Your baby's milestones in their first year

In the first year, babies learn and grow at an astonishing pace. These 12 months are chock-full of exciting development milestones, from saying "mama" or "dada" to sitting up, crawling, and maybe even taking those momentous first steps.

Although all children develop at different rates, there's a standard milestone timeline that most babies follow.

What are developmental milestones?

Baby milestones are the accomplishments or skills you can expect your child to achieve or learn in the first year of life. Watching for specific milestones helps you and your baby's pediatrician ensure that your baby's development is on track.

As you learn which baby milestones to expect this year, keep in mind that this is only a guideline. Every child is unique and develops at their own pace.

If your baby is advanced in one skill (say, crawling or walking), they may be less advanced in another (such as talking). Rest assured, there's a wide range of what's considered normal.

How can I tell if my baby has a developmental delay?

Let your baby's pediatrician know if you notice that your little one is behind on certain baby milestones month to month. Here's a quick guide, broken down by age:

• 1 month: Is having issues feeding; doesn't react to loud sounds or bright lights; doesn't focus on objects near their face; or has limbs that seem very stiff or floppy.
• 3 months: Doesn't react to the sound of your voice; doesn't smile, babble, or grasp and hold objects.
• 7 months: Doesn't cuddle or show affection to their primary caregiver; doesn't seem to enjoy people; has eyes that won't focus, cross often, or appear to be rolling; cannot sit up without help; cannot bear any weight on their legs; doesn't babble; or shows no interest in peekaboo.
• 12 months: Doesn't crawl or drags to one side when crawling; cannot stand even when supported; or isn't attempting to say words or communicate with gestures.

If your child isn't hitting these particular milestones, their pediatrician may want to check for developmental delays. The earlier any potential issues are detected, the sooner they can be addressed, often leading to a better outcome.

"Oftentimes, at pediatrician visits, they'll have you complete a questionnaire about developmental milestones," says Chandani DeZure, M.D., FAAP, a board-certified pediatrician and a member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board. "Read those carefully and answer them honestly to have the best assessment completed. For kids under the age of 3, there is Early Intervention, a free governmental program that will come to your home and assess your baby's milestones and provide services if there are significant delays."

For more information on helping your baby meet physical milestones, check out Meeting physical milestones through play, BabyCenter's course about using play to foster your baby's healthy development.

Worried about your baby hitting their milestones?

A pediatric occupational therapist explains expected timelines and how to help in our Meeting Milestones Course

Learn more

Here are baby milestones to look out for, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, March of Dimes, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

1-month-old milestones

• Tries different facial expressions
• Can recognize your smell
• Startles at loud noises (hearing is fully developed)
• Can see things 8 to 12 inches away (eyesight is developing)
• Enjoys high-contrast patterns, especially black and white
• May be able to hold their head up for brief moments
• May be able to turn head from side to side during tummy time

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 1-month-old.

2-month-old milestones

• Brings hands to mouth
• Possibly self-soothes by thumb-sucking
• Makes cooing noises
• Turns head toward sounds, especially your voice
• Visually tracks an object in front of them
• Tries to look at a parent's face
• Has improved head and neck control, thanks to plenty of tummy time
• Makes smoother arm and leg movements
• Calms down when comforted by their primary caregiver
• May smile

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 2-month-old.

3-month-old milestones

• Smiles socially in response to others
• Lifts head and chest during tummy time and possibly supports upper body with arms
• Kicks when placed on back
• Pushes down on feet when placed against a solid surface
• Watches faces
• Follows objects with eyes
• Turns head toward sounds
• Makes babbling noises and imitates sounds
• Has improved hand-eye coordination
• Reaches for and may be able to grasp toys
• Open and shuts hands
• Might begin rolling from tummy to back
• May laugh

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 3-month-old.

4-month-old milestones

• Smiles at familiar faces
• Recognizes objects, like a favorite toy
• Uses hands and eyes together to reach and grab for objects of interest
• Enjoys playing with toys
• Begins to babble, especially when spoken to
• Imitates sounds and facial expressions
• Opens their mouth for the bottle or breast when hungry
• Holds head steady without support
• Pushes body up onto elbows during tummy time
• May roll over from tummy to back
• May get frustrated when it's time to stop playing

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 4-month-old.

