Baby Milestones Chart – 1 to 12 Months
In this Article
Parents look forward to their baby’s first steps, smile, and few moments. After the baby’s arrival, he undergoes many developmental milestones before turning one year old. As a parent, you need to be aware of the infant milestones chart to deal with growth-related issues and enjoy each phase of your tiny tot’s life till he turns one! In this article, we have broken down the information into two age groups – 1 to 6 months and 7 to 12 months to make it easy to understand.
One to Six-Month-Old Baby Development Milestones Chart
Babies in the age group of one to six months undergo physical, psychological and cognitive development. This development occurs rapidly, and you must understand as parents to ensure your baby remains healthy and happy. This is where growth milestone charts come into the picture. The charts give a month-on-month developmental guide that can come in very handy to keep track of your baby’s growth. Read on to know more about it.
The first few months for a baby are strange as well as exciting. Most infants go from complete dependency to developing motor and physical skills in a very short span. Refer to the table below for more details on the development of babies from 1 to 6 months of age.
| Baby’s Age | Achieved Skills (Majority of the babies can do) | Emerging Skills (Many babies can do) |
Advanced Skills (Few Babies Can Do)
|
| First Month |
Your tiny newborn can distinguish between the smell of formula and breastmilk. Your baby’s preferred mode of communication is crying. Your baby can stretch his legs and kick. |
If a baby is startled, he will pull his arms and legs in. This is called startle reflex.
Your baby’s eyesight is still developing, so he will try and focus on near objects. Your baby may hold his head up. |
Your newborn will start preferring sweet things and have a discerning taste.
|
| Second Month | The child can hold his head steady for longer when on his tummy or when upright.
Communication skills have improved to a few grunts and gurgles. His finger and toenails grow at a rapid rate. He can now notice circular shapes and can see colours better. |
Can try and close his fingers into a fist.
The hearing improves drastically, and he can hear better. |
He can temporarily hold a stuffed toy when placed in his hands.
First hints of a smile. |
| Third Month | Your baby can kick his legs while lying on the back/belly.
He can hold his head up and focus on objects moving in his field of vision. The baby starts communicating like its a two-way conversation. |
He may start smiling and recognising. |
Your baby could start Rolling over on the back by himself.
|
| Fourth Month | The baby can grasp toys more firmly.
Can roll over and sit up with some support. His vision improves, and he can identify faces from a distance. |
Your baby’s weight would have doubled since birth.
His appetite will increase. Increased mobility and curiosity about the objects and people around. |
His communications skills improve to include cackles, grunts and the first sign of speech.
|
| Fifth Month | Your little one will make attempts to use his first word.
He will become a little experimental and constantly push and touch things around him. |
Will be able to sit upright for long periods of time, but with some support.
He can hold his head up while lying on the stomach. |
Your baby will start crawling. |
| Sixth Month | Your baby will recognise different faces.
The baby will laugh. He can see easily across the room, as his visual strength increases immensely. |
May develop a taste for different foods and textures.
You will start seeing the first few teeth in your baby’s mouth. He will start recognising his name and respond when people call him. |
Will start using support to stand up.
|
In the next six months, your baby will develop more skills and master the ones he developed until month six. Let’s look at the infant milestones chart of babies between seven and twelve months old.
Seven to Twelve-Month-Old Baby Development Milestones Chart
Once the child crosses the six-month mark, the growth spurt is so remarkable that it may become difficult for you to tackle certain situations. That’s when the development chart given below will come in handy.
| Baby’s Age | Achieved Skills (Majority of the babies can do) | Emerging Skills (Many babies can do) |
Advanced Skills (Few Babies Can Do)
|
| Seventh Month | Communications skills start refining, and your little bundle will imitate sounds.
He can roll over from any side instead of just one. |
Will be able to recognise faces, and smile back at someone.
Your baby may become more curious and investigate objects he can hold, from all angles. |
Will be able to pull himself up and stand upright with support.
|
| Eighth Month | The baby can roll and sit up unassisted, using his hands for support.
He can lean forward and pick up objects with one hand. He understands more words than before from your speech. |
The baby may start making sounds with simple words like, ‘pa’, ‘ba’, ‘ma’, etc. Your baby now prepares to crawl. |
Your little one may start having the pincher’s grip and transfer objects from one hand to another.
|
| Ninth Month | Will be enjoying solid food and will have preferences for things.
He can identify more smells if introduced by you. |
Your baby will develop cognitive abilities to link memories from a few days.
He may become more experimentative with his toys and can tap them on the floor or throw them. |
He will be able to communicate using single words and express a range of emotions from anger to happiness.
|
| Tenth Month | Curiosity continues to grow as your infant starts noticing his surroundings.
Your baby moves continuously without getting tired for hours. |
He will be able to recognise people closest to him/her and remember things better.
If allowed, under supervision, your baby could do simple activities by himself, like brushing his hair. |
He may try to walk. |
| Eleventh Month | Your baby starts looking at mirrors and recognising himself and you.
