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| Main > Infant > Infant Development |
Infant Development
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Two Months
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| At this age you can expect your baby to smile, laugh and make noises, lift her head and chest up while lying on her stomach, turn toward sounds and to follow you around with her eyes. Over the next few months, developmental milestones will include rolling over, bearing weight on her legs, sitting with support and holding on to a rattle.
If using a pacifier, try and restrict its use to when your baby seems to need the self-comforting behavior of sucking. Avoid using it every time your baby cries (it is usually better to pick and hold your baby to comfort him when she is crying) and to be safe, use a one-piece commercial pacifier and do not hang it around your baby's neck. After six months of age, you should restrict pacifier use to only when your baby is in her crib.
Remember that all babies are unique and they have different temperaments. Many are quite and calm, while others are very active and some are very sensitive and get fussy easily (and may need less stimulating environments to stay calm). Try and keep your babies temperament in mind as you react to her needs.
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Four Months
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| At this age you can expect your baby to roll over (front to back), bear weight on her legs, sit with support, hold up her head and chest and support herself on her elbows if she is on her stomach, pull to a sitting position and hold on to a rattle. Over the next few months your baby will start to imitate speech sounds, reach for objects and sit without support.
If using a pacifier, try and restrict its use to when your baby seems to need the self-comforting behavior of sucking. Avoid using it every time your baby cries and to be safe, use a one-piece commercial pacifier and do not hang it around your baby's neck. After six months of age, you should restrict pacifier use to when your baby is in his crib.
Most babies take at least two to three naps (length of naps are usually very variable between different children, but naps are usually 1 1/2 - 2 hours each) during the day at this age and are able to sleep for the majority of the night. If not, check to make sure that your baby has a good bedtime routine and has developed the proper sleep associations. See the Sleep Problem Guide for more information on preventing and fixing sleep problems.
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Six Months
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| Your baby has probably doubled her birthweight by now. At this age you can expect her to imitate speech sounds, reach for objects, roll over, and sit without support. Over the next few months she will start to stand holding on to things, pull to a stand, jabber and combine syllables, crawl and transfer things from hand to hand.
If using a pacifier, now is a good time to start restricting its use to only when your baby is in his crib. This will help to decrease his interest in it. Avoid giving your baby his pacifier every time he cries or allowing him to use it as a security object (offer other choices instead, such as a blanket).
Most babies take at least two naps during the day at this age (length of naps are usually very variable between different children, but naps are usually 1 1/2 - 2 hours each) and are able to sleep for the majority of the night (at least 10-11 hours). If not, check to make sure that your baby has a good bedtime routine and has developed the proper sleep associations. See the Sleep Problem Guide for more information on preventing and fixing sleep problems.
If you haven't already done so, now would be a good time to move your baby into a full size crib, in his own room if possible.
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Nine Months
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| At this age you can expect your baby to sit alone, pull to a stand, stand holding on to things, jabber and imitate sounds, crawl, wave bye-bye, and begin to show separation and stranger anxiety. Over the next few months your baby will start to combine syllables, say mama/dada, walk with her hands held, and bang objects together.
Your baby will now begin to explore how things work, enjoy playing peekaboo and pat-a-cake and being read to. It is important to give lots of praise and many opportunities for exploration. If using a pacifier, it is a good time to start restricting its use to only when your baby is in his crib, so that his interest in it will decrease.
Most babies take two naps during the day (length of naps are usually very variable between different children, but naps are usually 1 - 2 hours each) and are able to sleep for the majority of the night at this age. If not, check to make sure that your baby has a good bedtime routine and has developed the proper sleep associations. See the Sleep Problem Guide for more information on preventing and fixing sleep problems. He may start waking again at times of stress, illness or after learning a new task (such as walking).
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Twelve Months
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| Your baby has probably tripled her birthweight. You can expect her to combine syllables, say mama/dada, walk while holding on to things, take a few steps alone, bang objects together, enjoy reading interactively, and point to pictures. Over the next few months she will start to walk well alone, say 3-6 words, understand simple commands, and begin to use a spoon or fork.
This is also a time that your child will begin to explore and try and figure out how things work and will enjoy playtime. It is important to give lots of praise and many opportunities for exploration. If using a pacifier, it is a good time to start restricting its use to only when your baby is in his crib, so that his interest in it will decrease.
Most babies take two naps during the day at this age (length of naps are usually very variable between different children, but naps are usually 1-1 1/2 hours each) and are able to sleep for the majority of the night (at least 11 hours). If not, check to make sure that your baby has a good bedtime routine and has developed the proper sleep associations. See the Sleep Problem Guide for more information on preventing and fixing sleep problems. He may start waking again at times of stress, illness or after learning a new task (such as walking).
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