Guide | From Birth to Age One: Key Stages of Baby Development
During their first year, babies grow and change rapidly. Every child is unique and reaches developmental milestones at their own pace. Even so, exciting advances often occur at typical ages. Parents can look forward to and enjoy each new stage.
1. 1 to 3 months
At about one month, a baby's arms and legs may still jerk, and neck control is limited. Their hands may remain clenched, and their eyes may occasionally cross. New skills also begin to emerge. They may:
Bring their hands near their face
Pay more attention to faces than other objects
Focus on objects 8-12 inches away
Turn their head from side to side while lying down
Turn toward familiar voices and sounds
Smile when you talk or smile at them
React to loud noises
By 3 months, you may notice other changes. They may:
Try to reach for and hold objects
Bring their hands to their mouth
Stretch and kick while lying down
Push down when their feet are placed on a surface
Sometimes self-soothe by sucking their fingers or hands
Coo, mainly using vowel sounds
Focus on objects more than 12 inches away
Lift their head or push up their upper body during tummy time
2. 4 to 6 months
As your baby approaches the middle of the first year, they are no longer a newborn. Their movements become more purposeful, and their vision and language skills develop. They may:
Smile at people
Copy sounds they hear
Use different cries to express different needs or feelings, such as hunger or pain
Track objects with their eyes
Copy other people's facial expressions
Reach for a toy with one hand
Roll from their stomach to their back and control their head
Respond with sounds when you talk to them
Push up on their elbows or forearms during tummy time
By 6 months, they should be able to:
Recognize when someone is a stranger
Show interest in their reflection
Play with others, especially their parents
Begin combining several sounds while babbling
Respond to their name
Put objects in their mouth
Reach for and hold toys
Move a toy from one hand to the other
Laugh aloud
Close their lips when they do not want food
By 6 months, some babies can also:
Roll in both directions
Begin sitting without support
Support their weight while standing
Rock back and forth on their hands and knees
3. 7 to 9 months
Babies become steadier as they grow. Between 7 and 9 months, some can sit independently and use their hands to pick up and move objects. Some babies even walk by 9 months. By 7 months, babies usually have full color vision.
By 9 months, your baby may:
Cling to you when strangers are nearby
Prefer certain toys
Understand the word "no"
Recognize their name
Play peekaboo
Reach for a toy that is farther away
Put things in their mouth
Use several facial expressions to show emotion
Make a range of sounds, such as "mamamama" or "babababa"
Sit independently
Pull themselves up to stand
Stand while holding on to something
Crawl
Raise both arms to be picked up
Look for dropped objects, such as a toy or spoon
Bang objects together
4. 10 to 12 months
As babies approach their first birthday, they can explore more of the world. They learn new ways to communicate and become more active each day. They may:
Bring you a toy or book to play with or read
Recognize when you are leaving and become upset
Use sounds or movements to get your attention
"Help" with dressing by putting their arms and legs into clothing
Use gestures to communicate, such as "no" and "bye-bye"
Say simple words such as "mama" or "uh-oh"
Copy words you say
Find objects hidden behind you
Clap and wave
Point
Follow simple directions
Drink from a cup
Pick up small objects, including finger foods, with their thumb and index finger
Sitting, crawling, and standing skills vary widely at this age. It is normal for a 1-year-old not to walk, although some do. On average, most 1-year-olds can:
Sit independently
Pull themselves up to stand
"Cruise" by moving while holding furniture or another support
Stand independently
Take a few steps
When considering milestones, remember that your baby is unique and will reach them at the right time.
Guide | From Birth to Age One: Key Stages of Baby Development
Guide | From Birth to Age One: Key Stages of Baby Development
During their first year, babies grow and change rapidly. Every child is unique and reaches developmental milestones at their own pace. Even so, exciting advances often occur at typical ages. Parents can look forward to and enjoy each new stage.
1. 1 to 3 months
At about one month, a baby's arms and legs may still jerk, and neck control is limited. Their hands may remain clenched, and their eyes may occasionally cross. New skills also begin to emerge. They may:
Bring their hands near their face
Pay more attention to faces than other objects
Focus on objects 8-12 inches away
Turn their head from side to side while lying down
Turn toward familiar voices and sounds
Smile when you talk or smile at them
React to loud noises
By 3 months, you may notice other changes. They may:
Try to reach for and hold objects
Bring their hands to their mouth
Stretch and kick while lying down
Push down when their feet are placed on a surface
Sometimes self-soothe by sucking their fingers or hands
Coo, mainly using vowel sounds
Focus on objects more than 12 inches away
Lift their head or push up their upper body during tummy time
2. 4 to 6 months
As your baby approaches the middle of the first year, they are no longer a newborn. Their movements become more purposeful, and their vision and language skills develop. They may:
Smile at people
Copy sounds they hear
Use different cries to express different needs or feelings, such as hunger or pain
Track objects with their eyes
Copy other people's facial expressions
Reach for a toy with one hand
Roll from their stomach to their back and control their head
Respond with sounds when you talk to them
Push up on their elbows or forearms during tummy time
By 6 months, they should be able to:
Recognize when someone is a stranger
Show interest in their reflection
Play with others, especially their parents
Begin combining several sounds while babbling
Respond to their name
Put objects in their mouth
Reach for and hold toys
Move a toy from one hand to the other
Laugh aloud
Close their lips when they do not want food
By 6 months, some babies can also:
Roll in both directions
Begin sitting without support
Support their weight while standing
Rock back and forth on their hands and knees
3. 7 to 9 months
Babies become steadier as they grow. Between 7 and 9 months, some can sit independently and use their hands to pick up and move objects. Some babies even walk by 9 months. By 7 months, babies usually have full color vision.
By 9 months, your baby may:
Cling to you when strangers are nearby
Prefer certain toys
Understand the word "no"
Recognize their name
Play peekaboo
Reach for a toy that is farther away
Put things in their mouth
Use several facial expressions to show emotion
Make a range of sounds, such as "mamamama" or "babababa"
Sit independently
Pull themselves up to stand
Stand while holding on to something
Crawl
Raise both arms to be picked up
Look for dropped objects, such as a toy or spoon
Bang objects together
4. 10 to 12 months
As babies approach their first birthday, they can explore more of the world. They learn new ways to communicate and become more active each day. They may:
Bring you a toy or book to play with or read
Recognize when you are leaving and become upset
Use sounds or movements to get your attention
"Help" with dressing by putting their arms and legs into clothing
Use gestures to communicate, such as "no" and "bye-bye"
Say simple words such as "mama" or "uh-oh"
Copy words you say
Find objects hidden behind you
Clap and wave
Point
Follow simple directions
Drink from a cup
Pick up small objects, including finger foods, with their thumb and index finger
Sitting, crawling, and standing skills vary widely at this age. It is normal for a 1-year-old not to walk, although some do. On average, most 1-year-olds can:
Sit independently
Pull themselves up to stand
"Cruise" by moving while holding furniture or another support
Stand independently
Take a few steps
When considering milestones, remember that your baby is unique and will reach them at the right time.
Source:
Collected online