Baby development milestones (Month 1 - Month12)

Most babies should be able to . . .

Month 1

• Lift head briefly when on stomach
• Respond to sound
• Blink at bright lights
• Stare and focus at faces

Month 2

• Smile in response to your smile
• Follow objects with eyes
• Make noises other than crying
• Repeat Ooohs and aahhs

Month 3

• Hold up head at 45 degree angle while on stomach
• Hold head steady when upright
• Laugh and smile
• Recognize your face
• Open and shut hands
• Kick legs

Month 4

• Hold up head at 90 degree angle while on stomach
• Bear weight on both legs
• Goo and coo when you talk
• Laugh and smile

Month 5

• Roll over
• Do small mini push ups
• Pay attention to small objects held in front of his or her face
• Reach out for objects
• Grasp a rattle or toy

Month 6

• Keep head level when pulled to sitting position
• Sit momentarily with minimal support
• Roll back in forth in both directions
• Imitate sound and facial expressions
• Reach for and grabs objects and toys

Month 7

• Sit without support
• Make razzing sounds
• Imitate sound
• Work at getting a toy that is out of reach
• Feed self a cracker or finger food

Month 8

• Start crawling
• Sit without support
• Pass object from one hand to the other
• Respond to own name
• Mouth and chew on objects
• Reach for spoon when being fed
• Turn away when finished eating
• Say mama and dada to both parents (usually isn’t specific)

Month 9

• Stand while holding on to something
• Look for dropped objects
• Pull up to standing position from sitting
• Clap and bang objects together
• Combine syllables into word like sounds
• Separation and stranger anxiety may begin

Month 10

• Stand holding on to someone or something
• Walk holding onto furniture
• Pull up to standing position from sitting
• Wave goodbye
• Crawl well
• Use thumb and finger pincer grasp to pick things up

Month 11

• Say mama and dada to the right parents
• Wave goodbye
• Clap hands
• Understand the word no but doesn’t always obey it
• Stand alone momentarily
• Play ball and patty cake

Month 12

• Imitate others sounds and activities
• Babble different word like sounds
• Indicate wants with gestures other than crying
• Clap hands and bang objects together
• Say one word other than mama or dada
• Crawl well
• Walk holding onto furniture well
• Fearful of strangers
• Pull off socks