Major Milestones for Babies: A Comprehensive Guide to Developmental Milestones

09.07.202306.07.2023 by alexxlab

What are the major developmental milestones for babies? When do babies typically reach these milestones? Get a detailed overview of baby’s growth and development during the first two years.

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Tracking Baby’s Remarkable Growth and Development

During the first year of life, your baby will experience an astonishing rate of growth and development. From doubling their weight by 5-6 months to tripling it by their first birthday, the changes are truly remarkable. But it’s not just physical growth – your baby is constantly learning and reaching major developmental milestones.

Developmental Milestones in the First Month

By the end of their first month, most babies will:

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 and recognize some sounds, including parents’ voices

Developmental Milestones by 3 Months

By the end of their third month, most babies will:

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 objects with eyes
Watch faces closely
Recognize familiar objects and people at a distance
Start using hands and eyes in coordination
Begin to babble and imitate some sounds
Smile at the sound of parents’ voices
Enjoy playing with other people, but may cry when playing stops

Developmental Milestones by 7 Months

By the end of their seventh month, most babies will:

Roll over both ways (stomach to back and back to stomach)
Sit up
Reach for objects with their hands
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 their voice to express joy and displeasure
Respond to their own name
Babble chains of consonants (ba-ba-ba-ba)
Distinguish emotions by tone of voice
Explore objects with their hands and mouth
Struggle to get objects that are out of reach
Enjoy playing peek-a-boo
Show an interest in mirror images

Developmental Milestones by 1 Year

By their first birthday, most babies will:

Sit without assistance
Get into hands-and-knees position
Crawl
Pull themselves up to stand
Walk while holding onto furniture, and possibly a few steps without support
Use a 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 the correct picture when an image is named

Developmental Milestones by 2 Years

By their second birthday, most children will:

Walk alone
Pull toys behind them while walking
Carry large toys 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 a crayon
Build a 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

Understanding the Normal Range of Development

It’s important to remember that each child is unique and will reach these milestones at their own pace. 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, while others may not walk until 18 months, and both would still be considered within the normal range.

If you have any concerns about your child’s development, be sure to discuss them with your pediatrician. They will be able to evaluate your child’s progress and provide guidance on any necessary interventions or support.

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

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.