Developmental Milestones From Birth to Age 12 Months*

Birth

1. Sleeps much of the time

2. Sucks

3. Cries in response to discomfort and disturbances

4 weeks

1. Brings hands toward eyes and mouth

2. Moves head from side to side when lying on stomach

3. Follows a moving object that is in front of the face

4. Responds to a noise in some way, such as startling, crying, or quieting

5. May turn toward familiar sounds and voices

6. Focuses on a face

6 weeks

1. Regards objects in the line of vision

2. Begins to smile when spoken to

3. Lies flat on stomach

3 months

1. Holds head steady when sitting

2. Raises head 45 degrees when lying on stomach

3. Opens and shuts hands

4. Pushes down when feet are placed on a flat surface

5. Swings at and reaches for dangling toys

6. Follows an object that is in front of the face from one side to the other

7. Watches faces intently

8. Smiles at sound of caretaker's voice

9. Begins to make speechlike sounds

5–6 months

1. Holds head steady when upright

2. Sits with support

3. Rolls over one way, usually from stomach to back

4. Reaches for objects

5. Recognizes people at a distance

6. Listens intently to human voices

7. Smiles spontaneously

8. Squeals in delight

9. Babbles to toys

7 months

1. Sits without support

2. Bears some weight on legs when held upright

3. Transfers objects from hand to hand

4. Holds own bottle

5. Looks for dropped object

6. Responds to own name

7. Responds to being told “no”

8. Babbles, combining vowels and consonants

9. Wiggles with excitement in anticipation of playing

10. Plays peekaboo

9 months

1. Sits well

2. Works to get a toy that is out of reach and objects if toy is taken away

3. Crawls or creeps on hands and knees

4. Pulls self up to standing position

5. Gets into a sitting position from stomach

6. Stands holding on to someone or something

7. Says “mama” or “dada” indiscriminately

12 months

1. Walks by holding furniture ("cruising") or others' hands

2. May walk one or two steps without support

3. Stands for a few moments at a time

4. Says "dada" and "mama" to the appropriate person

5. Drinks from a cup

6. Claps hands and waves bye-bye

7. Speaks several words