Babies Baby Development Baby Growth & Development First Year Baby Milestones by Month Your baby's first year is full of developmental milestones. Here, we've broken down those milestones month by month. By Nicole Harris Updated on May 14, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong. Photo: Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Your baby's first year will be full of first wonders, first adventures, and of course, those much anticipated first milestones like laughing, walking, and saying their first word. It is natural to wonder what your baby should be doing each month, but remember, every child develops and grows at their own pace. If your child is hitting some milestones earlier and others later, that doesn't mean there is anything wrong. Make sure your baby goes to all of their well-child visits, and talk to your doctor about their development and any concerns or questions you might have. Read on to learn about the biggest baby milestones by month and what you can expect to see your baby doing. What to Know About the New CDC Developmental Milestones 01 of 12 1 Month Milestones Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong. Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Welcome to the world, little one! Your baby's first few weeks will involve plenty of eating, sleeping, pooping, and snuggling. Around 1 month, your baby will: Spend more time awakeCommunicate through cryingFocus on objects 8 to 14 inches awayRecognize your voiceEnjoy staring at your faceEnjoy hearing your voiceThey might cross their eyes sometimesThey might make funny faces 1 Month Old Baby Milestones 02 of 12 2 Month Milestones Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong If your baby hasn't begun already, now is a great time to introduce tummy time to start working on those muscles! Around 2 months, your baby will: Develop limited body controlLift their head 45 degrees during tummy timeFlash a gummy smile that travels to their eyesSuck on hands or feetTrack objects with their eyesRecognize their caregivers' facesBegin to enjoy colors, textures, and high-pitched sounds 2 Month Old Baby Milestones 03 of 12 3 Month Milestones Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong. Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Babies gain plenty of strength during their third month of life—especially in the upper body. Around 3 months, your baby will: Hold their head uprightBring hands togetherBegin babbling and laughingGain strength in core and extremitiesDevelop better arm control 3 Month Old Baby Milestones to Know 04 of 12 4 Month Milestones Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong. Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong The biggest 4-month milestone: Rolling over! Sometime around the 4-month mark, your baby will begin rolling over as a precursor to crawling and sitting. Around 4 months, your baby will: Start entertaining themselvesStart reaching for new thingsHave substantially improved eyesight (probably 20/40 or 20/50)Love watching their reflection 4 Month Old Baby Milestones 05 of 12 5 Month Milestones Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong. Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Your baby will probably put everything in their mouth by month five. Make sure your baby is surrounded by baby-safe toys and objects since they'll be rolling and possibly "army crawling" around. They'll also recognize their name and basic words, although speech is still a few months away. Around 5 months, your baby will: Keep reaching for new objects, and put them in their mouthRollPossibly "army crawl"Have movement that becomes more fluidRecognize their name and some basic wordsMake more eye-contact 5 Month Old Baby Milestones 06 of 12 6 Month Milestones Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong. Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong A 6-month-old baby can likely sit up with assistance, and it's possible they'll creep or crawl (crawling typically starts anywhere between 6 months and 10 months). Your baby will likely love different textures and may pull items toward themselves with a "raking grasp." Around 6 months, your baby will: Begin exploring different textures with their handsUse a "raking grasp" to pull objects closerBegin to have separation anxietyContinue to develop their eyesight 6 Month Old Baby Development 07 of 12 7 Month Milestones Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong. Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong When you hold a 7-month-old baby upright, they may bear weight on their legs. Around 7 months, your baby will: Roll from tummy to back and vice versaSit up with no supportCrawl or be learning to crawlShow delight at spending time with friends and familyBabble and mimic soundsLove to play 7 Month Old Baby Development 08 of 12 8 Month Milestones Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong. Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Many 8-month-old babies can really cruise across the floor, so keep choking hazards out of reach. Around 8 months, your baby will: Begin to store memoriesRecognize objects and know how to use themStand up without assistanceBegin to use a pincer graspPay closer attention to speechBegin saying simple words like "mama" 8 Month Old Baby Development 09 of 12 9 Month Milestones Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong. Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Not only will your baby be navigating the house, but they'll also be picking everything up, thanks to their newfound pincer grasp. This movement lets your baby grab things with the thumb and forefinger. They'll also continue mimicking your sounds and actions. Around 9 months, your baby will: CruisePull to standTry to imitate simple wordsFollow simple instructionsSay "no" by shaking their head 9 Month Old Baby Development 10 of 12 10 Month Milestones Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong. Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Many babies take their first steps between 9 and 12 months (though later is still considered healthy), so be prepared for plenty of falls. A 10-month-old baby also understands object permanence, the concept that objects still exist when they can't be seen. Around 10 months, your baby will: Stand independently Possibly take a few steps Adopt an "elephant crawl" Begin dropping objects from their highchair on purpose to watch you retrieve Love playing with toys that do things (like pushing buttons, turning dials, etc.) A Week-by-Week Guide to Your Baby's First Year Milestones 11 of 12 11 Month Milestones Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong. Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong At 11 months, your baby may cruise while holding onto furniture or your hands. Their dexterity encourages them to pick up everything within reach, and they enjoy reading stories with their caregivers. Around 11 months, your baby will: Possibly be walking (between 11 and 16 months)Use gestures to communicate—or even sign languageRecognize more wordsUse a sippy cupPoint to objects they wantBegin to show preferences (people, toys, foods, etc.) A Week-by-Week Guide to Your Baby's First Year Milestones 12 of 12 12 Month Milestones Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong Happy first birthday! Many babies start saying simple words, like "mama" or "dada," around 12 months. They'll also keep developing their gross and fine motor skills. Around 12 months, your baby will: Be proficient at crawling, cruising, and maybe toddlingHave a mature pincer grasp and can hold objects as small as a cheerioRemember where objects are hiddenExperiment with objects by banging, dropping, shaking, and hittingExperienced increased separation anxiety The first year of baby milestones is a time of wonder and surprise as your little one gains strength, masters new skills, and develops a curiosity about the world around them. Encourage your baby's continued development by playing, reading aloud, building consistent routines, and offering loving support. Talk to your doctor about your baby's development and bring up any questions or concerns that you may have. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit