What Can Your Baby Do? Birth to 12 Months
In preparation for your baby's next checkup, here are some questions to help you evaluate what your child is already doing, and what concerns or questions you want to discuss with your child's nurse or doctor. This developmental checklist describes what most children are doing at the various different ages.
By 4 months old:
- Does your baby smile at you when you smile?
- Does your baby watch you when you move?
- Does your baby make cooing sounds like "ooo" and "aaa"?
- Does your baby lift his head and chest when on his tummy?
- Does your baby play with her hands by touching them together?
By 7 months old:
- Does your baby laugh and say "bababa" or "dadada"?
- Does your baby turn his head and look at you when you talk to him?
- Does your baby feed herself with her fingers?
- Does your baby roll from his tummy to his back or from his back to his tummy?
- Does your baby learn about toys by putting them in her mouth? (Make sure toys are too big to swallow)
- Can your baby stay sitting up by himself?
By 10 months old:
- Does your baby play "peek-a-boo" or wave "bye-bye" after he sees you do it?
- Does your baby hold something in each hand at the same time?
- Does your baby pick up small things (like a Cheerio) using her thumb and one finger?
- Does your baby scoot or crawl across the floor on his tummy?
- Does your baby pull up to standing and stand by holding onto furniture?
By 12 months old (1 year old):
- Does your baby shake her head "no"?
- Does your baby look at the right things when you say words like "bottle" or "ball"?
- Does your baby say "Mama" or "Dada" to the right person?
- Does your baby find a toy when he sees you hide it?
- Does your baby take steps when holding onto furniture?
Remember - every child is different. This checklist is intended only as a guideline. If you have questions or concerns about your baby's development, however, don't hesitate to tak to his or her caregiver.
About this information: This checklist was adapted from various public domain educational resources.
More from PregnancyandBaby.com
© Copyright 2003-11 SheKnows, LLC and/or individual copyright holders. All Rights Reserved.
