Milestones for your Baby

 
 
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MILESTONES FOR YOUR BABY
AGE PHYSICAL INTELLECTUAL LANGUAGE EMOTIONAL SOCIAL
0-6 months Legs are not strong enough to hold weight in order to stand Visually alert, and follows movement with eyes and even the head Stops crying to the sound of a rattle or mother’s voice Shows excitement at sounds, which s/he likes such as running bath water Stares at parent or care giver during feeding-time
May hold a rattle or any object for a few moments, but usually cannot look at it, at the same time Shows eagerness when offered milk Makes noises or gurgles when happy May become quiet at the sound of familiar voices Reacts happily to familiar situations
May independently hold her/his head up for several seconds or lift the head and chest when lying on tummy Loves to look at and play with hands Turns head to follow the source of any sound Shows pleasure when handled, and talked to Enjoys bath and other routine activities
Rests weight on hands and may stretch palms out. Arm movements are symmetrical and generally smooth. May be able to press palms together, and clasp hands May suck lips at sounds of feed preparation Shows distress at loud noises Opens mouth or smiles at the sight of someone familiar or when played with or when an adult talks like a baby
         
AGE PHYSICAL INTELLECTUAL LANGUAGE EMOTIONAL SOCIAL
6-9 months Moves arms purposefully Forgets about a toy if hidden Starts to make double or single syllable sounds, eg 'muh-muh' Plays with toys and enjoys placing things one on top of another Is friendly with strangers unless startled or a familiar adult is not present
Lifts head and chest up higher now, when lying on tummy. Rests weight on outstretched arms and flat palms Stares at toys within reach and tends to grab a toy with both hands, only occasionally using one Laughs to self while playing, also screams with delight and with irritation Loves rattles and will grab objects when offered, only to shake it deliberately Becomes unfriendly to strangers at about 7 months
Will pull and sit up when hands are held and can lift head up when lying on the back More alert now and eagerly watches people in the room Turns and listens to the source of sound or familiar voices Holds hands up to be lifted Loves 'rough and tumble' play or gets excited when some one pretends to tickle
Plays with feet when lying on back. Can sit upright, with support Uses whole hand to hold toys Touches breast or bottle when being fed
Kicks legs alternately. May stand up and hold weight when held. Can roll over. Passes toy from hand to hand and watches the toy fall.
         
AGE PHYSICAL INTELLECTUAL LANGUAGE EMOTIONAL SOCIAL
9-12 months Wriggles when lying down and may crawl Recognizes names Babbles away to self Starts to be willful and have tantrums Offers toys to adults, but only drops the toy into hand and is not able place it
Sits up, unsupported Leans forward and is able to pick up a toy easily May repeat syllables in a melodic manner, eg 'Mama mama' and copies simple sounds Likes to watch surroundings while being carried Recognizes family members
Able to stand by pulling your hand, but not able to lower back down. Falls down Points at books and pictures and wants to pick up any objects in her/his way Shouts for attention, waits and then repeats Interested in everything Copies facial expressions
Attempts to walk along when hands are held Learns about objects by putting them into her/his mouth Knows the meaning of 'bye/tata' and 'no/na!' Very alert on walks Loves peek-a-boo, and may join in
Starts to master pincer grasp (holds small objects between the thumb and forefinger) Drops toy deliberately but cannot actually place it down Communicates through sounds Has a favourite toy or two Clingy to a familiar adult, and unfriendly to strangers
Laughs before action toys pop up, upon remembering the action Watches others with continued interest for a few minutes
Splashes while being given a bath, deliberately
         
AGE PHYSICAL INTELLECTUAL LANGUAGE EMOTIONAL SOCIAL
12 months Shifts bum or shuffles, crawls on hands and feet and may even be able to crawl up stairs Throws toys on purpose Understands certain commonly used and simple words, such as 'cup' or 'teddy' Doesn't like to part with parent/care giver Puts toys in mouth less, and drools less
May stand on her/his own and can pull up to stand, when sitting, and down again Loves to bang two toys/objects together to make a sound Knows their own name well and may be able to repeat it when asked Loves picture books Wants to feed herself/himself, but may create a big mess
Sidesteps round the furniture Uses pincer grasp well so that it is possible to put things in containers and take them back out May use a few words and copies others Can use action toys which produce a sound or an action when pushed Holds out arm or foot to help while getting dressed
May be able to sit unaided for longer periods Knows how to use familiar objects, like a hairbrush Babbles in conversational tones Shows affection Can drink from a cup which has a lid
Sits up easily from lying down position Points at objects when she/he wants them Knows how to follow simple instructions Greets familiar adults with great pleasure, but from some distance and may hide behind Gazes at everything with great interest for a long time when outdoors
May be able to walk with hands held (either one or both) or may walk alone May show preference for using left or right hand and begins to use the tripod grasp (thumb, forefinger and middle finger) Uses most letters of the alphabet, in vocalization Enjoys listening to songs, rhymes and hand-clap games 
         
