Baby's developmental milestones for the first year

During the first year of life your baby responds best to a warm, loving environment. Holding your baby and responding to their cries are essential in building a strong, healthy bond. Remember, you can’t “spoil” a baby.

Use these guidelines to offer age-appropriate activities for your baby. Remember, these are just guidelines, and a healthy child may achieve a milestone later than average. If your child is lagging in several areas, contact your pediatrician for advice.

By the end of month one a baby typically:

• Lifts head for short periods of time
• Moves head from side to side
• Prefers the human face to other shapes
• Makes jerky, arm movements
• Brings hands to face
• Has strong reflex movements
• Can focus on items 8 to 12 inches away
• May turn towards familiar sounds or voices
• Responds to loud sounds
• Blinks at bright lights

• Smiles
• Tracks objects with his eyes
• Makes noises other than crying
• May repeat vowel noises, such as "ah" or "ooh"

By the end of month three a baby typically:

• Raises head and chest when put on tummy
• Lifts head up 45 degrees
• Kicks and straightens legs when on back
• Open and shuts hands
• Pushes down with legs when placed on a hard surface
• Reaches for dangling objects
• Grasps and shakes hand toys
• Tracks moving objects
• Begins to imitate sounds
• Recognizes familiar objects and people, even at a distance
• Begins to develop a social smile
• Begins to develop hand-eye coordination
• Brings both hands together
• Interested in circular and spiral patterns
• Kicks legs energetically
• Holds head up with control

By the end of month four a baby typically:

• May sleep about six hours at night before waking (total sleep typically 14 to 17 hours)
• Rolls over (usually stomach to back is first)
• Sits with support
• Lifts head up 90 degrees
• Can follow a moving object for a 180-degree arc
• Babbles and amuses self with new noises
• Responds to all colors and shades
• Explores objects with his mouth
• Recognizes a bottle or breast
• Communicates pain, fear, loneliness and discomfort through crying
• Responds to a rattle or bell

• Pays attention to small objects
• Experiments with the concept of cause and effect
• Can see across the room
• Begins to use hands in a raking fashion to bring toys near
• Begins teething process

By the end of month six a baby typically:

• Keeps head level when pulled to sitting position
• Makes some vowel-consonant sounds
• Sits by self with minimal support
• Opens mouth for spoon
• Reaches for and grabs objects
• Rolls over and back
• Drinks from a cup with help
• Can hold bottle
• Copies some facial expressions
• Makes two-syllable sounds

• Can self-feed some finger foods
• Makes wet razzing sounds
• Turns in the direction of a voice
• Plays peekaboo
• Imitates many sounds
• Distinguishes emotions by tone of voice

By the end of month eight a baby typically:

• Chews on objects
• Reaches for utensils when being fed
• Turns head away when finished eating
• May sleep between 11 and 13 hours a night; takes 2 to 3 naps (may vary)
• Rolls all the way around
• Sits unsupported
• Gets on arms and knees in crawling position
• Has specific cries for various needs
• Babbles enthusiastically
• Tests gravity by dropping objects over edge of high chair
• Responds to own name
• Has different reactions for different family members
• Shows some anxiety when removed from parent

• Reaches for toys
• Drops objects and then looks for them
• Becomes interested in grabbing the spoon during feedings
• Goes from tummy to sitting by self
• Picks up tiny objects
• Begins to identify self in a mirror's reflection

By the end of month ten a baby typically:

• Understands the concept of object permanence
• Gets upset if toy is removed
• Transfers object from hand to hand
• Stands holding onto someone
• Pulls to standing

• Says "ma-ma" and "da-da" discriminately
• Understands "no"
• Claps hands
• Waves bye-bye

By the end of month twelve a baby typically:

• May take one to two naps daily
• Triples birth weight and is 29 to 32 inches long
• Bangs two cubes together
• Puts objects into containers and then takes them out
• Voluntarily lets objects go
• Shakes head "no"
• Has fun opening and closing cabinet doors
• Crawls well
• "Cruises" furniture
• Walks with adult help
• Says "ma-ma" and "da-da"
• "Dances" to music
• Interested in books and may identify some things
• May understand some simple commands
• Fearful of strangers
• Shares toys but wants them back
• May form attachment to an item
• Pushes away what he doesn't want
• Prefers to push, pull and dump items
• Pulls off hat and socks
• Understands use of certain objects
• Tests parental responses to behavior
• Extends arm or leg when getting dressed
• Identifies self in mirror

What development milestones are you looking forward to the most?