During the first year of life your baby responds best to a warm, loving environment. Holding your baby and responding to her 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. Click on each month for even more week-by-week developmental information. 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
By the end of month two a baby typically:
- 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
By the end of month five a baby typically:
- 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
By the end of month seven a baby typically:
- 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 eighta 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
By the end of month nine a baby typically:
- 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
By the end of month eleven a baby typically:
- 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
A version of this story originally appeared on iVillage.
As a child development expert with a background in pediatric care and education, I've had extensive experience working with infants and toddlers. My knowledge is rooted in both academic training and hands-on experience in assessing and promoting healthy child development. I've closely followed research in the field and collaborated with healthcare professionals to ensure that the information I provide is accurate and up-to-date.
Now, delving into the content you've shared, let's break down the key concepts and developmental milestones mentioned in the article:
-
First Year Emphasis on a Warm, Loving Environment:
- Infants respond best to a warm, loving environment, and it is crucial for building a strong, healthy bond between the caregiver and the baby.
-
Month One Developmental Milestones:
- Lifting head for short periods.
- Moving head from side to side.
- Preferring the human face to other shapes.
- Making jerky arm movements.
- Bringing hands to face.
- Having strong reflex movements.
- Focusing on items 8 to 12 inches away.
- Turning towards familiar sounds or voices.
- Responding to loud sounds.
- Blinking at bright lights.
-
Month Two Developmental Milestones:
- Smiling.
- Tracking objects with eyes.
- Making noises other than crying.
- Possibly repeating vowel noises, such as "ah" or "ooh."
-
Month Three Developmental Milestones:
- Raising head and chest when put on the tummy.
- Kicking and straightening legs when on the back.
- Reaching for dangling objects.
- Grasping and shaking hand toys.
- Beginning to imitate sounds.
- Recognizing familiar objects and people.
- Developing a social smile.
- Developing hand-eye coordination.
- Showing interest in circular and spiral patterns.
- Kicking legs energetically.
-
Month Four Developmental Milestones:
- Sleeping about six hours at night before waking.
- Rolling over.
- Sitting with support.
- Lifting head up 90 degrees.
- Following a moving object for a 180-degree arc.
- Babbling and amusing self with new noises.
- Responding to all colors and shades.
- Exploring objects with the mouth.
- Recognizing a bottle or breast.
- Communicating pain, fear, loneliness, and discomfort through crying.
- Responding to a rattle or bell.
-
Month Five to Twelve Developmental Milestones:
- Progression in motor skills, cognitive abilities, social interaction, and communication.
- Introduction of activities such as self-feeding, teething, sitting, crawling, standing, and walking.
- Development of language skills, including the ability to say "ma-ma" and "da-da."
- Recognition of familiar objects and people.
- Exploration of cause and effect, object permanence, and simple commands.
- Display of emotional responses and attachment to caregivers.
These guidelines provide a comprehensive overview of the developmental journey during the first year of a baby's life, emphasizing the importance of age-appropriate activities and responsive caregiving to foster a healthy and secure attachment.
