No two babies are exactly alike — each develops at a unique pace. While most babies reach milestones at similar ages, even healthy, normal babies may fall behind in some areas or speed ahead in others.

According to the March of Dimes Foundation, here’s what you might expect by the end of baby’s first month:

• brings hands to face
• makes tight fists
• makes jerky arm movements
• moves from one cheek to another while lying on stomach
• focuses on objects about 12 inches away
• prefers looking at human faces, black-and-white, and high-contrast patterns
• hears well, and recognize parents’ voices

Milestones are based on your baby’s due date, not birthday. Babies born prematurely — before 37 weeks of pregnancy — will likely achieve milestones later than the above guidelines predict. If you have concerns that your baby’s progress is lagging, consult the doctor.

My personal favorite milestone is baby’s first laugh. Share your favorite…

Read more about baby behavior at Baby body language: The basics 

Who doesn’t want their children to behave well? Margie Markarian figured that most people do so she wrote an aritcle, “Positive Parenting: How to Encourage Good Behavior,” for the latest issue of Heatlhy Children magazine. In the article, Markarian includes a list of discipline don’ts for parents when it comes to getting good behavior out of kids. Here’s a quick summary of Markarian’s big no-nos for moms and dads:

• No hitting or spanking–Using physical force shows kids that violence is an okay way to solve problems. Markarian, as well as many other experts, strongly oppose hitting kids.
• No labels–Calling a behavior bad is fine, but telling your son he’s a “bad boy” is no good for anyone.
• No unreasonable expectations–If you set the bar too high, you’re setting your child up for failure. Don’t expect perfect behavior from your daughter late in the afternoon when she hasn’t napped all day.
• No idle threats–Mean what you say and say what you mean. Kids learn quickly if moms and dads don’t follow through with their warnings or threats.
• Avoid inconsistencies–Don’t let the kids play you against your spouse or partner or co-parent.  Divide and conquer is bad here. Always present a united front.

Is your teen in real trouble or is she just being a teen? Rebellious. Uncommunicative. Sullen. According to Mark Burdick, a psychologist and educational consultant, these words desribe your typical teenager. But other behaviors can signal a more serious problem.

Dr. Burdick notes that certain actions or non-actions may indicate that your child is out of control and in need of help. Dr. Burdick cautions parents to watch for the follwing things:

• A decline in personal hygiene
• Loss of interest in usual activities
• A completely new set of friends

If parents notice these behaviors or other troubling signs, it might be time to get help. Dr. Burdick suggests that when you can no longer effectively parent, you need to turn to experts like therapists doctors and other professionals who can get you the help you need. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need to get your teen back from the brink.

According to a recent article on CNN, when kids self-sabotage, they often don’t do it intentionally. That is, they may act in a way that completely contradicts what they need or want. It might just be because they don’t know how to express this conflict between their feelings and their needs. Here’s a quick rundown of how parents can help:

• When kids are tired but wired, it actually means they need to get to bed sooner rather than later. Stick to a schedule with a solid bedtime routine to help kids’ bodies realize it’s time to hit the hay.
• If they’re hungry but won’t eat, it’s often because they don’t want to stop what they’re doing-especially if it’s tons of fun. Regardless, they need a set dinnertime, and even better, a set routine with the family eating meals together. They may resist at first, but experts claim that if the routine is predictable and dinner is not negotiable, kids will actually respond to this stability.
• When kids won’t join in on the fun-even if they really want to-they simply might be overwhelmed by the sights sounds and commotion or apprehensive about the new experience. Talk them through, step by step, what’s taking place. Prepare them ahead of time for anything new when possible. And reassure them along the way that everything is just fine. No need for long, drawn out explanations. Short and sweet communication works best here.
• If they’re being a brat to their best friend, it might just mean they don’t realize how their behavior affects others. Take them away from the action and bring them back after they’ve had a break. Some kids freak a little bit when other kids are around. It’s not that they don’t want to share or play, they may just be uncomfortable. If you can start the kids off on an activity, that can help ease the transition into the play time. And of course, if kids thrive best after naps or meals, that might be the right time to schedule playdates.