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.
1 to 3 Months
Around 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:
- Bring their hands near their face
- Pay attention to people's faces over other objects
- Focus their eyes on things 8-12 inches away
- Turn their head from side to side while lying on their back
- Turn toward sounds and voices they recognize
- Smiles when you talk to or smile at them
- Reacts to loud noises
By the time your baby is 3 months old, you'll notice some other things going on. They may:
- Try to grab for and hold on to objects
- Put their hand in their mouth
- Stretch and kick while lying on their back
- Push down against a surface when their feet are placed on it
- Calm themselves occasionally by finding a hand or finger to suck on
- Coo or gurgle using mostly vowel sounds
- Focus on objects farther away than 12 inches
- Raise their head off the floor or push up their torso while lying on their stomach
4 to 6 Months
As 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:
- Smile at people
- Copy sounds they hear
- Use different cries to express different feelings [hunger, pain]
- Follow an object with their eyes
- Copy expressions on others' faces
- Reach for toys with one hand
- Roll from tummy to back and maintain control of head
- Makes sounds back when you talk to them
- Pushes up on their elbows or forearms when on their tummy
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:7 to 9 Months
10-12 Months
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."Show Sources
When can babies put their hands in their mouth?
What does it mean when babies bring hands in their mouth?