AGE PHYSICAL INTELLECTUAL LANGUAGE EMOTIONAL SOCIAL
15 months Falls over frequently when walking Likes to stand and watch goings on outside a window or into a mirror or camera Will scream to get something Loves to throw toys away in fun Curious with new people
Manages to go up stairs and sometimes down Plays with blocks or bricks and can build tower of two Will point at what they want Shows a lot of affection to family Will help in getting dressed
Can kneel on the floor or on garden grass Uses a very precise pincer grasp to pick up small things Will be able to say a few words Still needs constant reassurance from parent/care giver Short attention span, but if a toy is hidden she/he will search for it
Sits down with a bump and can get up from sitting on her/his own Uses both hands to hold pencil/crayon. Will scribble to and fro Sounds as though trying to hold a conversation, although utterances won't be understandable Really loves books now and will pat the pages while looking at the pictures Knows how to use lots of common objects
May walk unaided but with uneven wide steps, and tries to use arms for balance Understands many words and will obey simple instructions like 'give me your cup!' Likes dolls, but does not treat them as a baby, instead carries them around roughly Chews larger pieces of food now. Better at using a cup and spoon.
May be able to point to named people or toys Loves to play with walk-along/drag toys Is always getting up to mischief, needs continuous attention, especially in public places
         
AGE PHYSICAL INTELLECTUAL LANGUAGE EMOTIONAL SOCIAL
18 months To sit down on a low seat, she/he will back into it Scribbles backwards and forwards and makes dots Understands many more words Sometimes clingy, sometimes independent and determined Likes learning about different sized objects
Walks very well without needing arms and elbows for balance Will now build a three bricks tower Makes sounds like speech, but may not yet be clear or absolutely comprehensible. However, responds when spoken to. Needs a familiar adult to be close by for comfort Can help to undress self but not dress
Runs but not when things are in the way Holds pencil half way down or tries to use fingers and thumb Will chatter away to self while playing. Uses 'echolalia' - i.e. repeating/copying last words or word of sentence Recognizes familiar adults from further away Can use a cup without lid but spills a little, and tends to hold it with both hands
Can manoeuvre large boxes and toys Draws with both hands, but may show a preference. Uses 6-20 words. Speech clarity improves Still points to pictures in books. Pays more attention and will turn pages roughly Can feed self with spoon, but still plays with food.
May walk backwards downstairs or bumps on to the ground on bottom or back Sometimes uses a pencil in each hand Recognizes and points to some body parts like ears and eyes. Gives toy or familiar object to adult, when asked Pretends to play, includes doll play and simple domestic play Does throw toys but doesn't look where they land
Can walk up and down stairs holding an adult's hand Notices very small objects, and instantly picks them up with a precise pincer grasp Points and uses single words when she or he wants something or shouts Loves to carry large toys or a teddy around Able to put toys familiar objects away without help
Squats and kneels when playing Obeys simple requests, such as 'bring me your sweater.' Loves to explore and try everything out, without a sense of danger Doesn't suck on toys any more
Loves to try and sing nursery rhymes  
Knows what 'NO' means
         
AGE PHYSICAL INTELLECTUAL LANGUAGE EMOTIONAL SOCIAL
2 years Able to manoeuvre large toys with wheels, but cannot manage remote control toys yet Will hold the pencil in favoured hand Listens when spoken to, and to others' conversations Likes role-play and pretend play More ready for toilet training
Loves to pull along toys on string Better at using small objects, and can now place objects down gently Can name well-known objects Likes dress-up games Parallel play (will play beside others but doesn't actually play with them)
Can run easily and around objects in the way Will carefully turn the pages of a book and will even notice fine points of pictures Follows simple requests like 'Go and see who's outside' Very inquisitive, but doesn't have a sense of danger Loves to copy when household chores are being done
Uses furniture to climb up high, and gets down again on her/his own Can build a six bricks tower Talks about himself using her/his name (third person) Wants a lot of attention! May become very clingy when upset but defiant when told off Can spoon-feed self without a problem
Squats to play and stands up again without the need to use hands When shown a photo of someone known, will be able to identify them Has little 'conversations' with self. May not be understandable Has more tantrums, but those can be diverted Drinks from a cup or mug with no lid, without spilling
Tries to kick a ball but simply walks into it Now holds pencils nearer the tip and uses tripod grasp Uses 'echolalia' all the time Doesn't yet understand about sharing toys or attention Says 'MINE' a lot when others try to play with favourite toys
Can walk up and downstairs on her/his own with the hand on the railing, placing one foot after the other on each step Scribbles in circles, back and forth and dots. Recognizes and points to more body parts. Is always asking, 'what's that?' Wants instant gratification of requests, very reluctant to compromise Takes exception to others getting attention from own parent or care-giverr
Loves to push self along on a sit 'n' ride toy. Can steer but not pedal.   Can speak around 50 words, but can understand many more than that
Spatial awareness increases Will draw lines and occasionally a 'V' Will string two or three words together
Overhand throwing of a ball   Loves to sing nursery rhymes