Major milestones for babies. Developmental Milestones: A Comprehensive Guide to Your Baby’s Growth in the First Two Years

07.07.202306.07.2023 by alexxlab

What are the key developmental milestones for babies in their first two years. How do babies typically progress in physical, cognitive, and social skills. When should parents be concerned about their child’s development.

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The Importance of Developmental Milestones

Developmental milestones are significant markers of a child’s growth and progress. They serve as indicators of how a baby is advancing in various areas, including physical abilities, cognitive skills, and social interactions. While every child develops at their own pace, understanding these milestones can help parents and healthcare providers track a baby’s progress and identify any potential concerns early on.

Why are these milestones crucial? They provide a general timeline for when most children acquire certain skills or behaviors. However, it’s essential to remember that these are guidelines, not strict rules. Some babies may reach milestones earlier or later than others, and this variation is often perfectly normal.

How are developmental milestones tracked?

Pediatricians typically evaluate a baby’s development during regular well-baby visits. They assess various aspects of growth and compare them to standard milestones for that age group. This ongoing monitoring helps ensure that any developmental delays are identified and addressed promptly.

First Month Milestones: The Newborn Stage

The first month of a baby’s life is a period of rapid adjustment to the world outside the womb. During this time, newborns begin to develop basic motor skills and sensory awareness. Here are some key milestones to watch for:

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 a preference for black-and-white or high-contrast patterns
Hearing very well
Recognizing some sounds, including parents’ voices

During this early stage, babies are primarily focused on adapting to their new environment and developing basic sensory skills. Their vision is still developing, which is why they tend to prefer high-contrast patterns and faces.

How can parents support their newborn’s development?

Parents can encourage their newborn’s development by providing plenty of face-to-face interaction, talking and singing to their baby, and offering age-appropriate visual stimulation. Tummy time is also crucial for strengthening neck and upper body muscles.

Three-Month Milestones: Increased Awareness and Control

By the end of the third month, babies typically show significant progress in their physical abilities and social interactions. Some key milestones to look for include:

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

At this stage, babies are becoming more aware of their surroundings and developing greater control over their bodies. They’re also beginning to engage more actively with their environment and the people around them.

How does a baby’s vision develop during the first three months?

A baby’s vision improves dramatically during the first three months. At birth, babies can only focus on objects 8-12 inches away. By three months, their vision has developed enough to allow them to track moving objects and recognize familiar faces and objects at a distance. Color vision also begins to develop during this period.

Seven-Month Milestones: Increased Mobility and Exploration

The period between three and seven months is marked by significant advances in physical abilities and cognitive development. By the end of their seventh month, most babies will have achieved the following milestones:

Rolling over both ways (stomach to back and back to stomach)
Sitting up
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 own name
Babbling chains of consonants (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 an interest in mirror images

This stage is characterized by increased mobility and a growing desire to explore the environment. Babies at this age are becoming more adept at manipulating objects and are developing a greater understanding of cause and effect.

Why is object permanence important in a baby’s development?

Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they can’t be seen or heard. This concept typically begins to develop around 7 months and is crucial for cognitive development. It’s the reason why babies start to enjoy games like peek-a-boo and begin to look for hidden objects. This skill forms the foundation for more complex thinking and problem-solving abilities in the future.

First Birthday Milestones: The Transition to Toddlerhood

As babies approach their first birthday, they’re on the cusp of toddlerhood. This period is marked by significant advances in mobility, communication, and social interaction. By their first birthday, most babies will:

Sit without assistance
Get into hands-and-knees position
Crawl
Pull themselves up to stand
Walk holding onto furniture, and possibly take 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

This stage represents a significant leap in independence. Babies are becoming more mobile, more communicative, and more capable of interacting with their environment in meaningful ways.

How does language development progress during the first year?

Language development in the first year is a gradual process. It begins with cooing and babbling in the early months, progresses to more varied babbling that includes consonant sounds, and typically culminates in the use of one or two recognizable words by the first birthday. However, receptive language (understanding) develops faster than expressive language (speaking), which is why babies can often understand simple commands before they can speak.

