Baby Milestones

PLAY BONDING AND CONNECTION IN THE EARLY DAYS


Baby development milestones 0-12 months

It is important to remember that this is only a rough guide and sometimes children achieve the milestones faster and some do take a lot longer, however you know your child best so if you are ever in doubt about their development then you should consult a doctor or specialist

Primary Skills Developing Skills Advanced Skills

1 Month

Lifts head when lying on tummy

Responds to sounds & voices

Stares at faces

Gaze at mother during feeding

Follows objects with eyes

Vocalises with ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’

Can see black and white patterns

Smiles and laughs

2 Months

Gurgles and coos

Follows objects across his field of vision

Awareness of hands, will try to put them in their mouth

Can hold head up for short periods

Smiles and laughs

Holds head at 45 degree angle

Makes smoother movements

Holds head steady

Can bear weight on legs if supported

Lifts head and shoulders when lying on tummy (mini push ups)

3 Months

Recognises your face and scent

Holds head steady

Eyes will deliberately follow moving objects

Begins to gurgle and coo intentionally

Blows bubbles

Recognises mothers voice

Does mini push ups

Rolls over, from tummy to back

Turns towards loud sounds

Can bring hands together, bats at toys

4 Months

Smiles and laughs

Can bear weight on legs when supported

Coos when spoken to

Can grasp a toy

Rolls over – from tummy to back

Imitates sounds like ‘baba’ and ‘dada’

Cuts first teeth

5 Months

distinguishes between bold colours

Plays with hands and feet

Recognises own name

Turns toward new sounds

Roll over in both directions

Sits momentarily without support

Separation anxiety may begin

6 Months

Turns towards sounds and voices

Imitates sounds

Rolls over in both directions

Ready for solid food

Can sit up un-supported

Passes objects from hand to hand

Lunges forward or starts crawling

Jabbers or combines syllabales

Drags objects towards themself

7 Months

Can sit independently without support

Drags objects towards themself

Lunges forward or starts crawling

Jabbers or combines syllabales

Starts to experience stranger (person) anxiety

Waves good-bye

Stands while holding on to something

Bangs objects together

Recognises toys and belongings

8 Months

Says ‘Mama’ and ‘Dada’ to both parents ( non-speceific)

Passes objects from hand to hand

Stands while holding on to something

Crawls

Points at objects

Searches for hidden things

Pulls self to standing and will cruise around furniture

Picks things up with thumb and finger – pincer grip

Will gesture when they want something

9 Months

Stands whilst holding on to something

Combines syllabels to word like sounds

Understands object permanence

Cruise around furniture

Eats with fingers

Bangs objects together

Can clap and play peek-a-boo

Says ‘mama’ and ‘dada’ to correct parent

10 Months

Waves good-bye

Picks things up with pincer grip

Crawls well, with belly off ground

Says ‘mama’ and ‘dada’ to correct parent

Indicates with gestures

Stands alone for a couple of seconds

Puts objects into containers

11 Months

Claps and plays peek-a-boo

Stands alone for a couple of seconds

Understands ‘No’ and other simple instructions

Puts objects into containers

Says one word other than ‘mama’ or ‘dada’

Stoops from standing position

12 Months

Imitates others activities

Indicates with gestures

Takes a few steps

Says one word other than ‘mama’ or ‘dada’

Walks alone

Scribbles with crayon

Says two words besides ‘mama’ or ‘dada’

1 month

Primary skillsLifts head when lying on tummy
Responds to sounds & voices
Stares at faces, Gaze at mother during feeding

Developing skillsFollows objects with eyes
Vocalises with ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’
Can see black and white patterns

Advanced skillsSmiles and laughs
Holds head at 45 degrees angle

2 months

Primary skillsGurgles and coos
Follows objects across his field of vision
Awareness of hands, will try to put them in their mouth
Can hold head up for short periods

Developing skillsSmiles and laughs
Holds head at 45 degree angle
Makes smoother movements

Advanced skillsHolds head steady
Can bear weight on legs if supported
Lifts head and shoulders when lying on tummy (mini push ups)

3 months

Primary skillsRecognises your face and scent
Holds head steady
Eyes will deliberately follow moving objects

Developing skillsBegins to gurgle and coo intentionally
Blows bubbles
Recognises mothers voice
Does mini push ups

Advanced skillsRolls over, from tummy to back
Turns towards loud sounds
Can bring hands together, bats at toys

4 months

Primary skillsSmiles and laughs
Can bear weight on legs when supported
Coos when spoken to

Developing skillsCan grasp a toy
Rolls over – from tummy to back

Advanced skillsImitates sounds like ‘baba’ and ‘dada’
Cuts first teeth

5 months

Primary skillsdistinguishes between bold colours
Plays with hands and feet

Developing skillsRecognises own name
Turns toward new sounds
Roll over in both directions

Advanced skillsSits momentarily without support
Separation anxiety may begin

6 months

Primary skillsTurns towards sounds and voices
Imitates sounds
Rolls over in both directions

Developing skillsReady for solid food
Can sit up un-supported
Passes objects from hand to hand

Advanced skillsLunges forward or starts crawling
Jabbers or combines syllabales
Drags objects towards themself

7 months

Primary skillsCan sit independently without support
Drags objects towards themself

Developing skillsLunges forward or starts crawling
Jabbers or combines syllabales
Starts to experience stranger (person) anxiety

Advanced skillsWaves good-bye
Stands while holding on to something
Bangs objects together
Recognises toys and belongings

8 months

Primary skillsCan sit independently without support
Drags objects towards themself

Developing skillsLunges forward or starts crawling
Jabbers or combines syllabales
Starts to experience stranger (person) anxiety

Advanced skillsWaves good-bye
Stands while holding on to something
Bangs objects together
Recognises toys and belongings

9 months

Primary skillsStands whilst holding on to something
Combines syllabels to word like sounds
Understands object permanence

Developing skillsCruise around furniture
Eats with fingers
Bangs objects together

Advanced skillsCan clap and play peek-a-boo
Says ‘mama’ and ‘dada’ to correct parent

10 months

Primary skillsWaves good-bye
Picks things up with pincer grip
Crawls well, with belly off ground

Developing skillsSays ‘mama’ and ‘dada’ to correct parent
Indicates with gestures

Advanced skillsStands alone for a couple of seconds
Puts objects into containers

11 months

Primary skillsClaps and plays peek-a-boo
Stands alone for a couple of seconds

Developing skillsUnderstands ‘No’ and other simple instructions
Puts objects into containers

Advanced skillsSays one word other than ‘mama’ or ‘dada’
Stoops from standing position

12 months

Primary skillsImitates others activities
Indicates with gestures

Developing skillsTakes a few steps
Says one word other than ‘mama’ or ‘dada’

Advanced skillsWalks alone
Scribbles with crayon
Says two words besides ‘mama’ or ‘dada’

Holds head at 45 degrees angle