When do babies typically start rolling over. How can parents support their child’s development during the first year. What are the key milestones to look out for by 12 months. Which skills should most toddlers have mastered by age two. How do premature babies’ developmental timelines differ.

The First Month: Early Signs of Development

The initial weeks of a baby’s life are filled with rapid changes and adaptations to the new world around them. During this time, parents may observe several key developmental indicators:

• Arm movements characterized by jerky, quivering motions
• Hands frequently brought near the face
• Tight fist clenching
• Head turning from side to side while prone
• Visual focus on objects 8 to 12 inches away
• Preference for human faces and high-contrast patterns
• Heightened auditory awareness, especially to familiar voices

These early signs lay the foundation for more complex skills to develop in the coming months. Parents can support this development by engaging in face-to-face interactions and providing visually stimulating environments with contrasting colors and patterns.

Milestones at Three Months: Emerging Motor Skills and Social Awareness

By the end of the third month, babies typically demonstrate significant progress in physical strength, visual acuity, and social engagement. Some notable achievements include:

• Lifting head and chest when lying on stomach
• Stretching and kicking legs
• Pushing down on legs when feet are placed on a firm surface
• Improved hand control, including opening and shutting hands
• Enhanced eye-hand coordination
• Following moving objects with eyes
• Recognizing familiar faces and objects at a distance
• Beginning to babble and imitate sounds
• Smiling in response to parents’ voices
• Enjoying social interactions

These developments mark the beginning of a baby’s journey towards greater independence and interaction with their environment. Parents can encourage growth by providing opportunities for tummy time, introducing age-appropriate toys, and engaging in frequent verbal exchanges.

Supporting Visual Development

At this stage, a baby’s visual capabilities are rapidly improving. To support this development, parents can:

1. Use high-contrast toys and books
2. Play simple tracking games with moving objects
3. Ensure adequate face-to-face time during daily activities

Seven-Month Milestones: Mobility and Exploration

The seventh month brings exciting advancements in a baby’s physical abilities and cognitive skills. Key developments often include:

• Rolling over in both directions
• Sitting up without support
• Reaching for and grasping objects
• Transferring objects between hands
• Supporting body weight on legs when held upright
• Developing full-color and mature distance vision
• Using vocalizations to express emotions
• Responding to their own name
• Babbling consonant chains
• Distinguishing emotions through voice tone
• Exploring objects with hands and mouth
• Showing interest in mirror images

This period marks a significant increase in a baby’s ability to interact with their surroundings. Parents can facilitate this growth by creating safe spaces for exploration, introducing a variety of textures and objects, and engaging in interactive games like peek-a-boo.

Enhancing Cognitive Development

To support cognitive growth during this stage, parents can:

1. Provide toys that encourage problem-solving
2. Engage in conversation, even if the baby can’t respond with words
3. Read books with simple, colorful images
4. Play games that involve object permanence, like hiding toys under a blanket

The First Birthday: A Year of Remarkable Growth

By their first birthday, most babies have made extraordinary progress in their physical, cognitive, and social development. Typical milestones include:

• Sitting without assistance
• Crawling or alternative forms of mobility
• Pulling up to stand
• Walking with support, possibly taking a few independent steps
• Using the pincer grasp (thumb and forefinger)
• Saying simple words like “dada” and “mama”
• Using exclamations and trying to imitate words
• Responding to simple verbal requests
• Using basic gestures, such as waving goodbye
• Exploring objects in various ways (shaking, banging, throwing)
• Beginning to use objects correctly (e.g., drinking from a cup)
• Finding hidden objects easily
• Recognizing images when named

This milestone represents a significant transition as babies begin to assert their independence and develop more complex communication skills. Parents can continue to support this growth by providing opportunities for safe exploration, encouraging language development through conversation and reading, and introducing simple problem-solving activities.

Fostering Language Development

Language skills are rapidly evolving at this stage. To encourage linguistic growth, parents can:

1. Engage in frequent conversations, even if one-sided
2. Read books daily, pointing out and naming objects
3. Sing songs and recite nursery rhymes
4. Respond positively to communication attempts

Toddler Triumphs: Developmental Leaps in the Second Year

The second year of life brings remarkable advancements in a child’s abilities. By their second birthday, most children have mastered:

• Walking independently
• Running and kicking a ball
• Climbing on furniture without assistance
• Navigating stairs with support
• Scribbling with crayons
• Building towers with blocks
• Recognizing names of familiar people, objects, and body parts
• Using simple phrases and short sentences
• Following basic instructions
• Beginning to sort objects by shape and color
• Engaging in imaginative play
• Imitating others’ behaviors
• Demonstrating increasing independence

This period is characterized by rapid language acquisition and the development of more complex motor skills. Parents can support this growth by providing ample opportunities for physical activity, encouraging creative play, and engaging in activities that promote language and cognitive development.

Nurturing Independence and Social Skills

To foster independence and social development during this stage, parents can:

1. Encourage self-help skills like dressing and feeding
2. Provide opportunities for supervised play with peers
3. Offer choices to promote decision-making
4. Set consistent boundaries and expectations

Understanding Developmental Variations and Premature Babies

It’s crucial to remember that every child develops at their own pace. While the milestones described serve as general guidelines, there is a wide range of normal development. Some babies may achieve certain skills earlier or later than average without cause for concern.

For premature babies, developmental timelines require adjustment. Typically, milestones are assessed based on a baby’s adjusted age, which is calculated from their due date rather than their actual birth date. For example, a baby born two months early might reach milestones approximately two months later than the standard guidelines suggest.

When to Seek Professional Advice

While variations in development are common, certain signs may warrant consultation with a healthcare provider:

• Failure to respond to sounds or visual stimuli
• Lack of smiling or social responsiveness by 3 months
• Inability to support head by 4 months
• No rolling over in either direction by 7 months
• Absence of babbling by 8 months
• No attempts to stand with support by 12 months
• No single words by 16 months
• No two-word phrases by 24 months

Early intervention can be crucial if developmental delays are identified. Healthcare providers can offer guidance and, if necessary, refer families to appropriate specialists or early intervention programs.

The Role of Well-Child Visits in Monitoring Development

Regular well-child visits play a vital role in tracking a child’s developmental progress. These check-ups allow healthcare providers to:

• Assess physical growth and development
• Screen for potential developmental delays
• Provide guidance on nutrition, safety, and overall health
• Address parental concerns and questions
• Administer necessary vaccinations

The frequency of these visits is typically higher during the first year of life, reflecting the rapid pace of development during this period. Parents should maintain a consistent schedule of well-child visits as recommended by their healthcare provider to ensure optimal monitoring of their child’s growth and development.

Preparing for Well-Child Visits

To make the most of these appointments, parents can:

1. Keep a record of developmental milestones observed at home
2. Note any concerns or questions about their child’s development
3. Bring any relevant medical records or information
4. Be prepared to discuss the child’s eating habits, sleep patterns, and behavior

Supporting Optimal Development: Tips for Parents

While every child develops at their own pace, there are numerous ways parents can support and encourage healthy development:

• Provide a safe, nurturing environment for exploration
• Engage in frequent, positive interactions with your child
• Read to your child daily from an early age
• Offer age-appropriate toys and activities that stimulate learning
• Ensure adequate nutrition and sleep
• Limit screen time, especially for children under 18 months
• Encourage physical activity and outdoor play
• Foster social interactions with peers and family members
• Maintain a consistent routine to provide stability
• Respond promptly and consistently to your child’s needs

By implementing these strategies, parents can create an environment that promotes optimal physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. Remember that each child is unique, and it’s essential to celebrate individual progress rather than focusing solely on comparative milestones.

The Importance of Play in Development

Play is a crucial component of a child’s development. Through play, children:

1. Develop motor skills
2. Enhance cognitive abilities
3. Learn social skills and emotional regulation
4. Stimulate creativity and problem-solving
5. Build language and communication skills

Parents should prioritize unstructured playtime and engage in interactive play with their children to support overall development.

Developmental milestones for baby | March of Dimes

During the first year of life, your baby will grow and develop at an amazing speed. 

Her weight will double by 5 to 6 months, and triple by her first birthday. And she is constantly learning. 

Major achievements—called developmental milestones—include rolling over, sitting up, standing and possibly walking. And your heart will likely melt at the sound of her first “mama” or “dada.”

No two babies are exactly alike. Your baby will develop at her own pace. Most babies reach certain milestones at similar ages. However, it’s not unusual for a healthy, “normal” baby to fall behind in some areas or race ahead in others.

The following milestones are only guidelines. Your baby’s health care provider will evaluate your baby’s development at each well-baby visit. Remember: Always talk to your child’s health care professional if you think your baby is lagging behind.

If your baby was born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy), you need to look at the milestone guidelines a little differently. The age at which your baby is expected to reach various milestones is based on her due date, not her birthday. So if your baby was born two months early, she will most likely achieve milestones two months later than the guidelines below predict.

By the end of their first month, most babies:

• Make jerky, quivering arm movements
• Bring hands near face
• Keep hands in tight fists
• Move head from side to side while lying on stomach
• Focus on objects 8 to 12 inches away
• Prefer human faces over other shapes
• Prefer black-and-white or high-contrast patterns
• Hear very well
• Recognize some sounds, including parents’ voices

By the end of their third month, most babies:

• Raise head and chest when lying on stomach
• Support upper body with arms when lying on stomach
• Stretch legs out and kick when lying on stomach or back
• Push down on legs when feet are placed on a firm surface
• Open and shut hands
• Bring hands to mouth
• Grab and shake hand toys
• Follow moving object with eyes
• Watch faces closely
• Recognize familiar objects and people at a distance
• Start using hands and eyes in coordination
• Begin to babble and to imitate some sounds
• Smile at the sound of parents’ voices
• Enjoy playing with other people
• May cry when playing stops

By the end of their seventh month, most babies:

• Roll over both ways (stomach to back and back to stomach)
• Sit up
• Reach for object with hand
• Transfer objects from one hand to the other
• Support whole weight on legs when held upright
• Develop full-color vision and mature distance vision
• Use voice to express joy and displeasure
• Respond to own name
• Babble chains of consonants (ba-ba-ba-ba)
• Distinguish emotions by tone of voice
• Explore objects with hands and mouth
• Struggle to get objects that are out of reach
• Enjoy playing peek-a-boo
• Show an interest in mirror images

By their first birthday, most babies:

• Sit without assistance
• Get into hands-and-knees position
• Crawl
• Pull self up to stand
• Walk holding onto furniture, and possibly a few steps without support
• Use pincer grasp (thumb and forefinger)
• Say “dada” and “mama”
• Use exclamations, such as “oh-oh!”
• Try to imitate words
• Respond to “no” and simple verbal requests
• Use simple gestures, such as shaking head “no” and waving bye-bye
• Explore objects in many ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping)
• Begin to use objects correctly (drinking from cup, brushing hair)
• Find hidden objects easily
• Look at correct picture when an image is named

By their second birthday, most children:

• Walk alone
• Pull toys behind them while walking
• Carry large toy or several toys while walking
• Begin to run
• Kick a ball
• Climb on and off furniture without help
• Walk up and down stairs while holding on to support
• Scribble with crayon
• Build tower of four blocks or more
• Recognize names of familiar people, objects and body parts
• Say several single words (by 15 to 18 months)
• Use simple phrases (by 18 to 24 months)
• Use two- to four-word sentences (“want snack”)
• Follow simple instructions
• Begin to sort objects by shapes and colors
• Begin to play make-believe
• Imitate behavior of others
• Show growing independence

Developmental milestones record: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

URL of this page: //medlineplus. gov/ency/article/002002.htm

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Developmental milestones are behaviors or physical skills seen in infants and children as they grow and develop. Rolling over, crawling, walking, and talking are all considered milestones. The milestones are different for each age range.

