Baby milestones

The first year of your baby's life is packed with milestones big and small. From the first smile to the first steps it is likley you are waiting and watching out for her next trick!. Although all children develop at different rates in general you can look out for the major milestones at the following ages.

One Month Old  

Lifts head for short periods of time
Moves head from side to side
Jerky arm movements
Has strong reflex movements
May turn towards familiar sounds or voices
Responds to loud sounds
Blinks at bright lights

Two Months old 

Smiles
Makes noises other than crying
May repeat vowel noises, such as "ah" or "ooh

Three Months old 

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

Four Months old  

May sleep about six hours at night before waking
Rolls over (usually stomach to back is first)
Sits with support
Babbles and amuses self with new noises
Explores objects with his mouth
Recognizes a bottle or breast

Five Months old 

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

Six Months old 

Keeps head level when pulled to sitting position
Makes some vowel-consonant sounds
Sits by self with minimal support
Opens mouth for spoon
Can hold bottle
Copies some facial expressions

Seven Months old 

Can self-feed some finger foods
Turns in the direction of a voice
Plays peekaboo

Eight Months old 

Chews on objects
Turns head away when finished eating
Rolls all the way around
Sits unsupported
Has specific cries for various needsTests gravity by dropping objects over edge of high chair

Nine Months old  

Reaches for toys
Drops objects and then looks for them
Goes from tummy to sitting by self
Begins to identify self in a mirror's reflection

Ten Months old 

Gets upset if toy is removed
Pulls to standing

Eleven Months old 

Says "ma-ma" and "da-da" discriminately
Understands "no"
Waves goodbye

Twelve Months old 

Triples birth weight
Puts objects into containers and then takes them out
Shakes head "no"
"Cruises" furniture
Walks with adult help
Says "ma-ma" and "da-da"
Interested in books and may identify some things
May understand some simple commands
Fearful of strangers
May form attachment to an item
Prefers to push, pull and dump items
Understands use of certain objects
Tests parental responses to behavior