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When to do what · a 2-year timeline

The right thing at the right time.

A single sheet of "which week does X start". Stick it on the fridge or the nursery wall — glance at it, don't memorise it. Vaccines follow the IAP schedule. Weeks assume a full-term baby (adjust for premature by corrected age).

safety vaccine feeding sleep development

Birth day & Week 1

Day 0 – Day 7
Day 0
vaxSkin-to-skin within the first hour. First breastfeed within the first hour. Confirm Vit K, BCG, Hep B dose 1 given.
Day 1–7
Sponge / wipe-down only — no bath until the umbilical cord stump falls off.
Day 1–7
feedFeed on demand 8–12× per day. Track wet + dirty nappies — target 6 wet by day 6.
Day 1–7
safeCheck for jaundice each morning in daylight. Yellow spreading below the chest → call same day.
Day 1–14
Keep cord stump clean and dry. No oil. Fold nappy below the cord so it air-dries.
By day 14
Baby should be back to birth weight. If not — call paediatrician.

Weeks 2–6 · Foundation

Day 8 – Week 6
Day 7–14
Cord stump falls off (up to day 21 is fine). First real bath once it's off.
Week 2
devStart tummy time — 1–2 min on your chest. Build to 30 min/day by week 7.
Week 3–4
Cluster feeds every evening are normal, not a supply issue.
Week 5
Leap 1 — expect extra fussiness. Skin-to-skin, dim room, respond fast.
Week 6
sleepStart the 4-step bedtime routine: dim → bath/wipe → feed → settle. Same order every night.
Week 6
vax6-week vaccines: DTwP · IPV · Hib · Hep B 2 · Rotavirus 1 · PCV 1. PPD screen for mother.
Week 6–8
feedIntroduce the bottle if breastfed — ideal window for acceptance. Too early risks nipple confusion; too late (past 10 wk) risks refusal.

Months 2–3 · Reward phase begins

Week 8 – Week 12
Week 8
devLeap 2 — first genuine social smile. Mirror it back, every time.
Week 10
vax10-week vaccines: DTwP · IPV · Hib · Rotavirus 2 · PCV 2.
Week 12
devFourth trimester ends. Melatonin production begins. Sleep starts to shift longer. First laugh possible.

Months 4–6 · Active parenting

Week 14 – Week 26
Week 14
vax14-week vaccines: DTwP · IPV · Hib · Hep B 3 · Rotavirus 3 · PCV 3.
Wk 16–18
sleep4-month "sleep regression" — actually permanent sleep-architecture maturation. Stay consistent 2–6 weeks.
First roll
safeStop swaddling immediately at the first sign of rolling. Switch to sleep sack.
Month 5
sleepEarliest sleep-training window — do not attempt before this age. Not during illness or leaps.
Month 6
feedStart solids — iron-rich first: dal, well-cooked egg yolk, soft meat, iron-fortified cereal.
Month 6
feedWater OK now — small amounts (up to 120 mL/day) with meals from an open or sippy cup. Not before 6 months.
Month 6
safeIntroduce allergens — peanut (smooth PB thinned), egg, fish. One at a time, mornings only. All 8 major allergens by 11 months.
Month 6
vax6-month vaccines: Influenza 1 · Hep A 1. Growth chart plotted.
Week 26
Leap 5 — stranger & separation anxiety begin. Consistent goodbye rituals; never sneak out.

Months 7–12 · Solids & motion

Month 7 – First birthday
Mo 6–10
safeFirst tooth arrives — wipe daily with a soft damp cloth. No fluoride toothpaste yet.
Month 7–8
Army crawl → hands-and-knees. Pincer grip develops. Complete baby-proofing now.
Week 37
Leap 6 — the "investigator" phase. Name everything.
Month 9
vax9-month vaccines: MMR 1 · OPV booster.
Mo 9–10
Cruising along furniture. First meaningful words emerging.
Week 46
Leap 7 — multi-step sequences. Stacking cups, nesting containers.
Month 12
devFirst steps possible. Normal range is 9–15 months — both extremes are fine. Refer only if not walking by 18 mo.
Month 12
feedSwitch to whole cow's milk (max 500 mL/day). Not before 12 months.
Month 12
vax12-month vaccines: Hep A 2 · Varicella 1. Year-one review.
Week 55
Leap 8 — planning & intention. First tantrums may appear.

Months 13–18 · Toddler emergence

Year 1 – 18 months
Mo 12+
safeFluoride toothpaste starts now — rice-grain size, twice a day.
Mo 12–18
feedBottle should be gone by 15–18 months. Drop one bottle every 5–7 days.
Mo 14–18
sleepNap transition 2 → 1 — typically. Expect 4–6 weeks of messy transition + earlier bedtime.
Mo 14+
devFirst tantrums. Acknowledge, hold the limit, wait it out, recover together. Don't reason mid-meltdown.
Month 15
vax15-month vaccines: MMR 2 · PCV booster · Varicella 2.
Mo 15–18
devLanguage explosion. Aim: 10–20 words by 18 months. Read aloud daily.
Mo 16–18
vaxVaccine boosters: DTwP · IPV · Hib · Hep A 2 (if not yet).
Mo 18+
safeScreens: none before 18 months except video calls. From 18–24 mo: co-viewed & short only.

Months 19–24 · The full toddler

18 – 24 months
By 16 mo
safeRefer for speech eval if no spoken words. Early intervention is highly effective.
Mo 18–30
Picky eating peaks. Division of responsibility: you decide what/when/where; child decides whether/how much. No bribes, no screens at the table.
Mo 22–30
Toilet-training readiness signs begin: dry 2+ hrs, predictable bowels, shows interest, can pull pants up/down. Start on signs, not a date.
By 24 mo
safeRefer for speech eval if no two-word combinations.
Month 24
vax2-year vaccines: Typhoid (TCV) · annual flu. Playschool decision typically in this window.