There is a normal range in which a child may reach each milestone. For example, walking may begin as early as 8 months in some children. Others walk as late as 18 months and it is still considered normal.

One of the reasons for well-child visits to the health care provider in the early years is to follow your child’s development. Most parents also watch for different milestones. Talk to your child’s provider if you have concerns about your child’s development.

Closely watching a “checklist” or calendar of developmental milestones may trouble parents if their child is not developing normally. At the same time, milestones can help to identify a child who needs a more detailed check-up. Research has shown that the sooner the developmental services are started, the better the outcome. Examples of developmental services include: speech therapy, physical therapy, and developmental preschool.

Below is a general list of some of the things you might see children doing at different ages. These are NOT precise guidelines. There are many different normal paces and patterns of development.

Infant — birth to 1 year

• Able to drink from a cup
• Able to sit alone, without support
• Babbles
• Displays social smile
• Gets first tooth
• Plays peek-a-boo
• Pulls self to standing position
• Rolls over by self
• Says mama and dada, using terms appropriately
• Understands “NO” and will stop activity in response
• Walks while holding on to furniture or other support

Toddler — 1 to 3 years

• Able to feed self neatly, with minimal spilling
• Able to draw a line (when shown one)
• Able to run, pivot, and walk backwards
• Able to say first and last name
• Able to walk up and down stairs
• Begins pedaling tricycle
• Can name pictures of common objects and point to body parts
• Dresses self with only a little bit of help
• Imitates speech of others, “echoes” word back
• Learns to share toys (without adult direction)
• Learns to take turns (if directed) while playing with other children
• Masters walking
• Recognizes and labels colors appropriately
• Recognizes differences between males and females
• Uses more words and understands simple commands
• Uses spoon to feed self

Preschooler — 3 to 6 years

• Able to draw a circle and square
• Able to draw stick figures with two to three features for people
• Able to skip
• Balances better, may begin to ride a bicycle
• Begins to recognize written words, reading skills start
• Catches a bounced ball
• Enjoys doing most things independently, without help
• Enjoys rhymes and word play
• Hops on one foot
• Rides tricycle well
• Starts school
• Understands size concepts
• Understands time concepts

School-age child — 6 to 12 years

• Begins gaining skills for team sports such as soccer, T-ball, or other team sports
• Begins to lose “baby” teeth and get permanent teeth
• Girls begin to show growth of armpit and pubic hair, breast development
• Menarche (first menstrual period) may occur in girls
• Peer recognition begins to become important
• Reading skills develop further
• Routines important for daytime activities
• Understands and is able to follow several directions in a row

Adolescent — 12 to 18 years

• Adult height, weight, sexual maturity
• Boys show growth of armpit, chest, and pubic hair; voice changes; and testicles/penis enlarge
• Girls show growth of armpit and pubic hair; breasts develop; menstrual periods start
• Peer acceptance and recognition is of vital importance
• Understands abstract concepts

Related topics include:

• Developmental milestones record – 2 months
• Developmental milestones record – 4 months
• Developmental milestones record – 6 months
• Developmental milestones record – 9 months
• Developmental milestones record – 12 months
• Developmental milestones record – 18 months
• Developmental milestones record – 2 years
• Developmental milestones record – 3 years
• Developmental milestones record – 4 years
• Developmental milestones record – 5 years

Growth milestones for children; Normal childhood growth milestones; Childhood growth milestones

• Developmental growth

Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW.  The health record. In: Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW, eds. Siedel’s Guide to Physical Examination. 10th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 5.

