Baby milestones by month

Baby milestones are the accomplishments or skills your baby may achieve or learn as it develops over time. While each baby is different and so is its pace of growth and development, some of the commonly achieved milestones include-

1st month-

• Tries different facial expressions
• Can recognize your smell
• Startles at loud noises (hearing is fully developed)
• Can see things 8 to 12 inches away (eyesight is developing)
• May be able to hold their head up for brief moments
• May be able to turn head from side to side during tummy time

2nd month-

• Brings hands to mouth
• Possibly self-soothes by thumb-sucking
• Makes cooing noises
• Turns head toward sounds, especially your voice
• Visually tracks an object in front of them
• Has improved head and neck control

3rd month-

• Smiles socially in response to others
• Lifts head and chest during tummy time and possibly supports upper body with arms
• Kicks when placed on back
• Follows objects with eyes
• Turns head toward sounds
• Makes babbling noises
• Has improved hand-eye coordination

4th month-

• Recognizes objects, like a favorite toy
• Uses hands and eyes together to reach and grab for objects of interest
• Begins to babble
• Holds head steady without support
• Pushes body up onto elbows during tummy time

5th month-

• Enjoys playing games like “peek-a-boo”
• Rolls over from tummy to back
• May be able to sit with support
• Picks up and moves objects with hands
• Understands cause and effect

6th month-

• Recognizes familiar people
• Enjoys looking in the mirror (recognizes self)
• Tries to “talk” with you, or babbles back at you
• Responds to own name
• Explores objects using mouth
• Passes toys between hands
• Rolls from tummy to back and back to tummy
• Holds head steady & expresses readiness for solids

7th month-

• Notices and tracks distant objects with eyes
• Reaches with one hand
• Picks up larger objects
• Passes objects between hands
• Starts understanding some words
• Loves playing with you
• May be able to support their own weight on their feet when held under armpits
• Sits without support
• Begins teething

8th month-

• Babbles often and explores their voice and pitch
• Easily passes objects between hands
• Might become attached to a special toy
• May pull themselves up to stand
• Could start to crawl
• Might grasp smaller objects

9th month-

• Claps their hands
• Attempts to wave
• Shows separation anxiety
• Makes many different sounds
• Has likely begun crawling
• Can probably pull themselves up to stand

10th month-

• Experiments with toys by shaking, throwing, or banging them
• Copies your patterns of speech
• Can likely understand and use some baby sign language
• May communicate using basic gestures, such as pointing at objects they want
• Might crawl
• Pulls themselves up to stand
• Might take a few steps on their own

11th month-

• Understands more words
• Looks at objects when named
• Uses gestures to communicate, such as waving bye
• May be able to pull up with support and stand for a few seconds
• May “cruise” while standing and holding onto furniture or a walking toy
• Might take a few steps without holding on
• Could say first words
• Might be able to follow simple directions

12th month-

• Get onto hands and knees
• Pulls up to stand
• May remain standing without support
• Crawls & cruises
• May walk without support
• Moves objects in and out of containers
• Responds to simple commands
• Shows preferences for certain people or toys
• Tries to scribble

Source: Baby center, Zyla Medical Team