When do babies typically start rolling over. How can parents support their child’s development. What are the key milestones in a baby’s first year. Which skills should a 1-year-old have mastered. How do premature babies’ milestones differ.

The Importance of Developmental Milestones in Infancy

Developmental milestones serve as crucial indicators of a child’s growth and progress during their early years. These significant achievements encompass physical, cognitive, and social-emotional skills that most children acquire within a specific age range. Understanding these milestones helps parents and healthcare providers monitor a child’s development and identify potential concerns early on.

While every child develops at their own pace, certain milestones are typically reached within predictable timeframes. It’s essential to remember that these guidelines are not rigid rules but rather general expectations. Some babies may achieve certain skills earlier or later than others, which is often perfectly normal.

Why Are Developmental Milestones Important?

• They provide a roadmap for typical child development
• They help identify potential developmental delays or issues
• They guide parents in supporting their child’s growth
• They assist healthcare providers in assessing a child’s progress

Do developmental milestones vary for premature babies? Yes, for babies born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy), milestone expectations are adjusted based on their due date rather than their actual birth date. For example, a baby born two months early may reach milestones approximately two months later than the standard guidelines suggest.

First Month Milestones: The Beginning of a Remarkable Journey

The first month of a baby’s life is a period of rapid growth and adjustment to the world outside the womb. During this time, newborns begin to develop basic motor skills and sensory awareness.

Key Milestones in the First Month

• Making jerky, quivering arm movements
• Bringing hands near face
• Keeping hands in tight fists
• Moving head from side to side while lying on stomach
• Focusing on objects 8 to 12 inches away
• Preferring human faces over other shapes
• Showing preference for black-and-white or high-contrast patterns
• Hearing very well
• Recognizing some sounds, including parents’ voices

How can parents support their newborn’s development? Engage in frequent face-to-face interactions, provide high-contrast visual stimuli, and talk or sing to your baby regularly. These activities help stimulate sensory development and strengthen the parent-child bond.

Third Month Milestones: Emerging Strength and Coordination

By the end of the third month, babies typically show significant progress in their physical abilities and social interactions. This period marks the beginning of more purposeful movements and increased awareness of their surroundings.

Notable Achievements at Three Months

• Raising head and chest when lying on stomach
• Supporting upper body with arms when lying on stomach
• Stretching legs out and kicking when lying on stomach or back
• Pushing down on legs when feet are placed on a firm surface
• Opening and shutting hands
• Bringing hands to mouth
• Grabbing and shaking hand toys
• Following moving objects with eyes
• Watching faces closely
• Recognizing familiar objects and people at a distance
• Beginning to use hands and eyes in coordination
• Starting to babble and imitate some sounds
• Smiling at the sound of parents’ voices
• Enjoying playing with other people
• Possibly crying when playing stops

Is it normal for babies to have different rates of development? Absolutely. While these milestones provide a general guideline, it’s important to remember that each baby develops at their own pace. Some may excel in certain areas while taking more time in others.

Seventh Month Milestones: Increased Mobility and Exploration

The seventh month marks a period of significant physical and cognitive development. Babies at this stage become more mobile and start to explore their environment with greater curiosity and intent.

Key Developments at Seven Months

• Rolling over both ways (stomach to back and back to stomach)
• Sitting up without support
• Reaching for objects with hands
• Transferring objects from one hand to the other
• Supporting whole weight on legs when held upright
• Developing full-color vision and mature distance vision
• Using voice to express joy and displeasure
• Responding to their own name
• Babbling chains of consonants (e.g., “ba-ba-ba-ba”)
• Distinguishing emotions by tone of voice
• Exploring objects with hands and mouth
• Struggling to get objects that are out of reach
• Enjoying playing peek-a-boo
• Showing interest in mirror images

How can parents encourage their seven-month-old’s development? Provide a safe environment for exploration, offer age-appropriate toys that stimulate different senses, and engage in interactive games like peek-a-boo. Reading to your baby and maintaining regular conversations also supports language development.

First Birthday Milestones: A Year of Remarkable Growth

By their first birthday, most babies have made incredible strides in their physical, cognitive, and social development. This milestone marks the transition from infancy to toddlerhood, with many exciting new skills emerging.

