Major Milestones to Look for from Birth Through Walking
Watching your baby grow and reach new milestones is one of the most exciting things about being a parent. From the first smile to the first steps, each milestone is a special moment in your baby's development.
Here are a few milestones you should be aware of during your little one’s development.
3 Months:
Congrats, you’ve graduated from the newborn stage! At 3 months old, your baby will be more alert and awake for longer periods of time. Here are some milestones you can expect to see:
Head control: Your baby will be able to lift their head and hold it up for short periods of time while on their tummy or being held upright.
Smiling: Your baby will start to smile more frequently in response to familiar faces and voices.
Visual Tracking (following objects with their eyes): Your baby will be able to track objects with their eyes as they move around, especially with contrasting images and faces.
Encouraging tummy time is important at this stage, as it helps to strengthen your baby's neck and back muscles to prepare for rolling, pivoting, sitting, and reaching. Make sure to supervise your baby during tummy time and use a flat, supportive surface. Baby mats or a blanket on the floor is a great option for this.
6 Months:
At 6 months old, your baby will be more mobile and will start to explore their surroundings in new ways. Here are some milestones you can expect to see:
Rolling: Your baby will be able to roll from their tummy to their back and from their back to their tummy. Rolling, along with pivoting in a circle on their belly will allow them to be very mobile and happy with independent play.
Sitting up: Your baby will have better balance when placed in a sitting position. They are usually able to sit upright without needing their hands to prop them up. They may need you close by, because if they lean to the side they won’t yet have the skills to catch themselves.
Babbling: Your baby will start to make more sounds and babble, experimenting with different tones and pitches. They may discover funny ways to use their voice or lips like blowing bubbles, screeching, mimicking your sounds.
Although your baby may be able to sit better than ever before, it is still crucial to encourage tummy time at this stage, as it helps to develop your baby's gross motor skills and strengthens their muscles for upcoming skills such as transitioning up to and down from sitting, and crawling. Place toys just out of reach to encourage your baby to move and explore.
9 Months:
At 9 months old, your baby will continue to develop their mobility and communication skills. Here are some milestones you can expect to see:
Crawling: Your baby will start to crawl on their hands and knees, exploring their surroundings more independently. Ideally, babies should crawl with both hands and knees contacting the ground, in an alternating reciprocal pattern.
Pulling up: Your baby will start to pull themselves up to a standing position, using furniture or other supports for balance.
Responding to their name: Your baby will start to respond to their name and other familiar words, showing an understanding of language.
Encouraging standing and walking at this stage is important, as it helps to develop your baby's balance and coordination. Make sure to provide a safe and supportive environment for your baby to practice standing and cruising along furniture.
12 Months:
At 12 months old, your baby will have come a long way in their development and will be ready to take on new challenges. Here are some milestones you can expect to see:
Walking: Your baby will start to take their first steps, using furniture or other supports for balance.
Simple gestures: Your baby will start to wave, point, and clap, using gestures to communicate. Model these gestures to them so they can cope, conceptualize, and learn.
Understanding simple commands: Your baby will start to understand simple commands and respond appropriately, such as "come here" or "give me a hug."
Encouraging walking and running at this stage is important, as it helps to develop your baby's gross motor skills and coordination. Make sure to provide enriching and explorative environments for them such as playgrounds, baby gyms, baby class, or other play dates. Interacting with other babies and peer modeling is a powerful tool to promote developmental progression.
Each stage of your baby's development is filled with new and exciting milestones. By understanding what to expect at each stage, you can provide the support and encouragement your baby needs to reach their full potential. Remember to celebrate each milestone, no matter how small, and enjoy every moment of your baby's journey.
Pediatric physical therapists can play a vital role in helping babies meet their developmental milestones. They can provide exercises and activities that help babies develop the strength, balance, coordination, and motor skills necessary for crawling, walking, and other important milestones. Physical therapists can also work with parents to create a safe and supportive environment that encourages the baby to explore and practice new skills. By identifying any areas of weakness, tightness, or delay early on and providing targeted interventions, physical therapists can help babies reach their full potential and achieve their developmental milestones.
If you notice your baby has not met one of these milestones, reach out to Year One Wellness to speak to a developmental expert for free. We will chat through your concerns and come up with a plan to help. We provide virtual wellness and therapy visits for families outside of Austin, TX.
