We want to help give your child the best possible developmental start. The following developmental stages offer a monthly list of what is to be expected for gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and speech/language development that are typically seen during a baby’s first year. Please keep in mind that every child is different, and normal does not refer to any one specific thing, but a wide range of possibilities. If you have concerns about your infant’s development, we urge you to consult with your physician.
Developmental Milestones: The First Year
The first year of life is an exciting and challenging time in your baby’s life. Your baby will go through many changes physically, emotionally and mentally. The skills he will learn in the first year of life will set the stage for his future. “Developmental psychologist have long recognized that perceptual- motor development in infancy [is] the foundation of all mental life.” Child Development, 1993
Developmental Stages: Newborn
Gross motor skills:
No controlled movement
Arms and legs are bent
Hands are fisted and brought to mouth
Continually moving arms out to the side of the body
Head is not centered but turned to one side or the other
Can turn head side to side with great difficulty when lying on stomach
Stands on legs briefly when held upright
Fine motor skills:
Grasps anything that touches the palm of his hand (reflexive)
Speech/Language:
Cries at loud noises
Listens to speech
Developmental Stages: 1 Month
Gross Motor Skills:
Still no controlled movement
Arms and legs are still bent, but not as much as a newborn
Slightly improved head lifting when lying on stomach
Head lags significantly when pulled up to sitting
Stepping movement seen when held in standing
Fine Motor Skills:
Continues to have the reflexive grasping of hands
Speech/Language:
Cries at loud noises & Listens to speech
Developmental Stages: 2 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Baby appears more floppy than in previous months
Arms and legs not in the bent position anymore
Head is more often turned to one side or the other
Able to lift head slightly when lying on stomach
Uncontrolled reaching/ batting at objects
Eyes beginning to follow moving object
Head still lags when pulled to sit, but effort is made to lift head
Baby no longer stands or steps when held upright
Fine Motor Skills:
Continues to have reflexive grasping hands
Speech/Language:
Cries at loud noises
Listens to speech
Developmental Stages: 3 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Head is centered with chin tucked when lying on back
Controlled reaching for toys
Brings toys to middle of body
Frog leg position when lying on back
Props self on forearms while lying on stomach
Able to lift head and chest up when lying on stomach
Turns head to one side when pulled to sitting
No trunk control in sitting, needs full support
Bears weight through the legs with stiff knees when held in standing
Toes are curled when held in standing
Fine Motor Skills:
Holds a toy in hand with the 4th and 5th fingers
Unable to pick up a toy but will swipe at it
Speech/Language:
Begins cooing
Recognizes mom’s voice
Enjoys noisy toys
Developmental Stages: 4 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Head control is greatly improved
Brings knees to hands when lying on back
Rolls from back to side
Props self on forearms and lifts head and chest up while on stomach
Accidentally rolls over from stomach to back
Able to sit propped up with pillows
Able to stand while being held by hands instead of the chest
Fine Motor Skills:
Grasps objects placed in front of him or her
Grasps objects by raking them against body or other hand
Uses a four finger squeeze grasp without the thumb or palm to hold a toy
No fine grasping of small objects
Speech/Language:
Cooing, squealing and gurgling sounds
Can repeat some sounds
Recognizes mom’s voice
Uses smile to indicate contentment or pleasure
Enjoys noisy toys
Developmental Stages: 5 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Brings feet to hands and mouth while lying on back
Pushes up and extends arms while lying on stomach
Pushes up and reaches for toys while lying on stomach
Likes to play on side
Rolls from back to stomach to back again
Begins to sit unassisted and props with extended arms
No head lag when pulled from back to sitting
Begins bouncing when held standing
Fine Motor Skills:
Reaches for toys and brings them to the middle of the body
Uses fingers and the palm (no thumb) to hold object
No fine grasping of small objects
Speech/Language:
Laughs, coos, and gurgles for attention
Responds to “no”
Notices new sounds (appliances, music, etc)
Responds to changes in tone of voice
Uses sounds to express emotions and wants
Developmental Stages: 6 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Rolls easily from front to back to front
Lifts head off the floor while lying on back
Plays with feet while lying on back
Kicks arms and legs while lying on stomach (“swimming”)
Shifts weight from one arm to the next to reach toys while lying on stomach
Sits without using arms for support
Bounces frequently in standing
Holds onto person by himself in standing
Fine Motor Skills:
Transfers objects from one hand to the other
Uses fingers and the palm (no thumb) to hold objects
Attempts to grasp small objects using several fingers and a bent thumb
Speech/Language:
Begins to babble
Laughs, coos, gurgles, and babbles for attention
Responds to “no”
Notices new sounds (appliances, music, etc)
Responds to changes in tone of voice
Uses sounds and babbling to express emotions and wants
Developmental Stages: 7 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Does not like to be on back
Begins to pivot on stomach and belly crawl
Pushes up to hands and knees while lying on stomach
Likes to lay on side
Likes to sit
