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