Baby Development Milestones

First month to three months

In the first month the development milestones of your baby first year will be to lift their head for short time, move head from side to side, make arm movements and bring hands to face. They prefer human face than other shapes, do strong reflex movements, can focus on items which are 8 to 12 inches away, turn to familiar voices and blink at bright lights. In the second month babies smiles and track objects with their eyes. They make different noises and repeat vowel noises like ah, ooh, uh, etc. in the third month babies develop a lot. They raises their head and chest upto tummy, lift head up 45 degrees, kicks, straighten legs, open hands, shut hands, can push down with legs when lying on a hard surface, reaches for dangling objects and shakes hand toys. They also grasps toys, track moving objects, imitate sound, recognizes familiar objects and people, develop a social smile, develop hand-eye coordination, can bring both hands together, can hold head up with control and are interested in circular and spiral patterns.

Four months to six months

Most babies hold up their head at 90 degrees angle while they are on stomach. They can bear their weight on both legs and laugh and smile with some hoo and coos while talking. There are other developments which are not common in every baby like grasping a rattle, pay attention to objects, reach out for objects and do small mini push ups with roll over. Babies can hold head level with body when pulled to sit, sit without support and make a razzing sound. They will get upset if their toys are taken away. In fifth month babies can easily roll over with mini push ups, make razzing sound, turn to new sounds, recognize own name, pass object from one hand to other, pull up to standing position from the sitting position and sit momentarily without any support. They try to bring object closer which are out of reach. This is the time when they repeat sounds like ma and da and anxiety begins for separation and strangers. In the sixth month babies can keep head level in sitting position, sit with minimum support for some time, roll back in both directions, imitate sound, imitate facial expressions and reach for toys. They can sit without support, feed own self a cracker, work a lot to get the out of reach toys. They start crawling, get into sitting position from stomach, pick up small objects with fingers. They can babble and combine sounds and anxiety begins at this age which is known as separation and stranger anxiety.

From seven months to nine months

In seven months most babies can sit without support, make razzing sound, imitate sound and work at getting a toy which is out of reach. They feed self a finger food or crackers. Some babies start crawling and lunging forward and get upset if their toy is taken by others. They love to play peek a boo and can distinguish the emotion of the person talking by their voice. They can pass object from one to another hands and feeling of anxiety begins. They can stand by themselves if they hold onto something or someone. They learn to wave goodbyes and clap hands. They bang objects together and say mama, mu or baba. They can walk alone holding onto some furniture. In the ninth month, babies can stand with some support and look for dropped objects. They can stand from sitting position, clap and bang things. They can combine syllables to make different sounds. They use thumb and finger to grasp and pick things up. They walk holding onto furniture, stand alone for little time and begin to identify themselves in the mirror. They wave goodbye, drop object and look for them and understand the word”no”, as mummies often use this word to stop their children from something. There are developments which are shown by some children like saying mama to the real mother, play patty cake and balls. They can drink from a cup without any help, stand alone without support and say one or two new words.

From ten months to twelve months

In the tenth month, most babies stand holding on something, walk with the support and pull upto standing position from sitting. They can wave goodbyes, crawl well and thumb and finger pincer grasp to pick up things. Some babies can say mama to the right person, can understand the word ‘no’ but do not obey that word. They can recognize their name and respond to it. Every child has their own style and gestures to express their needs in which crying is the most common gesture. People who live around the children know about their gestures and indications. They can stand alone for some time. Some babies can drink from cup alone and stand without holding something. They can play ball and patty cake and walk for one or two step. They can put their toys in containers or boxes. In the eleventh month babies can recognize parents and say ma and da. They wave good byes, clap hands, stand alone for few moments, drink from a cup alone, imitate others, understand simple instructions and babble. Some children can walk well be little advanced than other children. In the twelfth month or after a year, babies imitate other people’s sounds and activities, indicate their needs with gestures and crying. They can crawl well and walk well with little or no help. They are afraid of strangers and pull off their socks. They can say more words than before and take few steps. They can shake their head to express their no to something. Some children who are more developed can scribble with crayons and say more than three or four words.