Plays freely with arms as balance improves in sitting
Pulls up to standing using arms with legs straight
Stands on the balls of his feet
Bounces lightly in standing
Fine Motor Skills:
Holds objects with fingers and thumb
Wrist is straight when holding objects
Grasps small objects using bent fingers and thumb to rake into the palm
Speech/Language:
Laughs, coos, gurgles, and babbles often
May begin to imitate speech sounds (mamamama)
Responds to “no”
Begins to respond to his name and some simple words
Uses babbling and gestures to express emotions and wants
Developmental Stages: 8 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Enjoys sitting
Reaches for toys easily in sitting
Begins to creep on hands and knees
Able to kneel at a small table without support
Pulls self to standing primarily using the arms
Has difficulty getting down from standing position
Begins to cruise around furniture sideways, using both hands
Fine Motor Skills:
Holds objects with fingers and thumb
Wrist is flexed when holding objects
Grasps small objects between thumb and bent index finger
Speech/Language:
Responds to name
Uses syllables ba, da, and ka
Imitates sounds
Listens when spoken to
Developmental Stages: 9 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Uses a variety of leg positions in sitting
Can side sit
Moves from sitting to hands and knees
Crawls often
Pulls to standing using both arms and legs
Unable to get down from standing without falling
Cruising with 2 hands and body semi-turned in direction of movement
Beginning to walk with one hand held
Fine Motor Skills:
Holds objects between thumb and finger tips
Able to grasp small objects with thumb and index fingertips
Speech/Language:
Responds to name
Begins to recognize common words (e.g., “mom”, “bottle”, etc.)
Imitates sounds
Developmental Stages: 10 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Able to reach in all directions while sitting
Beginning to kneel with one leg up and one down (half kneel)
Pulls to standing using the half kneel position
Stands to play while holding onto furniture
Can lower body from standing to sitting
Cruises with one hand on table
Walks with one hand held, not shifting weight yet
Fine Motor Skills:
Wrist is extended when grasping
Able to grasp small objects with thumb and index fingertips
Speech/Language:
Shouts for attention
Babbling in own language
Begins to respond to requests like “come here”
May have 1-2 word like “Mama” and “Dada”
Developmental Stages: 11 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Sits with legs straight out (long sitting)
Plays in the kneeling position
Stable in half kneeling position
Begins to shift weight from one leg to the next when walking with one hand held
Stands alone
Able to squat and return to standing while holding onto table
Fine Motor Skills:
Holds objects between thumb and first two fingers
Wrist is extended when holding objects
Able to grasp small objects with thumb and index fingertips
Speech/Language:
Shouts for attention
Babbling in own language
Responds to requests like “come here”
May have 1-2 word like “Mama” and “Dada”
Developmental Stages: 12 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Stands alone
Begins to pick up legs when standing
May try to walk alone
Cannot carry objects when walking
No arm swing when walking
Fine Motor Skills:
Holds objects between thumb and first 2 fingers
Wrist is extended when holding objects
Able to grasp small objects with fingertips and fingernails
Developmental Stages
We want to help give your child the best possible developmental start. The following developmental stages offer a monthly list of what is to be expected for gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and speech/language development that are typically seen during a baby’s first year. Please keep in mind that every child is different, and normal does not refer to any one specific thing, but a wide range of possibilities. If you have concerns about your infant’s development, we urge you to consult with your physician.
Developmental Milestones: The First Year
The first year of life is an exciting and challenging time in your baby’s life. Your baby will go through many changes physically, emotionally and mentally. The skills he will learn in the first year of life will set the stage for his future. “Developmental psychologist have long recognized that perceptual- motor development in infancy [is] the foundation of all mental life.” Child Development, 1993
Developmental Stages: Newborn
Gross motor skills:
Fine motor skills:
Speech/Language:
Developmental Stages: 1 Month
Gross Motor Skills:
Fine Motor Skills:
Speech/Language:
Developmental Stages: 2 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Fine Motor Skills:
Speech/Language:
Developmental Stages: 3 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Fine Motor Skills:
Speech/Language:
Developmental Stages: 4 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Fine Motor Skills:
Speech/Language:
Developmental Stages: 5 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Fine Motor Skills:
Speech/Language:
Developmental Stages: 6 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Fine Motor Skills:
Speech/Language:
Developmental Stages: 7 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Fine Motor Skills:
Speech/Language:
Developmental Stages: 8 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Fine Motor Skills:
Speech/Language:
Developmental Stages: 9 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Fine Motor Skills:
Speech/Language:
Developmental Stages: 10 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Fine Motor Skills:
Speech/Language:
Developmental Stages: 11 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Fine Motor Skills:
Speech/Language:
Developmental Stages: 12 Months
Gross Motor Skills:
Fine Motor Skills:
Speech/Language: