During which age range will a baby begin to bring their hands to their mouth?
Your baby will grow and change rapidly during their first year. Every child is different, and your little one will reach development milestones at their own pace. There are some typical age ranges, though, when some of the most exciting advances happen. Watch -- and enjoy -- as your baby moves into each new phase. Show 1 to 3 MonthsAround 1 month after your baby is born, they'll still have jerky arm and leg movements and not much neck control. They'll probably keep their hands in a fist shape, and their eyes may cross from time to time. But there are also some new skills that are starting to show up. They can probably:
By the time your baby is 3 months old, you'll notice some other things going on. They may:
4 to 6 MonthsAs your baby closes in on the halfway point of their first year, they are no longer a newborn. Their movements will have more purpose, and their vision and speech skills will grow. They'll probably be able to:
At the halfway point of their first year, they should be able to: By 6 months, some babies can also: Your baby gets steadier as they grow. From 7 to 9 months, some master sitting up on their own and using their hands to pick up and move things. Others even walk by 9 months. Babies usually have full color vision by 7 months. Typically, at the end of 9 months, your baby may be able to: As your baby approaches 1 year, they can explore more of the world than ever before. They have learned new ways to communicate with you and others, and is getting more mobile every day. They can likely: There's a wide range of skills when it comes to sitting, crawling, and standing at this age. It's normal for a 1-year-old not to walk, but some do. On average, most 1-year-olds can: When it comes to reaching milestones, remember: Your baby is in charge. They'll cross the goal line when they are good and ready. If you have concerns about how your child is developing, check with your pediatrician. Some of the changes you may see as each month goes by: Age Gross Motor Skills Fine Motor Skills Language/ Cognitive Social 1 month Moves head from side to side when on stomach Strong grip Stares at hands and fingers Tracks movement with eyes 2 months Holds head and neck up briefly while on tummy Opens and closes hands Begins to play with fingers Smiles responsively 3 months Reaches and grabs at objects Grips objects in hands Coos Imitates you when you stick out your tongue 4 months Pushes up on arms when lying on tummy Grabs objects -- and gets them! Laughs out loud Enjoys play and may cry when playing stops 5 months Begins to roll over in one or the other direction Learns to transfer objects from one hand to the other Blows "raspberries" (spit bubbles) Reaches for Mommy or Daddy and cries if they're out of sight 6 months Rolls over both ways and sits with support Uses hands to "rake" small objects Babbles Recognizes familiar faces --caregivers and friends as well as family 7 months Moves around -- starts to crawl, scoot, or "army crawl" Learns to use thumb and fingers Babbles in a more complex way Responds to other people’s expressions of emotion 8 months Sits well without support Begins to clap hands Responds to familiar words, looks when you say her name Plays interactive games like peekaboo 9 months May try to climb/crawl up stairs Uses the pincer grasp Learns object permanence -- that something exists even if they can’t see it Is at the height of stranger anxiety 10 months Pulls up to stand Stacks and sorts toys Waves bye-bye or lifts up arms to communicate "up" Learns to understand cause and effect ("I cry, Mommy comes") 11 months Cruises, using furniture Turns pages while you read Says "Mama" or "Dada" for either parent Uses mealtime games (drops spoon, pushes food away) to test your reaction; expresses food preferences 12 months Stands unaided and may take first steps Helps while getting dressed (pushes hands into sleeves) Says an average of 2-3 words (in addition to "Mama" and "Dada") Plays imitative games such as pretending to use the phone
SOURCES: American Academy of Pediatrics: "Developmental Milestones: 1 Month," "Developmental Milestones: 3 Months," "Developmental Milestones: 7 Months." CDC: "Important Milestones: Your Baby By Two Months," "Important Milestones: Your Baby By Four Months," "Important Milestones: Your Baby By Six Months," "Important Milestones: Your Child By One Year." |