Baby’s First Year: What’s Normal, What’s Not and When to Get Help
This article is the part of IBU's Ask-The-Expert series. It features expert insights from Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur's consultant paediatric neurologist Dr Poorani Anandakrishnan, on parents' biggest concerns during baby's first year of life.
“Is my baby developing normally?”
It is one of the biggest questions parents carry through their baby’s first year.
A milestone app says your baby should be doing one thing, another baby of the same age is already doing something else, and suddenly you find yourself analysing every movement.
Why does she always turn her head to one side? Why does he seem to prefer one hand? Is my little one growing alright?
The reassuring truth is that babies do not all develop according to one fixed timetable.
Development is flexible, individual and rarely a perfectly straight line.
But there are also certain patterns that deserve a conversation with your paediatrician.
For this Ask-The-Expert edition, we spoke to Dr Poorani Anandakrishnan, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist and General Paediatrician at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, about what parents should know during their baby’s first year.
1. "My baby hasn't achieved the milestone my app says she should have by now."
Milestone trackers can be useful. They help parents notice new skills and recognise when something may need attention.
The problem begins when every milestone is treated as an absolute deadline.
“Each baby grows at their own pace,” Dr Poorani explains. “Children’s development is highly flexible and non-linear.”
Some babies reach a skill earlier, while others take more time. A baby may even appear to skip a milestone altogether. What matters is not simply whether your baby has completed a particular action by a particular date, but the broader pattern of development.
Dr Poorani encourages parents to consider:
Is your baby becoming stronger over time?
Are their movements generally balanced and symmetrical?
Are their muscle tone, stability and balance progressing?
Are they continuing to learn new skills?
Milestone apps and checklists should help you make informed observations, not create more anxiety. If your baby is not meeting a milestone, has lost a skill they previously had or something simply does not feel right, bring your concern to their doctor.
2. "My baby seems to have forgotten a skill he has learned!"
A very young baby can sometimes appear to “forget” something they previously knew how to do.
According to Dr Poorani, this may be a temporary shift in focus while the baby works on developing a new skill. Development does not always happen neatly, with one ability added after another.
However, a persistent loss of an acquired skill is different.
If a baby stops doing something they could previously do, does not regain that ability and is not progressing towards new skills, this may be developmental regression.
Persistent regression is a red flag and should be discussed with a paediatrician. The key distinction is whether the change is brief and followed by continued development, or whether the lost ability does not return and progress appears to have stalled.
3. "My baby always turns to one side. Should I worry?"
A preference for turning the head to one side can be common in very young babies, particularly those under two months old, as their muscle tone and control are still developing.
Parents can gently encourage balanced movement by:
Alternating arms when carrying and feeding
Offering stimulation from both sides
Encouraging the baby to turn their head in both directions during supervised tummy time
Varying the direction the baby faces while lying safely on their back
Babies should always be placed on their backs to sleep. Tummy time should only take place while they are awake and supervised.
Speak to your paediatrician if:
Your baby’s head has become noticeably flattened on one side
Their neck appears stiff
They cannot comfortably turn their head in both directions
They appear to be in pain
These signs may need a closer assessment rather than a wait-and-see approach.
4. "My baby strongly prefers to use her left hand. Is it normal?"
It may sound like your baby is simply becoming left-handed or right-handed early, but Dr Poorani advises parents to pay attention to a strong hand preference before the age of 12 months.
During the first year, babies should generally explore and reach with both sides of their body.
Consistently relying on one hand while rarely using the other could point to an underlying motor, neurological or developmental issue.
This does not mean every moment of one-sided play is a cause for alarm. Look for a strong, persistent pattern. Schedule a doctor's visit if you repeatedly notice that your baby:
Reaches almost exclusively with one hand
Keeps one hand clenched or inactive
Moves one side less than the other
Appears weaker or stiffer on one side
A short video taken at home may also help your doctor see the movement you are concerned about.
5. "Is it okay to keep baby in his bouncer or car seat?"
Bouncers, rockers and car seats can be enormously useful, especially when a parent needs both hands free. But babies also need regular opportunities to move freely.
But Dr Poorani explains that spending too much time in supportive equipment can affect the development of a baby’s muscle tone, trunk stability and core strength.
This is sometimes referred to as “container syndrome.”
When a baby remains in one position for long periods, their movements are restricted. They have fewer opportunities to stretch, turn, reach, roll and strengthen the muscles they will later need for sitting, crawling and walking.
This does not mean parents must avoid baby equipment completely. The goal is balance.
Whenever practical, give your baby safe, supervised time on a firm surface where they can move freely.
Short sessions of tummy time, floor play and reaching for toys can all encourage more varied movement.
Car seats should be used for travel, not as a routine sleeping or resting place outside the car.
6. "My baby cries so much - could she be overstimulated?"
When a baby cries, the natural response is often to try doing more. More rocking, more talking, another person taking a turn, another toy or a change of scenery.
Sometimes, however, more stimulation is the problem.
In many families, several loving adults may be interacting with, carrying and entertaining the baby. Add bright lights, noise and constant activity, and a young baby can quickly become overwhelmed.
Signs of overstimulation may include:
Jerky or unsettled movements
Arching the back
Intense crankiness
Colic-like crying
Difficulty calming down
Staying awake even when tired
Struggling to settle for sleep
A baby who seems increasingly distressed may not need another activity. They may need less input, a quieter space and time to regulate.
Dr Poorani also reminds parents that some babies are naturally more sensitive or easily unsettled than others.
Fussiness can be closely linked to temperament, which is part of a child’s individual biological makeup. t is not necessarily a sign that you are doing something wrong.
7. "My newborn makes some really strange movements and sounds. Should I worry?"
Newborn babies can be surprisingly jerky, wiggly and dramatic.
Startle reflexes, brief limb jerks, arching and squirming movements can all be common during early infancy.
A baby’s nervous system and motor control are still developing, so their movements will not always look smooth or purposeful.
The more important question is what happens alongside the movement.
Dr Poorani advises parents to seek medical attention if:
The jerking continues even when you gently hold the affected limb
The movements are persistent or repetitive
Your baby’s breathing changes
Their face or lips change colour
They become unusually sleepy or difficult to rouse
They appear blank, unresponsive or unable to focus normally
These may indicate that the movement is not simply a normal newborn reflex.
8. "What is 'corrected age' when it comes to premature babies?"
Parents of premature babies may feel especially anxious when comparing their child’s progress with standard milestone timelines.
In these cases, development is usually assessed according to the baby’s corrected age.
For example, a baby born two months early may be six months old according to the calendar but developmentally assessed closer to four months.
Using their corrected age gives parents and healthcare professionals a more appropriate guide for evaluating the baby’s development, general health and cognitive progress.
Your paediatrician can help you calculate your baby’s corrected age and explain how long it should be used when tracking development.
Reminder: Look at the whole baby, not just the checklist
Your baby’s first year can feel like a constant cycle of watching, wondering and comparing.
Milestone guides can be helpful, but they cannot capture the full picture of an individual child. A baby’s development includes how they move, interact, respond, gain strength and build new skills over time.
Try to observe patterns rather than isolated moments.
And if something concerns you, you do not need to wait until you are certain that something is wrong. Speak to your paediatrician, share what you have noticed and, where helpful, bring a video of the movement or behaviour.
Sometimes the answer will be reassurance. Sometimes it will lead to earlier support. Both are valuable.
This article was created in collaboration with Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur as part of IBU Family's educational content series supporting parents through different stages of the parenting journey.
Comments