Outside the Womb - The First Year

Month 1

Most babies are able to . . .

• Lift head briefly when on stomach

• Startle at loud noise

• Blink at bright lights

• Stare and focus at faces

• Fixate on objects held about 10 - 15cm from face

• Turn towards familiar voices and sounds 

• Hold up head at 45 degree angle

Month 2

Most babies are able to . . .

• Smile in response to your smile 

• Make noises other than crying

• Hold up head at 45 degree angle while on stomach

• Make smoother movements

• Hold head steady when upright 

• Raise chest and head while on stomach

• Bring both hands together

• Bear weight on legs

Month 3

Most babies are able to . . .

• Hold up head at 45 degree angle while on stomach

• Hold head steady when upright

• Laugh and smile

• Recognize your face

• Open and shut hands

• Kick legs

• Recognize your voice

• Hold up head at 90 degree angle while on stomach

• Bring both hands together

• Squeal and coo in delight

• Do small mini pushups

• Bear weight on both legs

• Bat at toys

• Reach for toys and objects

• Turn to familiar voices

• Make a razzing sound

Month 4

Most babies are able to . . .

• Hold up head at 90 degree angle while on stomach

• Bear weight on both legs

• Coo when you talk

• Laugh and smile

• Grasp a rattle or toy

• Pay attention to small object held in front of his or her face

• Roll over  

• Reach out for objects

• Do small mini push ups

• Turn in direction of familiar voices

• Hold head level with body when pulled to sit

Month 5

Most babies are able to . . .

• Roll over

• Do small mini push ups

• Pay attention to small objects held in front of his or her face

• Reach out for objects

• Grasp a rattle or toy

• Hold head level with body when pulled to sit

• Make sounds

• Turn to new sounds

• Recognize own name

• Get upset if you take a toy away

• Pass object from one hand to the other

• Try to get toy or object that is out of reach

• Sit momentarily without support

• Repeat sounds like mama or dada

Month 6

Most babies are able to . . .

• Keep head level when pulled to sitting position

• Sit momentarily with minimal support

• Roll back and forth in both directions

• Imitate sound and facial expressions

• Reach for and grabs objects and toys

• Sit without support

• Feed itself a biscuit or bottle

• Get upset if you take a toy away

• Pull up to standing position from sitting

• Work at getting a toy that is out of reach 

• Start crawling

• Get into a sitting position from stomach

• Say mama or dada

• Pick up small objects with fingers

• Babble and combine two syllable sounds

• Separation and stranger anxiety may begin

Month 7

Most babies are able to . . .

• Sit without support

• Imitate sound 

• Work at getting a toy that is out of reach

• Feed itself

• Start crawling or lunging forward

• Get upset if you take a toy away

• Play peek-a-boo

• Distinguish emotions by your tone of voice

• Pass object from one hand to the other

• Separation and stranger anxiety may begin

• Stand while holding onto something

• Wave goodbye

• Clap hands

• Bang objects together

• Say mama or dada

• Pull up to standing position from sitting 

• Walk holding onto furniture

Month 8

Most babies are able to . . .

• Start crawling

• Sit without support

• Pass object from one hand to the other

• Respond to own name

• Mouth and chew on objects

• Reach for spoon when being fed

• Turn away when finished eating

• Say mama and dada

• Stand while holding on to something 

• Crawl well

• Pull up to standing position from sitting

• Walk holding onto furniture

• Clap and bang objects together

• Separation and stranger anxiety may begin

• Indicate wants with different gestures

• Use thumb and finger pincer grasp to pick things up

• Stand alone momentarily

• Wave goodbye

• Understand the word no

Month 9

Most babies are able to . . .

• Stand while holding on to something

• Look for dropped objects

• Pull up to standing position from sitting

• Clap and bang objects together

• Combine syllables into word like sounds

• Separation and stranger anxiety may begin

• Use thumb and finger pincer grasp to pick things up

• Walk holding onto furniture

• Stand alone momentarily

• Wave goodbye 

• Drop object and then looks for them

• Understand the word no

• Begin to identify self in a mirror

• Say mama and dada to the right parents

• Play patty cake

• Play ball

• Drink from a cup independently

• Stand alone well

• Say one word other than mama or dada

Month 10

Most babies are able to . . .

• Stand holding on to someone or something

• Walk holding onto furniture

• Pull up to standing position from sitting

• Wave goodbye

• Crawl well

• Use thumb and finger pincer grasp to pick things up

• Say mama and dada to the right parents

• Understand the word no but doesn’t always obey it

• Respond to own name

• Indicate what he or she wants with gestures other than crying

• Stand alone momentarily

• Drink from a cup independently

• Stand alone well

• Play ball and patty cake

• Walk for a step or two

• Say one word other than mama or dada

• Put toys or object into a container

Month 11

Most babies are able to . . .

• Say mama and dada to the right parents

• Wave goodbye

• Clap hands

• Understand the word no but doesn’t always obey it

• Stand alone momentarily

• Play ball and patty cake

• Say one word other than mama or dada

• Drink from a cup independently

• Indicate what he or she wants with gestures other than crying

• Imitate others

• Put toys or object into a container

• Stand alone well

• Babble that sounds like her or she is talking a foreign language

• Say two or more words other than mama or dada

• Drink from a cup independently

• Understand simple instructions

• Walk well

Month 12

Most babies are able to . . .

• Imitate others sounds and activities

• Babble different word like sounds

• Indicate wants with gestures other than crying

• Clap hands and bang objects together

• Say one word other than mama or dada

• Crawl well

• Walk holding onto furniture well

• Fearful of strangers

• Pull off socks

• Say two or more words other than mama or dada

• Take a few steps

• Understand simple instructions

• Test parents responses to certain behavior

• Stand well

• Walk with help

• Shake head no

• Walk well

• Scribble on paper or anything else they can get their hands on

• Say three or more words other than mama or dada

• Respond to command

• Babble that sounds like her or she is talking a foreign language

• Drink from a cup independently