WHAT IS HELP ME GROW?

Help Me Grow is a voluntary family support program for pregnant women or new parents. Offered in every county of the state through a well-established network, Help Me Grow is an evidence-based program that promotes healthy growth and development for babies and young children. Our home visitors are well-trained professionals who use a non-judgmental and compassionate approach that empowers parents with skills, tools and confidence to nurture the healthy growth of their children.

Help Me Grow believes all young children deserve the same opportunities to realize their full potential in life, regardless of economic, geographic, and demographic considerations. The parenting education and child development resources provided to families allows them to maximize this critical period of development in their child’s life, providing a foundation for lasting success.

When a parent schedules a home visit with Help Me Grow, they will have the opportunity to share to share their thoughts about parenting, ask questions, and receive reliable information based on their individual family needs or topics of interest. Topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Healthy Pregnancies
• Baby and Child Health
• Breastfeeding
• Nutrition
• Immunizations
• Child Growth and Development
• Discipline
•Toilet Training
• Child Safety
• Household Safety
• Local Resources

MILESTONES

By 3 Months:




Motor Skills

• Lift head when held at your shoulder


• Lift head and chest when lying on his/her stomach


• Turn head from side to side when lying on his/her stomach


• Follow a moving object or person with their eyes


• Often hold hands open or loosly fisted


• Grasp rattle when given to him/her


• Wiggle and kick with arms and legs




Sensory and Thinking Skills

• Turn head toward bright colors and lights


• Turn toward the sound of a human voice- recognize bottle or breast


• Respond to your shaking a rattle or bell




Language and Social Skills

• Make sounds, smile when smiled at


• Communicate hunger, fear, discomfort (through crying or facial expression)


• Usually quiet down at the sound of a soothing voice or when held


• Anticipate bring lifted


• React to "Peek-a-boo" games

By 6 Months:




Motor Skills

• When sitting with your assistance, holds head steady


• Reach for and grasp objects


• Play with his/her toes


• Help hold the bottle during feedings


• Explore by mouthing and banging objects


• Move toys from one hand to antoher


• Shake a rattle


• Pull up to a sitting position on her own if you grasp their hands


• Sit with only a little support


• Sit in a high chair


• Roll over


• Bounce when held in a standing position




Sensory and Thinking Skills

• Open his/her mouth for the spoon


• Imitate familiar actions you perform




Language and Social Skills

• Babble, making almost sing-song sounds


• Know familiar faces


• Laugh and squeal with delight


• Scream if annoyed


• Smile at themselves in a mirror

By 12 Months:




Motor Skills

• Drink from a cup with help


• Feed herself finger food like raisins or cheerios


• Grasp small objects by using her thumb and index or forefinger


• Use their first finger to poke or point


• Put small blocks in and take them out of a container


• Bang two blocks together


• Sit well without support


• Crawl on hands and knees


• Pull themselves up to stand or take steps holding onto furniture


• Stand alone momentarily


• Walk with one hand held


• Cooperate with dressing by offering a foot or an arm




Sensory and Thinking Skills

• Copy sounds and actions you make


• Respond to music with body motion


• Try to accomplish simple goals (seeing and then crawling to a toy)


• Look for an object they watched fall out of sight (such as a spoon that falls under the table)




Language and Social Skills

• Babble, but it sometimes "sounds like" talking


• Says their first word


• Recognize family members names


• Try to "talk" with you


• Respond to another's distress by showing distress or crying


• Show affection to familiar adults


• Show mild to severe anxiety at separation from parent


• Show apprehension about strangers


• Raise their arms when they want to be picked up


• Understand simple commands