Tracking your baby’s development
Highlighted
From a newborn to a cheeky, active toddler. All it takes is just twelve months for your baby to go through this transformation! Babies grow and change at an astounding pace, and every month brings new and exciting developments. The transition takes place so fast that you hardly get an opportunity to notice, how time
has passed!
New moms and dads often wonder what to expect next and how to know if their baby’s development is on target. A number of physical, emotional and cognitive changes occur as the baby passes from the infant to the toddler stage and the changes occur pretty fast. It all starts with crawling, progresses to walking and then running, the running implies running into almost everything on the way! There is a sense of extreme curiosity and interest in all that is taking place around him. The toddler now wants to explore and get involved in each and everything that is in his surroundings. Instead of focusing too much on developmental milestones, however, it’s important to remember that babies all develop at their own pace. There’s a fairly wide “window” for when it is normal for a baby to reach a particular developmental stage.
| Child’s Age | Skills which most babies can master | Skills which half of all babies can master | Advanced skills – a few babies can master |
| 1 month | Q Lifts head, responds to sound, and stares at faces | Q Follows objects with eyes, coos and gurgles, able to distinguish black and white patterns | Q Holds head at 45-degree angle, smiles and laughs |
| 2 months | Q Follows objects with eyes, gurgles and coos, tries to hold head up | Q Holds head at 45-degree angle, smiles, laughs | Q Holds head steady, able to bear weight on legs (when held), attempts mini push-ups |
| 3 months | Q Holds head up (not steady yet, though), recognises faces and smells, laughs | Q Recognises your voice, gurgles, coos and squeals, attempts mini push-ups on tummy | Q Rolls over, turns towards sounds, bring hands together, bat at objects with hands |
| 4 months | Q Holds head up quite steadily, responds when talked to, can bear body weight with legs (when held) | Q Rolls over, able to grasp a toy, reaches out for objects | Q May cut first tooth, imitate speech sounds |
| 5 months | Q Rolls over, able to distinguish rich, bold colours, discovers own hands and feet (and plays with them!) | Q Knows own name, turns towards new sounds | Q Able to sit momentarily unsupported, mouths objects and ready for solids.Q Stranger anxiety begins |
| 6 months | Q Turns and responds to sounds, noises and voices, rolls in both directions, imitate sounds | Q Reaches for objects and puts objects in mouth, sits unsupported, ready for solid food | Q Jabber or combine syllables, lounges forward, crawl, drag objects towards own self |
| Child’s Age | Skills which most babies can master | Skills which half of all babies can master |
Advanced skills – a few babies can master |
| 7 months | Q Able to sit up unsupportedQ Clutches and drags objects towards own self | Q Lunges forward or starts crawlingQ Mumbles and jabbers with combinations of syllablesQ Might experience stranger anxiety | Q Able to wave arms in a goodbye gestureQ Able to stand supportedQ Bangs objects together
Q Able to comprehend object permanence |
| 8 months | Q Says “mama” or “dada/papa” to either parent, not necessarily the right oneQ Able to pass objects from hand to hand | Q Stands supported or holding onto somethingQ CrawlsQ Points at objects
Q Looks around for desired objects |
Q Pulls self to standing position, cruisesQ Able to pick up small objects with thumb-finger pincer graspQ Indicates wants and needs with gestures |
| 9 months | Q Stands while holding onto somethingQ Jabbers or combines syllablesQ Understands object permanence | Q Cruises while holding onto furnitureQ Drinks from a sippy cupQ Eats with fingers
Q Bangs objects together |
Q Understands and might play along in ‘peek-a-boo’ gamesQ Says “mama/ma” or “dada/papa” to the correct parent |
| 10 months | Q Waves goodbyeQ Picks things up with pincer graspQ Crawls well without belly touching the ground | Q Says “mama” or “papa” to the correct parentQ Indicates wants with gestures | Q Able to stand unsupported for a couple of secondsQ Places objects into a container |
| 11 months | Q Says “mama” or “dada/papa” to the correct parentQ Understands and is able to participate in peek-a-boo gamesQ Stands alone for short periods of time
Q Cruises |
Q Understands “no” and simple instructions.Q Puts objects into a container | Q Says one word besides “mama” or “dada/papa”Q Stoops easily from standing position |
| 12 months | Q Imitates others’ activities.Q Indicates wants and needs with gestures | Q Reaches for objects and puts objects in mouth, sits unsupported, ready for solid food | Q Walks aloneQ Scribbles with a crayon.Q Says two words besides “mama” or “dada/papa” |
| Child’s Age | Skills which most babies can master | Skills which half of all babies can master | Advanced skills – a few babies can master |
| 13 months | Q Uses at least two words fluentlyQ Able to swoop down to pick up an object | Q Enjoys gazing at his reflectionQ Holds out arm or leg in gesture to be helped | Q Combines words and gestures to express needs and wantsQ Rolls a ball back and forth |