Kimmel SR, Ratliff-Schaub K. Growth and development. In: Rakel RE, Rakel DP, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 22.

Lipkin PH. Developmental and behavioral surveillance and screening. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 28.

Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

Baby milestones: 1-6 months

What to expect from your baby in the first six months of life.

• CHILD DEVELOPMENT: Some children may reach developmental milestones more quickly and others a little more slowly.

In the first year of life, your newborn baby will grow rapidly, gain weight and height, and reach new milestones every month. The transformation from a sleepy newborn to an active baby will be wonderful and will happen right before your eyes.

Your newborn baby will spend the first few weeks after birth sleeping 24/7, waking up only to feed or change a diaper. Yawning, sneezing, hiccups, stretching are some of the actions your newborn will exhibit. This is the first stage in the development of the child, which will not last long.

All babies develop at different rates

Although all babies have the same developmental stages, each baby will have their own rate of growth and development due to various hereditary and environmental factors. Don’t worry if your child develops more slowly. Remember: the brilliant scientist Einstein in his early years was considered a very boring and retarded student.

The main stages of child development in the first six months: month by month

• 1 month:
  In the first month, children sleep a lot and stay awake little. They will look at you when you talk to them and may open and close their mouths as if they were talking to you. They can follow moving objects with their eyes and see colorful toys hanging in front of them. At this stage in the development of the baby, they begin to smile.
• 2 months:
  Babies will smile if you talk to them or stimulate them in any way. This is called a social smile. At this stage, they will also begin to coo and be able to move their head and follow a moving person or object almost 180 degrees. They will be able to hold their head up, but it will wobble periodically as they don’t have full head control.
• 3 months:
  Babies have better head control and can lift their heads quite high when laid on their stomachs. At this stage of development, babies become more attentive and can observe the movements of their hands with curiosity. Not only will they smile when you talk to them, they may also respond with a squeal of delight. They will be able to hold a rattle or a toy in their hands.
• 4 months:
  Babies can now keep their heads up at all times. If you put them on your stomach, they will be able to keep their head and chest above the surface. They love to play with their hands. They will also enjoy shaking the rattle, enjoying its sound. They are curious and constantly looking around. They are fun to play with and can laugh out loud when tickled.
• 5 months:
  By now, babies have complete head control and can grasp toys firmly. They enjoy playing with toys, crumpling paper and splashing water in the bathtub. They smile a lot when you talk to them and also smile at their own image in the mirror.
• 6 months:
  Babies can roll over on their side in the middle of their first year of life. Their legs are stronger and will be able to support their weight if you put them on. At this stage of the baby’s development, they are more playful and will gladly hold their feet and suck their toes. They can blow bubbles and playfully stick out their tongue. They will enjoy playing hide and seek with you, but they can become shy if a stranger joins the game. They may begin to show anxiety and may also express likes and dislikes for certain foods. Your baby may start making sounds such as “yes, ba, ka.”

Read on to learn about the milestones in your baby’s development over the next 6 months.

Child development in the first month of life

Hello parents!

The birth of a child is a happy moment. Behind the anxious months of pregnancy and childbirth – and now your baby is in your arms. You have already seen the baby take its first breath, hear the first cry, and change the first dirty diaper.

And what’s next? How to raise your child healthy and happy?

Pediatrician Mushak Liliya Vladimirovna will tell you about all the important moments of a child’s development in the first month of life.

The first year is very important for a child. From helpless newborn to active toddler, your baby only needs 12 short months to experience this incredible transformation. Children grow and change at an impressive rate, and each month brings new and exciting experiences. So let’s take a look at the major milestones you can look forward to during your baby’s first magical year.

