Understanding growth one giggle at a time
Seeing your baby grow is a heartwarming journey filled with unforgettable firsts like their first smiles, first steps, and first words. While these milestones are joyous occasions, behind the smile lies the nagging worry of whether the baby is developing "on track." Each child develops at their own pace. However, general guidelines issued by major authorities like the CDC can open the door to parenting insight. These milestones are not hard and fast rules or worries; they are gentle signposts that help to govern your expectations and ease your mind.
Knowing what most babies do at certain ages can help you embrace your little one's progress with confidence and less stress. Let's now look at the first two years, month by month.
Baby Developmental Milestones: Month-by-Month Activities and What to Expect
Developmental milestones for babies are key indicators of growth, learning, and adapting during the first 24 months. By following these milestones month by month, parents can better understand what to expect and provide the proper support for each stage of development.
0–2 Months: Welcome to the World
During these two months, your newborn is adjusting to outside living. Most actions involve reflexes such as sucking, grabbing, startling to loud sounds, and so on.
By about 2 months, you will likely observe:
- Your baby begins grinning at people (yes, those smiles are real now, not just gasps!).
- Coos and gulps become an early part of their "talking" attempts.
- They will begin turning their head toward sounds.
- Their eyes will be tracking moving objects, especially faces.
- They might lift their head for a bit of time during tummy time.
This is a lovely phase of deepened connection. You shouldn't be too bothered if your baby is smiling very little yet, since everything will fall into place at the right pace.
3–4 Months: Social Butterfly Development
At this age, the baby starts to learn expressions. This is where they learn more about their interaction with the surrounding World and you.
By 4 months, your baby will probably:
- Smiling spontaneously, this is most especially with familiar faces.
- Babbling and making sounds to attract attention.
- Pushing down on their feet when you hold them upright on a surface.
- Holding their head up without any support.
- Starting to bring hands to their mouths- a very early self-soothing sign.
All of those interactions are so adorable. Your baby is starting to understand that their voice counts and will use it more often!
5–6 Months: Tiny Explorers
At this stage, movement, curiosity, and interaction are increasing. Although they may not yet be crawling, they are mobile.
Some typical six-month milestones are:
- Responding to their name;
- Making sounds such as "ba," "da," or "ga" with more articulate pronunciation;
- Rolling over in both directions, watch out for traffic!
- Sitting up unsupported for 1-3 minutes;
- Reaching for toys and bringing them to their mouth (yes, everything is a chew toy).
Baby-proofing should now be a priority. Keep choking items out of reach and safe for exploration.
7–9 Months: Crawling & Communicating
This is the stage that brings new movement and new consciousness to society. Each baby does a different thing: some crawl, some scoot, and some even roll around.
By the time your baby is 9 months old, you may realize that the baby:
- Understand the word "no".
- Begins to mumble words like "mamama" and "bababa" to attract attention.
- Hides some objects and expects them to be found again. For example, while playing peek-a-boo, the baby anticipates the recovery of an object from under the blanket.
- Develops the grasp of the thumb and forefinger, which is handy for self-feeding.
- Begins to crawl and exhibits the movement before crawling.
Be prepared for curiosity because everything will be a new adventure at this stage.
10–12 Months: Standing, Stepping, and Saying Things
This is the stage of a baby turning into a toddler. Your baby will be learning things around their first birthday; they should try everything.
At 12 months:
- They may say "mama" or "dada," and mean it!
- Imitate the sounds or words that they make.
- Pulling up to standing to take a few wobbly steps.
- Filling and emptying containers is their idea of fun!
- Just love simple games such as "so big" or "peek-a-boo."
Cognitive leaps also occur; it is not only a physical change. Most likely, an increase in the child's intentionality in behavior will be witnessed in exploration and learning.
13–15 Months: Little Learners
Your little one is starting to develop more confidence in moving and communicating. They may be walking or speed-crawling and beginning to grasp your everyday routines. More often, babies will typically do the following by the time they're 15 months old:
- To say a few understandable words regularly.
- I want to point at everything to show and tell for all my needs.
- Walk without any support.
- To begin scribbling with crayons or imitating household chores.
- Explore cause and effect - drop a spoon and wait for mom to pick it up. And Repeat.
This is an excellent time for stimulating language and independence. Talk through what you are doing, give them safe things to examine, and continue to praise what they do.
16–18 Months: Building Personality
By 18 months, some kids might be chatty while others may be quiet. Both personalities are okay. Some characteristics of toddlers towards the end of 18 months are as follows:
- Use of a few single words and some vocalizing in their tone.
- Understand basic commands like "give me the toy."
- Walk up steps with support.
- Feed themselves with fingers or a spoon.
- Take an interest in other little ones, playing parallel to them.
Expect mood swings and big emotions; this is the part of learning to grow independent.
19–24 Months: Full Toddler Mode
Welcome to the life of two-word sentences and lots of toddler energy. There are a lot of exploratory tantrums and giggle-filled days.
At 24 months, the majority of toddlers will produce:
- 2-4 words combined, speaking with a few small phrases.
- Begin role-playing with a doll being fed or a toy phone.
- Kick a ball, run, and climb more confidently now.
- Eliminates the possibility of you calling him, as he can point to any known objects when named.
- He defies a command or instruction by saying simply "no!".
Of course, some days will seem like a wild mess of snack negotiations and meltdowns. But they are learning to express themselves, which takes time and patience.
Celebrate their every step.
Developmental milestones are signposts along your baby's path, not a checklist to be completed. A little one may walk at 10 months; another child may wait until 16. Speaking for one baby may come very early, while others may not speak for a long time. Even so, all that counts is that, over time, growth continues steadily toward happiness and joy in the World offered by the baby going through that development.
Whenever you are in doubt about your baby's milestones, always consult your pediatrician. If intervention may be necessary, it will be early intervention. Generally, your baby is on their timing.
