Your baby's first year, one guide at a time

Twelve months, a thousand questions. Here are the answers that matter most, each one built on what the AAP, the NHS and the CDC actually say.

Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026

In short

In the first year, three rules carry the most weight. Put your baby to sleep on their back, on a flat, firm surface of their own, in your room for at least the first 6 months (AAP). Offer breast milk or formula alone until solids start around 6 months (NHS). Follow development with the CDC checklists at 2, 4, 6 and 9 months and 1 year.

The first year at a glance

Area	What the guidance says	Source
Sleep position	On the back for every nap and every night	AAP
Sleep place	A flat, firm surface of the baby's own, in the parents' room for at least the first 6 months, never in the adult bed	AAP
Milk	Breast milk as the sole source of nutrition for about 6 months (AAP); first infant formula when you do not breastfeed (NHS)	AAP, NHS
Solid foods	Introduced around 6 months, alongside the usual milk	NHS
Development	Milestone checklists at 2, 4, 6 and 9 months, then 1 year	CDC

Each topic below has its own guide, with the tables, the step-by-step and the warning signs.

The newborn weeks

The first weeks are about feeding, sleeping, holding and learning your baby's signals. The newborn care guide covers the cord, diapers, jaundice and the signs that need a doctor. Getting ready? The newborn essentials checklist keeps the list short and safe, and the baby registry checklist sorts what you need now from what can wait.

How to bathe a newborn, step by step
Tummy time: how to start from the first days
Swaddling safely, and when to stop

Sleep

Sleep is where safety comes first. The safe sleep guide sets out the AAP, NHS and Lullaby Trust rules that lower the risk of SIDS. Then:

Baby sleep by age: total hours, naps and wake windows
Newborn sleep schedule: flexible sample days, not a rigid timetable
Sleep sacks and TOG ratings: what to dress your baby in for the room temperature
Sleep training: what the studies show, and when it makes sense

Whatever method you choose, it never changes the basics: back to sleep, own flat surface, nothing loose in the sleep space.

Crying, colic and teething

All babies cry, and crying usually peaks in the early weeks. The PURPLE crying guide explains the normal curve and gives you a plan for the hardest moments, and the colic guide explains what colic is and when it is something else. When the first tooth arrives, the teething guide lists what is safe, and what the FDA warns against.

Feeding and first foods

Starting solids: readiness signs and the first weeks
Baby-led weaning: what the trials found
Introducing allergens: peanut, egg and the others, early and regularly
Choking vs gagging: how to tell them apart, and what to do
First foods size chart: how to cut and serve each food by age

Development, month by month

The milestones by month page follows the CDC checklists, with the signs to act on early. The development month by month page tells the story behind them, with play ideas for each month.

When to call for help

Everyday questions: your pediatrician, family doctor or health visitor.
Urgent advice in the UK: NHS 111.
Emergency: 911 in the US, 999 in the UK, if your baby struggles to breathe, turns blue, cannot be woken or has a seizure.

Trust your instinct: you know your baby, and asking early is never a wasted call.

All baby guides

Newborn care: the first weeks, day by dayFeeding cues, diaper counts, cord stump, jaundice and fever: what is normal and when to call.Newborn essentials checklist: the short list that covers everythingThe true newborn essentials, with the safety features to check and the products to leave out.Baby registry checklist: what to ask for, stage by stageRegistry must-haves by age, the safety features to specify, and the products to keep off the list.Baby sleep by age: how much sleep your baby needs, month by monthHours of sleep per 24 hours by age, night stretches, naps and what changes around 4 months.Safe sleep for babies: the rules that lower the risk of SIDSBack to sleep, a firm flat bare crib, room sharing, the right temperature: the AAP 2022 and NHS rules in one checklist.Newborn sleep schedule: what a real day looks like (with flexible examples)How newborns sleep in the first weeks, two flexible example days and the day-night habits that help.Sleep training: methods, evidence and how to do it safelyGraduated extinction (Ferber), bedtime fading and gentle steps: what randomized trials found and how to start from 6 months.Swaddling: how to swaddle safely and when to stopStep-by-step swaddling, hip-healthy wrapping, overheating checks and when to stop swaddling.Sleep sacks and TOG ratings: how to choose and use a baby sleeping bagTOG explained, room temperature, fit by weight and the features that make a sleep sack safer.Colic: why some babies cry for hours, and how to get through itThe definition of colic, how long it lasts, soothing ideas that are worth trying and the remedies with no evidence.PURPLE crying: understanding the hardest weeks, and getting through themThe six letters of PURPLE, normal crying by age, soothing ideas, a step-by-step plan for when you are at your limit.How to bathe a newborn, step by stepSponge bath, first tub bath, water depth and temperature checks, how often, and the bath safety rules.Teething: the timeline, the real signs and safe reliefTooth eruption chart, true and false teething symptoms, safe soothing, and the products to avoid.Tummy time: how much, when, and how to make it funSupervised tummy time from day one: session lengths by age, positions, games, and flat-head prevention.Baby milestones by month: the CDC checklist, from 2 months to 3 yearsThe CDC milestone checklists at 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months, with the signs to act on early.Starting solids: when, how and what to offer firstThe right age, the three readiness signs, first foods and a week-by-week plan for starting solids.Baby development month by month, from birth to 12 monthsThe first year stage by stage: movement, communication, sleep needs and play ideas, with WHO motor windows.Baby-led weaning: how it works and what the research showsSelf-feeding from the first meal: what the BLISS trials found on choking and growth, first foods and safe shapes.Introducing allergens to your baby: when, how and why early helpsPeanut, egg and the other common allergens: the evidence for early introduction, a safe method and the signs to watch for.Choking vs gagging: how to tell the difference and what to doThe one-second test (loud or silent), the signs side by side, NHS first-aid steps for babies and infant CPR courses.First foods size chart: how to cut and serve food by ageShapes, textures and cut sizes for common first foods at each age, with the foods to hold back and why.

Questions parents ask

What matters most in a newborn's first weeks?

Safe sleep, feeding on demand and knowing the warning signs that mean a call to your pediatrician or health visitor. Start with our newborn care guide and the safe sleep checklist.

When does my baby start solid foods?

The NHS advises starting around 6 months, alongside breast milk or first infant formula. The AAP and European pediatric societies give a 4 to 6 month window; our starting solids guide sets out both positions and the readiness signs.

Which milestones should I watch in the first year?

The CDC publishes checklists for 2, 4, 6 and 9 months and 1 year. If your baby misses milestones or loses skills they had, talk to your pediatrician without waiting.

Who should I call if I am worried about my baby?

Your pediatrician, family doctor or health visitor for everyday questions; NHS 111 in the UK for urgent advice; 911 (US) or 999 (UK) if your baby has trouble breathing, is unresponsive or you think it is an emergency.

Sources

HealthyChildren.org (AAP) — How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe, AAP Policy Explained checked October 13, 2026
NHS — Weaning, introducing your baby to solid foods checked October 13, 2026
CDC — Learn the Signs. Act Early. Milestones checked October 13, 2026

Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.