As parents, one of our greatest joys is watching our children grow and develop. Understanding developmental milestones can help you track your child’s progress and identify when they might need additional support.
Physical Development:
This includes both gross motor skills, such as crawling and walking, and fine motor skills, like grasping objects. These typically follow a predictable pattern, although every child develops at their own pace.
Cognitive Development:
These milestones involve thinking, learning, and problem-solving. Signs to watch for include recognizing familiar faces, responding to their name, and beginning to understand cause and effect.
Social and Emotional Development:
This area covers forming attachments, showing emotions, and starting to interact with others. Early social skills are important because they lay the groundwork for future relationships. Here is a quick glance at the different stages, please note that this is just an overview and every child is different! ❤️
0–3 Months
- Lifts head for a few seconds during tummy time
- Follows faces and objects with eyes
- Starts to smile back at you
- Makes cooing sounds
4–6 Months
- Rolls from tummy to back (and maybe back to tummy)
- Pushes up on arms when on belly
- Reaches for toys and grabs them
- Laughs and babbles more
6–9 Months
- Sits up with little or no support
- Starts to scoot or crawl
- Passes toys from one hand to the other
- Responds to own name
9–12 Months
- Pulls up to stand and may cruise along furniture
- Says simple words like “mama” or “dada”
- Waves bye-bye, claps hands
- Picks up small snacks using thumb and finger (pincer grasp)
- Some takes their first steps
Every baby is different! This is just a guide, not a checklist. Always trust your gut and ask your doctor if you’re ever unsure.