First Year Milestones at a Glance
0–3 months
Lifts head during tummy time, tracks faces, social smile, coos and gurgles, startles at sounds, recognises parent's voice.
4–6 months
Rolls front-to-back, sits with support, reaches for objects, laughs, babbles (ba, da, ma), shows preference for people.
7–9 months
Sits independently, begins crawling, pincer grasp emerging, separation anxiety starts, says "mama" and "dada" without meaning.
10–12 months
Pulls to stand, cruises furniture, first independent steps possible, first words with meaning, waves bye-bye, plays peek-a-boo.
Second Year Milestones
- 12–15 months: Walks independently, uses 1–5 words, points to communicate, follows simple one-step instructions, imitates actions
- 15–18 months: Stacks 2–4 blocks, vocabulary of 5–20 words, runs (unsteadily), uses spoon, beginning pretend play
- 18–24 months: Vocabulary explosion (50+ words), combines 2 words ("more milk"), kicks a ball, identifies body parts, parallel play begins
The AAP recommends developmental screening at 9, 18, and 30 months — and whenever you have concerns between those appointments.
When to Talk to Your Pediatrician
Contact your pediatrician if your baby:
- Has not smiled by 3 months
- Does not babble by 6 months
- Does not say single words by 12 months
- Does not point or wave by 12 months
- Does not say two-word phrases by 24 months
- Loses skills they previously had at any age
Early intervention is highly effective — the brain is most plastic in the first 3 years of life. Never "wait and see" if you have concerns.
Development by Age
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