Baby Growth

We’ve listed what most babies can do at each month for the first year of their lives. About half will be able to do more than this, and still other babies develop even more quickly. Every baby is different, so learn to listen and watch your baby for ways in which you can help him develop at his own particular speed.

Month 1: Can lift his head while on his belly, respond to sounds, and look at faces.

Month 2: Holds his head up for short periods, can make sounds like gurgles and coos, can track motion, becomes aware of his hands.

Month 3: Can hold his head up for extended periods of time and recognize both faces and smells.

Month 4: Can smile and laugh and respond vocally to you words and sounds.

Month 5:  Plays with hands and feet, can tell the difference between certain bold colors.

Month 6: Physically responds to sounds and voices, can roll over back to front and front to back, imitates sounds.

Month 7: Can sit upright by himself and grasp toys and other objects, begins crawling.

Month 8: Able to make sounds like “mama” or “dada” indiscriminately to parents.

Month 9: Can stand upright while holding onto something, chatters by connecting syllables, realizes the difference between objects that can and can’t be moved.

Month 10: Can wave goodbye, can pick up things with fingers instead of whole hands.

Month 11:  Can stand by himself, plays games like patty-cake, says “mama” and “dada” to the correct corresponding parent.

Month 12: Uses gestures to indicate wants and desires, uses imitation to communicate and interact.

Please keep in mind that these milestones are an average only, and your baby may be performing much faster or slower than other babies, especially if your baby was premature or had other varying situations at birth.

It’s therefore unwise to compare your child’s progress with that of a friend babies, instead, note your child’s development from week to week, measuring his current progress only against his previous achievements. If you feel there is significant delay in any of the four categories or there is a drastic difference between your child’s performance and that of other children his age, consult your pediatrician.

In general, however, don’t worry! Your baby will grow up whether you want him to or not, so enjoy this time as much as possible. Now, get out your cameras, take as many pictures as you can, and get prepared for a whirlwind adventure (and lots of outgrown clothes!)