Parent guides

Raising capable kids, one stage at a time

One guide for every stage from newborn to 18. Each covers what’s developing, what the research says, parenting techniques, what to teach, and activities to try, with the strength of the evidence behind each one.

The first year

Birth to 1 monthNewbornThe first month is about feeding, sleep, and getting to know each other. Here's what's developing, what the research actually shows, 16 simple activities, and answers to the questions new parents ask most.Read the guide · 16 min16 activities · 18 common questions
1 to 2 months1 monthMonth two brings real smiles, new sounds, and for many families the hardest stretch of crying. Here's what's developing, what the research shows about colic and sleep, and what actually helps.Read the guide · 14 min14 activities · 12 common questions
2 to 3 months2 monthsMonth three brings coos, chuckles, and hands that finally find each other. Here's what's developing, what to expect after the 2-month shots, what the research says about talk and sleep, and what helps.Read the guide · 26 min13 activities · 12 common questions
3 to 4 months3 monthsMonth four brings chuckles, hands that finally grab, and for some babies a first roll. Here's what's developing, what research actually says about the '4-month sleep regression,' and how to get everyone more rest.Read the guide · 18 min13 activities · 12 common questions
4 to 5 months4 monthsAround 4 months, babies start reaching for the world and putting all of it in their mouths. Here's what's developing, what research says about sleep training, early solids, and teething, and what actually helps.Read the guide · 17 min12 activities · 12 common questions
5 to 6 months5 monthsMonth six brings rolling, wobbly sitting, babble with the first consonants, and a lot of questions about food. Here's what's developing, what the research says about peanut, egg, teething, and baby walkers, and what actually helps.Read the guide · 17 min14 activities · 12 common questions
6 to 7 months6 monthsSix months brings first foods, first teeth for many babies, wobbly sitting, and babble that starts to sound like talk. Here's what's developing, what the research says about allergens and baby-led weaning, and what actually helps.Read the guide · 27 min11 activities · 11 common questions
7 months to 1 year7 to 12 monthsThe second half of the first year turns a sitting baby into a mover, a pointer, and maybe a walker. Here's what's developing, what the research says about crawling, babble, and new foods, and how to keep a mobile baby safe.Read the guide · 17 min14 activities · 12 common questions

Toddlers

Preschool

Early school years

Tweens

Teens

These guides summarize published research and guidance from groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, and the WHO. They’re for general education, not medical advice: your pediatrician knows your child, and every child develops on their own timeline. Every guide is also available as plain Markdown for AI assistants and other tools; see llms.txt.