Baby development: first month

Your baby may seem to be just eating and sleeping during this period. But in fact, during this first stage of development, the baby’s body and brain are learning to live in the outside world. So, how we look:

arms and legs bent, palms clenched into fists (this is called the flexor posture) the body may be covered with vellus hair (lanugo), which disappears with time; the baby’s nails are formed and reach the edge of the finger or may be longer; eyelashes and eyebrows developed not too clearly; the eyes of all babies are gray-blue; on the head of the baby there is a soft diamond-shaped area – this is a large fontanel, its dimensions are usually from 1 to 3 cm in width (in premature babies, another fontanel will be open – a small one, it is located near the occipital bone and the dimensions are smaller – 0. 3-0 5 cm) there may be white dots on the face – these are the so-called moths, which will disappear on their own over time; the respiratory rate fluctuates between 40-60 per minute and the heartbeat 140-160 beats per minute.

The sense organs of a newborn are poorly developed, but the child distinguishes taste well. Infants may react to odors that are in close proximity (for example, they smell breast milk well when the mother picks up and the baby tries to “poke” into the breast, and, conversely, they may not like the smell of breast cream, so they will be naughty while feeding). Vision is poorly developed: the newborn perceives only light, the gaze is not fixed, the child has physiological strabismus, which is manifested by uncoordinated eye movements. Hearing is also underdeveloped, but the baby reacts only to strong sounds with a shudder, contraction of facial muscles, a change in the frequency and depth of breathing.

After the umbilical remnant falls off (usually on 3-4 days), an umbilical wound forms in its place. Wound care takes 7 to 14 days. You must take care to keep the umbilical wound clean and dry, otherwise there is a possibility of bacterial inflammation.

Although the newborn angel seems tiny and defenseless, it is not quite so. Nature endowed the baby with innate reflexes, with the help of which the child adapts to an unfamiliar world. The presence and severity of these reflexes is an important indicator of health, which the doctor checks when you first meet your baby. The main ones:

* Sucking reflex – as soon as you bring the breast or nipple to the mouth of a newborn, he begins to make sucking movements;

* Searching reflex – when the corner of the baby’s mouth is irritated, he will return the head to the side of the stimulus and open his mouth a little;

* Grasping reflex – lightly press on the palmar surface of the hand, the child will squeeze it into a fist;

* Moro reflex – supine position. The reflex is caused by various tricks – a light blow on the surface on which the child lies, a sound or vibration stimulus. The response of the child is the abduction of the arms to the sides, the straightening of the legs, previously bent and brought to the tummy – 1a phase of the reflex.

Reduction of arms with a tendency to grasp the body – 2a phase of the reflex.

* Crawl reflex – prone position. If you put your palm on the sole, then the child reflexively pushes away from it with his legs.

Physical development

In the first month, body weight decreases in the first 3 days, and then the child actively begins to gain weight. By the end of the first month, a newborn baby adds about 600 grams to the body weight at birth and grows by about 3 cm. The head circumference increases by 1.5-2 cm

Psychomotor development

• Actively moves arms and legs simultaneously.
• Lying on the stomach, slightly raises the head.
• Listens to rattles.
• Stops crying when he sees or hears his mother.
• Reacts with a shudder to a sharp sound.
• Turns his head towards the light.
• Can focus on something at a distance of 20-30 cm from the face (especially on the mother’s face)
• By the end of the first month, the baby can smile and say the first “aha”

EMOTIONS

The first emotions a child experiences immediately after birth and will show them in the only way available to him so far – by crying.

Do not worry when the baby cries. Thus, he is trying to convey to us that perhaps he is hungry, or he is cold or sad and scared, maybe he wants to sleep or just asks for your attention. By listening carefully to the intonations, you will very quickly learn to “decipher” the requirements of your baby.

Give maximum care and warmth to your baby, pet him, talk in a quiet pleasant voice, sing songs, read books, turn on pleasant quiet music. Remember, the emotional state of the child largely depends on your mood. Therefore, not much time will pass and your baby will give you his first unforgettable sincere smile.