Welcoming your little one to the world is one of the greatest experiences, but also a major adjustment. Newborns grow and change so fast in the first year, it can be hard to keep up. I remember worrying that my little boy was behind because he wasn’t smiling when I thought he was supposed to. While each baby is different and will develop at their own pace, it is helpful to understand developmental milestones to ensure that your baby is progressing as expected. Knowing these milestones will also allow us to seek early interventions when our little one may be behind or not developing normally. Let’s take a look.

Month 1: Welcoming Your Newborn

As you embark on the incredible journey of parenthood, the first month is a time of adjustment and bonding. Your newborn is primarily focused on basic needs such as feeding, sleeping, and adapting to their new environment. Remember, your little one has very poor eyesight, and will not recognize your face. Newborns also have very poor head support, so be sure to always support the head.

Key Milestones:

• Visual Tracking: Your baby may begin to briefly focus on objects or faces.
• Head Movement: Some infants can lift their heads briefly while lying on their stomachs.

Month 2: Developing Social Smiles

In the second month, you’ll notice your baby becoming more socially responsive. Smiles become intentional, not just secondary to gas. At this stage, your little one may show interest in your face and voice. Again, these are guidelines. If your baby is not smiling right at 2 months, don’t worry! It should be just right around the corner.

Key Milestones:

• Social Smiles: Your baby starts to smile in response to your smiles and interactions.
• Improved Head Control: Enhanced ability to lift and control the head during tummy time.

Month 3: Discovering Hands and Feet

At three months, your baby’s motor skills are advancing. They begin to explore their hands and feet, discovering new ways to interact with the world. They will hold onto your fingers and may start to bring things to their mouth. Your baby’s neck should be increasing in strength, so make sure they are getting plenty of tummy time.

Key Milestones:

• Grasping Objects: Your baby may start to grasp and hold onto small objects.
• Increased Neck Strength: Improved head control and stability.

Month 4: Tummy Time Triumphs

By the fourth month, tummy time becomes more enjoyable for your baby. Tummy time is still crucial. Ensure they are getting at least 30 minutes of tummy time, broken up into segments throughout the day. They may start rolling over from tummy to back at this stage, so let them practice that skill during tummy time. Babies at 4 months also tend to have an increased curiosity about their surroundings.

Key Milestones:

• Rolling Over: Your baby may start rolling from their front to their back.
• Reaching for Objects: Improved coordination in reaching for and batting at objects.

Month 5: Babbling Begins

Around five months, your baby’s vocalizations become more intentional. Babbling and cooing increase as your little one explores the range of sounds they can make. You may hear mamamama, bababababa, dadadada. While your baby can make these noises, they are still not associating words with people or objects.

Key Milestones:

• Babbling: Your baby may experiment with different sounds and syllables.
• Increased Leg Strength: Enhanced ability to bear weight on their legs when held upright.

Month 6: Sitting with Support

At six months, your baby is making strides in physical development. Many infants can now sit with support and may start exploring solid foods. Most pediatricians will recommend starting solids at six months. Check out this post for additional tips on starting solids. At this stage, your baby should also have good control of their head.

Key Milestones:

• Sitting with Support: Your baby can sit with assistance, building core strength.
• Introduction to Solid Foods: Starting to experiment with pureed or mashed foods.

Month 7: Exploring Object Permanence

Around seven months, your baby begins to understand object permanence—the concept that objects exist even when out of sight. This marks a cognitive leap. Your baby should also be able to sit without assistance, or with very minimal assistance.

Key Milestones:

• Object Permanence: Your baby realizes that objects still exist when hidden.
• Crawling Attempts: Some infants may start attempting to crawl.

Month 8: Standing with Assistance

In the eighth month, your baby’s strength and coordination improve. Many infants can now pull themselves up to a standing position with support.

Key Milestones:

• Standing with Assistance: Your baby can stand with support, holding onto furniture or your hands.
• Improved Pincer Grasp: Refining the ability to pick up small objects with thumb and forefinger.

Month 9: First Words and Gestures

Around nine months, your baby’s communication skills take a leap. They may start uttering their first words, and gestures become more deliberate. Many infants will have teeth by this point, so you can introduce more foods that require small teeth. Be cautious with foods that are a choking hazard.

Key Milestones:

• First Words: Early attempts at words or recognizable sounds.
• Pointing and Gesturing: Using gestures to communicate wants or interests.

Month 10: Cruising Along Furniture

At ten months, your baby is likely to become more mobile. Many infants start “cruising” along furniture, holding on for support while moving around.

Key Milestones:

• Cruising: Moving along furniture while holding on for support.
• Improved Coordination: Enhanced ability to manipulate objects with hands.

Month 11: Walking with Assistance

In the eleventh month, you may witness the exciting transition from cruising to taking those first steps with assistance.

Key Milestones:

• Walking with Assistance: Your baby may take a few steps while holding onto your hands or furniture.
• Enhanced Problem-Solving: Improved problem-solving skills when faced with obstacles.

Month 12: First Steps into Independence

The first year concludes with a celebration of major milestones. Many babies take their first independent steps, marking the beginning of a new chapter in physical development. Look out as your little one may now be mobile, and getting into all sorts of messes. If your baby is not walking or saying a few words by age one, don’t be discouraged. Some infants walk as early as 10 months, and some do not walk until closer to 15 months.

Key Milestones:

• First Independent Steps: Some infants may take their first steps without assistance.
• Beginning to Use Simple Words: Expanding vocabulary with simple words.

Conclusion: Celebrating Growth and Development

The first 12 months of your baby’s life are filled with remarkable milestones, each representing a step forward in their growth and development. Remember, every child develops at their own pace, so embrace the uniqueness of your baby’s journey and enjoy the special moments along the way. Developmental milestones are general guidelines, not an exact science. However, if you have concerns your child is significantly delayed, seek medical care and express your concerns with your pediatrician. Remember to enjoy each phase of development as it comes, because each stage is so fleeting. As always, you’ve got this mama!