Achievements to Celebrate at One Year

• Sitting without assistance for extended periods
• Getting into hands-and-knees position
• Crawling proficiently
• Pulling self up to stand
• Walking while holding onto furniture, and possibly taking a few independent steps
• Using pincer grasp (thumb and forefinger) to pick up small objects
• Saying “dada” and “mama” with intention
• Using exclamations, such as “oh-oh!”
• Attempting to imitate words
• Responding to “no” and simple verbal requests
• Using simple gestures, such as shaking head “no” and waving bye-bye
• Exploring objects in various ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping)
• Beginning to use objects correctly (e.g., drinking from a cup, brushing hair)
• Finding hidden objects easily
• Looking at the correct picture when an image is named

What should parents do if their one-year-old hasn’t reached all these milestones? While it’s natural to feel concerned, remember that development varies among children. If you have specific worries, discuss them with your pediatrician. They can assess your child’s overall progress and provide guidance or further evaluation if needed.

Second Birthday Milestones: Emerging Independence and Communication

The second year of life brings about significant advancements in a child’s physical abilities, language skills, and cognitive understanding. By their second birthday, most children have developed a strong sense of independence and are eager to explore their expanding world.

Key Developments at Two Years

• Walking alone with confidence
• Pulling toys behind them while walking
• Carrying large toys or several toys while walking
• Beginning to run
• Kicking a ball
• Climbing on and off furniture without help
• Walking up and down stairs while holding on to support
• Scribbling with crayons
• Building towers of four blocks or more
• Recognizing names of familiar people, objects, and body parts
• Saying several single words (by 15 to 18 months)
• Using simple phrases (by 18 to 24 months)
• Constructing two- to four-word sentences (e.g., “want snack”)
• Following simple instructions
• Beginning to sort objects by shapes and colors
• Engaging in make-believe play
• Imitating behavior of others
• Showing growing independence

How can parents support their two-year-old’s development? Encourage independent exploration within safe boundaries, provide opportunities for creative play, and engage in conversations to boost language skills. Reading together, singing songs, and introducing simple puzzles can also enhance cognitive development.

Supporting Your Child’s Development: Tips for Parents

As a parent, you play a crucial role in supporting your child’s development throughout their early years. While each child develops at their own pace, there are several ways you can encourage and nurture their growth across all developmental domains.

Strategies to Enhance Your Child’s Development

1. Provide a safe and stimulating environment for exploration
2. Engage in regular, interactive play sessions
3. Read to your child daily to promote language and cognitive skills
4. Offer age-appropriate toys that challenge different abilities
5. Encourage physical activity and outdoor play
6. Maintain a consistent routine to provide security and predictability
7. Respond promptly and sensitively to your child’s needs
8. Use positive reinforcement to encourage desired behaviors
9. Limit screen time and prioritize face-to-face interactions
10. Provide opportunities for social interaction with peers

How often should parents assess their child’s developmental progress? While it’s important to be aware of your child’s development, avoid becoming overly anxious about milestone checklists. Instead, focus on enjoying your child’s unique journey and discuss any concerns with your pediatrician during regular check-ups.

When to Seek Professional Advice

While variations in developmental timelines are normal, there are instances when parents should consider seeking professional advice. Early intervention can be crucial in addressing potential developmental issues and ensuring the best outcomes for your child.

Signs That May Warrant Professional Evaluation

• Failure to respond to sounds or visual stimuli by 3 months
• Inability to hold head up by 4 months
• Not sitting without support by 9 months
• No babbling by 12 months
• No single words by 16 months
• No two-word phrases by 24 months
• Loss of previously acquired skills at any age
• Persistent difficulty with social interactions or eye contact
• Extreme difficulty with changes in routine or new experiences

What should parents do if they suspect a developmental delay? If you have concerns about your child’s development, don’t hesitate to discuss them with your pediatrician. They can perform a thorough evaluation and, if necessary, refer you to specialists for further assessment and support.

Remember, early intervention can make a significant difference in a child’s developmental trajectory. Trust your instincts as a parent and seek professional advice if you have persistent concerns about your child’s progress.

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.