language, and learning.

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