5-month-old milestones

• Enjoys playing games like peek-a-boo
• Can likely roll over from tummy to back
• Picks up and moves objects with hands
• Understands cause and effect (for example, that dropping a block makes noise)
• May start (or stop) making noises with objects to elicit a response from you
• May be able to sit when propped up with pillows

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 5-month-old.

6-month-old milestones

• Recognizes familiar people
• Enjoys looking in the mirror (recognizes self)
• Responds to other people's emotions
• Sticks their tongue out and blows (aka makes a "raspberry")
• Says some consonant sounds, like "m" and "b"
• Responds to own name
• Is curious about the world around them
• Explores objects using their mouth
• Passes toys between hands
• Rolls from tummy to back and back to tummy
• Likely has fun bouncing on legs when supported
• Laughs or chuckles
• May attempt to get up on hands and knees and rock back and forth
• May be able to sit without support

"Every baby learns at their own pace!" says BabyCenter Community member SmileyMiss. "I'd say just keep modeling it. Baby will get it eventually!"

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 6-month-old.

7-month-old milestones

• Rolls both ways (from tummy to back and back to tummy)
• Notices and tracks distant objects with eyes
• Reaches with one hand
• Picks up larger objects
• Passes objects between hands
• Uses a "raking" movement to move small objects
• Babbles chains of consonants like "ma ma ma ma"
• Reacts to emotion in your voice
• Loves playing with you
• May be able to sit without support
• May understand some words, including their own name and "no"
• May be able to support their own weight on their feet when held under armpits

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 7-month-old.

I don't worry too much about milestones. Every baby is different and meets them faster or slower. But if you're genuinely concerned, I would bring it up to the pediatrician.

- BabyCenter Community member Newmomnervous

8-month-old milestones

• Sits without support
• Babbles consistently
• Easily passes objects between hands
• Could start to crawl
• May say some words, like "mama"
• Might grasp smaller objects
• Might become attached to a special toy
• May pull themselves up to stand

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 8-month-old.

9-month-old milestones

• Claps their hands
• Attempts to wave
• Lifts their arms so you can pick them up
• Picks up small objects like finger foods
• Remembers the location of toys and other objects
• Understands certain words, like their name and "no"
• Makes many different sounds
• Has likely begun crawling
• Can get into sitting position and sit without support
• Can probably pull themself up to stand
• May cry when you leave due to separation anxiety
• May use fingers to point
• Might be afraid of strangers and clingy with parents

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 9-month-old.

10-month-old milestones

• Experiments with toys by shaking, throwing, or banging them
• Copies your patterns of speech
• Can likely understand and use some baby sign language
• May communicate using basic gestures, such as pointing at objects they want
• Might crawl
• May pull themself up to stand
• Might take a few steps on their own

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 10-month-old.

11-month-old milestones

• Understands more words
• Looks at objects when named
• Uses gestures to communicate, such as waving bye
• Could say first words
• May be able to pull up with support and stand for a few seconds
• May "cruise" while standing and holding onto furniture or a walking toy
• Might take a few steps without support
• Might be able to follow simple directions

Learn more about milestones, growth, and development for your 11-month-old.

12-month-old milestones

• Sits without support
• Get onto hands and knees
• Pulls up to stand
• Likes playing games like patty-cake
• Crawls
• Cruises (walks while standing and holding onto furniture or a walking toy)
• Explores objects by banging, shaking, and dropping
• Moves objects in and out of containers
• Uses a sippy cup
• Says single words, like "dada" or "uh oh"
• Tries to imitate words
• Remembers where objects are hidden
• Responds to simple commands
• Look at correct picture when image is named
• Uses gestures, such as shaking head no
• Points at objects or people of interest
• Shows preferences for certain people or toys
• Likely experiences some separation anxiety
• May hold a marker and try to scribble
• May remain standing without support
• May walk without support

"I don't worry too much about milestones. Every baby is different and meets them faster or slower," says BabyCenter Community member Newmomnervous. "But if you're genuinely concerned, I would bring it up to the pediatrician."