Researcher
Baby's first year
By the end of the first month, a baby typically:
Makes jerky, arm movements
Prefers the human face to other shapes
Has strong reflex movements
Can focus on items 8 to 12 inches away
May turn towards familiar sounds or voices
Moves head from side to side
Lifts head for short periods of time
Responds to loud sounds
Brings hands to face
Blinks at bright lights
By the end of the second month, a baby typically:
Tracks objects with his eyes
May repeat vowel noises, such as "ah" or "ooh"
Smiles
Makes noises other than crying
By the end of the third month, a baby typically:
Kicks and straightens legs when on back
Open and shuts hands
Pushes down with legs when placed on a hard surface
Raises head and chest when put on tummy
Grasps and shakes hand toys
Tracks moving objects
Begins to imitate sounds
Recognizes familiar objects and people, even at a distance
Lifts head up 45 degrees
Reaches for dangling objects
Begins to develop a social smile
Begins to develop hand-eye coordination
Brings both hands together
Interested in circular and spiral patterns
Kicks legs energetically
Holds head up with control
By the end of the fourth month, a baby typically:
Sits with support
Communicates pain, fear, loneliness and discomfort through crying
Lifts head up 90 degrees
Can follow a moving object for a 180-degree arc
May sleep about six hours at night before waking up
Babbles and amuses self with new noises
Responds to all colors and shades
Explores objects with his mouth
Recognizes a bottle or breast
Rolls over (usually tummy to back comes first)
Responds to a rattle or bell
By the end of the fifth month, a baby typically:
Begins teething process
Can see across the room
Pays attention to small objects
Experiments with the concept of cause and effect
By the end of the sixth month, a baby typically:
Makes some vowel-consonant sounds
Sits by self with minimal support
Opens mouth for spoon
Begins to use hands in a raking fashion to bring toys near
Reaches for and grabs objects
Rolls over and back
Drinks from a cup with help
Can hold bottle
Copies some facial expressions
Keeps head level when pulled to sitting position
Makes two-syllable sounds
By the end of the seventh month, a baby typically:
Makes wet razzing sounds
Distinguishes emotions by tone of voice
Turns in the direction of a voice
Plays peekaboo
Can self-feed some finger foods
Imitates many sounds
By the end of the eighth month, a baby typically:
Reaches for utensils when being fed
Turns head away when finished eating
Chews on objects
Sits unsupported
Gets on arms and knees in crawling position
Has specific cries for various needs
May sleep between 11 and 13 hours a night; takes 2 to 3 naps
Babbles enthusiastically
Tests gravity by dropping objects over edge of high chair
Rolls all the way around
Responds to own name
Has different reactions for different family members
Shows some anxiety when removed from parent
By the end of the ninth month, a baby typically:
Drops objects and then looks for them
Becomes interested in grabbing the spoon during feedings
Goes from tummy to sitting by self
Reaches for toys
Picks up tiny objects
Begins to identify self in a mirror's reflection
Drops objects and then looks for them
By the end of the tenth month, a baby typically:
Transfers object from hand to hand
Understands the concept of object permanence
Stands holding onto someone
Pulls to standing
Gets upset if toy is taken away
By the end of the 11th month, a baby typically:
Claps hands
Understands "yes" and "no"
Says "ma-ma" and "da-da" discriminately
Waves bye-bye
By the end of the 12th month a baby typically:
Triples birth weight and is 29 to 32 inches long
Bangs two cubes together
Puts objects into containers and then takes them out
Voluntarily lets objects go
Shakes head "no"
Has fun opening and closing cabinet doors
"Dances" to music
"Cruises" furniture
Walks with adult help
Identifies self in mirror
Says "ma-ma" and "da-da"
May take one to two naps daily
Interested in books and may identify some things
Crawls well
May understand some simple commands
Fearful of strangers
Shares toys but wants them back
May form attachment to an item
Pushes away what he doesn't want
Prefers to push, pull and dump items
Pulls off hat and socks
Understands use of certain objects
Tests parental responses to behavior
Extends arm or leg when getting dressed