| 14 months | Q Eats well with fingersQ Empties contents out of containersQ Skilful at imitating others | Q Toddles wellQ Initiates games and playQ Points to a body part when asked
Q Responds to instructions (e.g., “wave bye-bye!”) |
Q Uses eating utensils wellQ Matches lids with appropriate containersQ Pushes and pulls toys while walking |
| 15 months | Q Plays with ballQ Uses at least three words regularlyQ Able to walk backward | Q Scribbles wellQ Runs aroundQ Adopts “no” as a favourite word | Q Enjoys ‘helping’ around the houseQ Puts finger to mouth in “shhh” gesture |
| 16 months | Q Able to turn pages of a bookQ Shows temper tantrums when frustratedQ May become attached to a soft toy or other objects for security or self-soothing |
Q Discovers the joy of climbingQ Stacks up blocksQ Uses eating utensils well
Q Knows the correct way to use common objects (e.g., the telephone) |
Q Takes off one piece of clothing without helpQ Expresses fussinessabout foodQ Needs less naps |
| 17 months | Q Uses six words fluentlyQ Enjoys pretend gamesQ Likes mounting onto toys | Q ‘Feeds’ dollsQ Speaks more fluently and clearlyQ Throws a ball underhand | Q Can dance to musicQ Sorts toys by colour, shape, or sizeQ Kicks ball forward |
| 18 months | Q Will “read” (memorise) board books on his/her ownQ Scribbles (not necessarily on proper places) | Q Strings two words together in phrasesQ Brushes teeth with or without help | Q Throws a ball overhandQ Takes toys apart and puts them back togetherQ Ready to be toilet trained |
| Child’s Age | Skills which most toddlers can master | Skills which half of all toddlers can master |
Advanced skills – a few toddlers can master |
| 19 months | Q Able to use a spoon and forkQ Runs aroundQ Throws a ball underhand
Q Enjoys ‘helping’ around the house |
Q Understands up to 200 wordsQ Recognises when something is wrong (e.g., calling a cow a goat) | Q Able to wash own hands with helpQ Points to picture or object when askedQ May know when it’s time to pee |
| 20 months | Q ‘Feeds’ dollsQ Takes off own clothes without help | Q Learns words at a rate of ten or more a dayQ Able to climb up stairs (but probably not down) | Q May start exploring genitalsQ Draws a straight lineQ Names several body parts |
| 21 months | Q Able to climb up stairsQ Able to make simple decisions (e.g., deciding to put a toy in a certain place) | Q Throws a ball overhandQ Kicks ball forwardQ Stacks up at least six blocks | Q Names simple pictures in a bookQ Can walk down stairs |
| 22 months | Q Kicks ball forwardQ Able to follow two-step requests (e.g. “Please pick up your bottle and give it to Mummy”) | Q Able to complete simple puzzlesQ Draws a straight lineQ Names several body parts correctly | Q Might be ready for a big-kid bedQ Understands opposites (e.g., small vs. big) |
| 23 months | Q Names simple pictures in a bookQ Uses 50 to 70 words | Q Opens doorsQ Sings simple tunesQ Showinterest in playing with other children | Q Talks about self (likes, dislikes)Q Asks “why?” |
| 24 months | Q Names at least six body partsQ Half of speech is understandableQ Able to build two-to three-word sentences
|
Q Talks about likes and dislikesQ Categorises objectsQ Can walk down stairs | Q Begins to grasp understanding of concepts such as ‘sooner’ and ‘later’Q Becomes attuned to gender differencesQ Learns to jump |
| Child’s Age | Skills which most toddlers can master | Skills which half of all toddlers can master |
Advanced skills – a few toddlers can master |
| 25 and 26 months | Q Stacks up to six blocksQ Walks well | Q Uses pronouns (e.g., I, me, you)Q Able to wash and dry own hands | Q Speaks clearly most of the timeQ Able to draw a vertical line |
| 27 and 28 months | Q Jumps with both feetQ Opens doors | Q Understands descriptions (e.g., big, soft)Q Draws a vertical line | Q Starts to recognise ABCsQ Balances on one foot |
| 29 and 30 months | Q Brushes teeth with helpQ Washes and dries own handsQ Draws a vertical line | Q Able to drawcirclesQ Able to balance on one foot | Q Able to put on a T-shirtQ Can name one colourQ Can name one friend |
| 31 and 32 months | Q Recites own nameQ Draws circles | Q Able to put on a T-shirtQ Balances on each foot for a secondQ Recognises ABCs
Q Brushes teeth without help |
Q Uses two adjectivesQ Draws a crossQ Points to objects described by use (What do you use to brush your teeth?)
|
| 33 and 34 months | Q Names one colourQ Names one friendQ Carries on a simple conversation | Q Alternates feet going up and down stairsQ Uses prepositions (e.g., on, in, over)Q Speaks clearly most of the time (75 percent can be understood)
Q Stacks eight blocks |
Q Is toilet trained during the dayQ Can express a wide range of emotionsQ May be able to draw a stick figure
|
| 35 and 36 months | Q Describes how objects are usedQ Uses three to four words in a sentenceQ Names two actions (e.g., throwing, jumping) | Q Hops and skipsQ Follows a two-or three-part commandQ Separates fairly easily from parents
Q Able to ride a tricycle well
|
Q Balances on each foot for three secondsQ Can get dressed without help |