He is delighted with the simplest of things like boxes and cartons. |
He will be able to express by saying ‘oh’ and ‘ah’.
The baby will try to stand up on his feet often. |
He will attempt to walk if he hasn’t already.
|
| Twelfth Month | Your little one has crossed a major milestone at twelve months and can balance himself better.
He can sit and crawl all by himself. He is more curious about his surroundings, and now that he can move, he can explore better. |
Has a major food preference and discerning taste.
The baby can also start eating by himself using a spoon, his hands or a sippy cup/bottle. |
The baby’s physical activity increases with more playtime.
|
When Should You Get Worried About Baby Developmental Milestones?
It’s important to remember that every baby develops at their own pace; some may reach milestones earlier or later. However, some general guidelines can help determine if your baby needs extra support.
If your baby is significantly behind on multiple developmental milestones or is not progressing, it may be time to talk to your paediatrician. This is particularly true if your baby is not meeting milestones in multiple areas, such as physical and cognitive development.
Paying attention to your baby’s behaviour and overall development is also important. If your baby seems particularly irritable, fussy or has trouble sleeping, it could be a sign that they are struggling with their development. Additionally, if you notice any physical signs of delay, such as difficulty with movement or coordination, it’s important to talk to your paediatrician.
Finally, if you have concerns about your baby’s development, it’s always a good idea to talk to your paediatrician. They can help you assess your baby’s progress and determine if additional support or intervention is needed. Remember, it’s always better to be proactive and seek help with concerns rather than waiting and potentially delaying important interventions.
How You Can Improve Your Baby’s Milestone?
Here are 8 engaging points on improving your baby’s milestones:
- Encourage Tummy Time: Tummy time is essential for your baby’s physical development, as it helps to strengthen their neck, shoulder, and arm muscles. Encourage your baby to spend time on their tummy every day, starting with just a few minutes at a time and gradually increasing as they get stronger.
- Provide Plenty of Stimulation: Babies learn through play and exploration, so it’s important to provide plenty of opportunities to engage with their environment. Offer toys encouraging reaching, grasping, and other motor skills, books, and other visual stimuli to promote cognitive development.
- Practice Repetition: Repetition is key to helping your baby develop new skills. Repeating activities and exercises can help reinforce new connections in their brain and build their confidence as they master new tasks.
- Incorporate Music and Movement: Music and movement are great ways to engage your baby’s senses and promote physical and cognitive development. Sing and dance with your baby, or play music during playtime to stimulate their brain and encourage movement.
- Offer Positive Reinforcement: Positive reinforcement is a powerful motivator for babies and can help them feel more confident as they learn new skills. Praise and reward your baby for their efforts, even if they don’t get it right the first time.
- Safe and Supportive Environment: A safe and supportive environment is essential for your baby’s development. Make sure your home is baby-proofed, and you provide plenty of opportunities for your baby to explore and learn in a safe and supportive environment.
- Seek Help When Needed: If you have concerns about your baby’s development, don’t hesitate to seek help from a paediatrician or early intervention specialist. Early intervention can make a big difference in your baby’s development, so addressing any issues as soon as possible is important.
- Be Patient and Consistent: Developmental milestones don’t happen overnight, and it’s important to be patient and consistent as your baby learns and grows. Remember that every baby develops at their own pace, and with time and support, your baby will reach their milestones in their own time.
FAQs
1. What Are the Major Milestones for Babies?
The major milestones for babies include physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. Some common milestones include emotional, fine and gross motor, language, cognitive and socialising with others.
2. Can Babies Skip Milestones?
While babies may develop at their own pace, it is not common for them to skip milestones altogether. If a baby does skip a milestone, like skipping crawling and moving to straight-up sitting, it may not be something to be concerned about. However, you may find some cases where skip in milestones could be a sign of a developmental delay or a need for additional support or intervention. It is important to monitor your baby’s development and speak with a doctor if you have any concerns about their progress.
Charting the physical, mental and psychological milestones and using a growth chart for comparison will help you ensure your baby is developing appropriately. Guiding your tiny bundle of joy in a fast-paced world becomes critical, but it is also important for parents to talk, play and develop a bond with their infants during the first year. And then, every development milestone your baby achieves is sure to delight you!
References/Resources:
1. Development & Milestones for infants (Birth- 12 months); MI Kids Matter; https://www.michigan.gov/mikidsmatter/parents/infant/milestones
2. Lipkin. PH, Macias. MM, Pajek. JF, et al.; CDC’s Developmental Milestones; National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html; December 2022
3. Lipkin. PH, Macias. MM, Pajek. JF, et al.; Important Milestones: Your Baby By Six Months; National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-6mo.html; December 2022
4. Development Milestones; https://depts.washington.edu/dbpeds/Screening%20Tools/Devt%20Milestones%20Table%20%28B-6y%29%20PIR%20%28Jan2016%29.msg.pdf
5. Misirliyan. SS; Boehning AP; Shah. M; Development Milestones; National Library of Medicine; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557518/; March 2023
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