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