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First Year's Developmental Milestones
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Throughout the first year, infants grow at a extremely fast speed. In fact, by the end of the first year they will have tripled in birth weight. Length can be expected to double. By their first birthday, most infants will be crawling and even may be taking a timid first step!
As your baby grows, she becomes a little person in her own right and from her first coos to first words and first steps she'll meet a whole range of magic milestones.
During the first year of life your baby responds best to a warm, loving environment. Holding your baby and responding to her cries are vital in building a strong, healthy bond.
Âo remember that all babies develop at different rates, so there's every chance that your baby may reach some of these milestones earlier or later than other babies.
If your child is lagging in several areas, contact your pediatrician for advice.
Here is a basic guideline of what and when to expect of baby's developmental milestones in the first year:
MONTH ONE
- 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
MONTH TWO
- Smiles
- Tracks objects with his eyes
- Makes noises other than crying
- May repeat vowel noises, such as "ah" or "ooh"
MONTH THREE
- 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
MONTH FOUR - 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
MONTH FIVE
- 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
MONTH SIX
- 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
MONTH SEVEN
- 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
MONTH EIGHT
- 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
MONTH NINE
- 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
MONTH TEN - 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
MONTH ELEVEN
- Says "ma-ma" and "da-da" discriminately
- Understands "no"
- Claps hands
- Waves bye-bye
MONTH TWELVE - 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
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