As a parent it is natural for you to worry about how your child is developing and you will find yourself comparing children of similar age to see how your child is progressing against their peer group. You should remember that children are unaware of what they should be doing and at what age they should be doing it.

From the moment they are born you are on a journey of discovery to get to know this new person and to understand their needs. As a parent you know your child best and will know if there is something wrong with your child that perhaps needs further investigation.

You will unconsciously stimulate all the areas of your child's development by giving them attention, playing with them, caring for them and nourishing them. Believe it or not the ways in which your baby will learn are very complex and as yet it is not fully understood. Babies are born with a natural inclination for learning, which makes them very receptive to stimulation. Babies are born wanting to make sense of the world around them and are very keen to learn.

The rate at which babies learn during the first three years of life is truly amazing. They learn to walk, to talk, and interact with others, to form relationships with a variety of people, to solve puzzles and to communicate their needs.

Recent research indicates that a baby's brain develops very rapidly and the stimulation and responses that the baby receives from those around them will actively promote this development. In fact this learning begins before birth and during the first three years of their life is when many of the important brain connections are made.

Child development takes place as a result of being active and involved, being allowed to explore and discover the world around them and having good interactions with others. It is often said that babies are the best mimics so we should make sure that the way we interact with them is positive and with an understanding of their individual needs.

Being a parent is a responsibility that requires a great variety of skills. You have been entrusted with the guidance of another's life. This requires flexibility, a willingness to adapt and the ability to act upon what you know about your child and what you come to understand about them as you get to know them rather than what you might expect because of your child's age.

Worry is a waste of energy so endeavour to worry less and enjoy the precious first few years of your child's life.