Second Birthday Milestones: Growing Independence

The second year of life is a period of rapid development in all areas. By their second birthday, most children will have achieved these milestones:

Walking alone
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 crayon
Building a tower 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)
Using two- to four-word sentences (“want snack”)
Following simple instructions
Beginning to sort objects by shapes and colors
Beginning to play make-believe
Imitating behavior of others
Showing growing independence

This stage is characterized by a growing sense of independence and a desire to explore and learn about the world. Children are developing more complex cognitive skills and are becoming more adept at communicating their needs and desires.

How does symbolic thinking develop in toddlers?

Symbolic thinking, which includes the ability to use one thing to represent another, typically emerges during the second year of life. This is evidenced by the beginning of make-believe play, where a child might use a banana as a phone or pretend a box is a car. This cognitive leap is crucial for language development, problem-solving, and creativity.

Understanding Developmental Variations

While developmental milestones provide a useful guide, it’s crucial to understand that every child develops at their own pace. Some babies may reach certain milestones earlier or later than others, and this can be perfectly normal. Factors that can influence the timing of developmental milestones include:

Genetics
Environment
Premature birth
Individual temperament
Exposure to different experiences and stimuli

For premature babies, it’s important to adjust expectations based on their corrected age (calculated from their due date rather than their birth date) for at least the first two years.

When should parents be concerned about developmental delays?

While some variation in reaching milestones is normal, significant delays or regressions in skills can be cause for concern. Parents should consult with their pediatrician if they notice:

Lack of response to sounds or visual stimuli by 3 months
Inability to hold head up by 4 months
No babbling by 7 months
No crawling by 12 months
No words by 16 months
No two-word phrases by 24 months
Any loss of previously acquired skills

Early intervention can be crucial in addressing developmental delays, so it’s always better to voice concerns to a healthcare provider sooner rather than later.

Supporting Your Baby’s Development

Parents play a crucial role in supporting their baby’s development. Here are some ways to encourage growth and learning:

Provide plenty of face-to-face interaction
Talk, sing, and read to your baby frequently
Offer age-appropriate toys and activities
Ensure plenty of tummy time for physical development
Create a safe environment for exploration
Respond consistently to your baby’s needs
Establish routines for feeding, sleeping, and play
Encourage problem-solving and independence
Limit screen time, especially in the first 18 months
Provide opportunities for social interaction with other children

Remember, every interaction with your baby is an opportunity for learning and development. The most important thing is to provide a loving, stimulating environment that encourages exploration and growth.

How does play contribute to a baby’s development?

Play is crucial for a baby’s development across all domains. Through play, babies develop motor skills, learn about cause and effect, practice problem-solving, develop language skills, and learn about social interactions. Different types of play support different aspects of development. For example, peek-a-boo games help develop object permanence, while building blocks can support fine motor skills and spatial awareness.

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 Calendar from the Health of the Nation

The Child Development Calendar from the Health of the Nation medical center is a convenient system that tells parents by months how the baby is developing.

Child development by months

Newborn

How does the baby behave in the first weeks of life? Should I be worried if he sleeps 18 hours a day? What you need to know about the features of feeding the crumbs, and what recommendations for care should be followed?

1 month

What happens to a child at the age of one month, how his behavior changes. Features of development and the emergence of new actions. What you need to know about nutrition, daily care. Planned visits to doctors and testing.

2 months

What happens in the life of a child at the age of 2 months? What behaviors should be taken into account? The appearance of the first emotions of the baby, the development of the vocal apparatus.

3 months

What discoveries do parents expect when their child is 3 months old? The emergence of new skills, the first conscious manifestation of emotions and desires. What you need to know about the features of feeding?

4 months

What happens to a 4 month old baby? The first serious games and interaction with the outside world. What you need to know about the features of feeding, and what recommendations for care should be followed?

5 months

Transition period from horizontal position. What you need to know about the features of feeding crumbs? What should parents of a five-month-old baby be prepared for?

6 months

What did the baby learn at 6 months of age? How critical is the discrepancy with accepted norms? What you need to know about the features of feeding crumbs, how to introduce the first complementary foods?

7-9 months

What happens to a child aged 7-9 months? The baby begins to sit, crawl or even take the first steps.