Child development involves the biological, psychological and emotional changes that occur in human beings between birth and adulthood. Babies develop at different rates. If your baby has not reached one or more of the developmental milestones, it does not mean that something is wrong.
Child development is not a matter of a single topic, but progresses somewhat differently for different aspects of the child. Milestones are changes in specific physical and mental abilities (such as walking and understanding language) that mark the end of one developmental period and the beginning of another.
The First Month
- Turns head from side to side when lying on back
- Strong grasp reflex present
- Sees black and white patterns
- Quiets when a voice is heard
- Makes throaty sounds
- Looks intently at parents when they talk to him/her
- Looks and follows object moving in front of them in range of 45 degrees
- Hands stay clenched
- Cries to express displeasure
- Can lift head momentarily
The Second Month:
- Vocalizes to familiar voices
- Visually searches for sounds
- Social smile demonstrated in response to various stimuli
- Makes noises other than crying
- Lifts head almost 45 degrees when lying on stomach
- Head bobs forward when held in sitting position
- Grasp reflex decreases
- Follows dangling objects with eyes
- Cries become distinctive (wet, hungry, etc.)
The Third Month:
- When lying on stomach can raise head and shoulders between 45 and 90 degrees
- Squeals, coos, babbles, and chuckles
- Smiles when he/she sees familiar people, and engages in play with them
- Shows awareness to strange situations
- Recognizes faces, voices, and objects
- Locates sound by turning head and looking in the same direction
- Holds objects but does not reach for them
- Grasp reflex absent
- Follows objects 180 degrees
- Clutches own hands and pulls at blankets and clothes
- Begins to bear partial weight on both legs when held in a standing position
- Bears weight on forearms
- Able to hold head up when sitting but still bobs forward
- “Talks” when spoken to
The Fourth Month:
- Tries to reach for objects but overshoots
- Sits with support
- Rolls from back to side
- Raises head and chest off surface to a 90 degree angle
- Makes consonant sounds
- Laughs
- Grasps objects with both hands
- Good head control
- Eye-hand coordination begins
- Explores and plays with hands
- Enjoys being rocked, bounced or swung
- Drooling begins
- Bears some weight on legs when held upright
The Fifth Month
- When lying on back puts feet to mouth
- Watches objects that are dropped
- Voluntarily grasps and holds objects
- Takes objects directly to mouth
- Smiles at mirror image
- Signs of teething begin
- Says “ah-goo” or similar vowel-consonant combinations
- Rolls from stomach to back
- Plays with toes
- Holds head up when sitting
- Gets upset if you take a toy away
- Can tell family and strangers apart
- Begins to discover parts of his/her body
The Sixth Month
- Adjusts body to see an object
- Bears majority of weight when being held in a standing position
- Chewing and biting occur
- Grabs feet and pulls to mouth
- Grasps and controls small objects
- Holds bottle
- Lifts head when pulled to a sitting position
- Prefers more complex visual stimuli
- Recognizes parents
- Rolls from back to stomach
- Says one syllable sounds like “ma”, “mu”, “da”, and “di”
- Turns head from side to side and then looks up or down
- When on stomach, can lift chest and part of stomach off the surface, bearing weight on hands
The Seventh Month
- “Talks” when others are talking
- Able to fixate on small objects
- Awareness of depth and space begin
- Bangs objects on surfaces
- Bears full weight on feet
- Bears weight on one hand when lying on stomach
- Bounces when held in standing position
- Has taste preferences
- Responds to name
- Sits without support, may lean forward on both hands
- Transfers objects from one hand to another
The Eight Month
- Able to release objects
- Adjusts posture to reach an object
- Bears weight on legs and may stand holding on to furniture
- Begins combining syllables like “mama” and “dada” but does not attach a meaning
- Dislikes having diaper changed and being dressed
- Listens selectively to familiar words
- Picks up objects using index, fourth, and fifth finger against thumb
- Pulls string to obtain object
- Reaches for toys that are out of reach
- Sits well without support
- Understands the word no (but does not always obey it)!
The Ninth Month
- Begins crawling
- Comprehends the word “no”
- Increased interest in pleasing parents
- May develop a preference for use of one hand
- Pulls up to standing position from sitting
- Puts arms in front of face to avoid having it washed
- Responds to simple verbal commands
- Sits for a prolonged time (10minutes)
- Uses thumb and index finger to pick up objects
The Tenth Month
- Comprehends “bye-bye”
- Enjoys being read to and follows pictures in books
- Goes from stomach to sitting position
- Lifts one foot to take a step while standing
- Object permanence begins to develop
- Recovers balance easily while sitting
- Repeats actions that attract attention
- Says “dada” or “mama” with meaning
- Says one other word beside “mama” and “dada” (hi, bye, no, go)
- Sits by falling down
- Waves bye
The Eleventh Month
- Able to manipulate objects out of tight fitting spaces
- Acts frustrated when restricted
- Becomes excited when a task is mastered
- Explores objects more thoroughly
- Places one object after another into a container
- Reaches back to pick up an object when sitting
- Rolls a ball when asked
- Shakes head for “no”
- Walks holding on to furniture or other objects
The Twelfth Month
- Attempts to build two block tower but may fail
- Clings to parents in strange situation
- Comprehends the meaning of several words
- Follows rapidly moving objects
- Imitates sounds, such as the sounds dogs and cats make
- May stand alone and attempt first steps alone
- Recognizes objects by name
- Repeats the same words over & over again
- Says three or more words other than “mama” or “dada”
- Searches for object where it was last seen
- Shows affection
- Shows independence in familiar surrounding
- Sits down from standing position without help
- Turns pages in a book
- Understands simple verbal commands
- Walks with one hand held