Understanding Infant Milestones: When to Actually Expect Them

This blog post was written by myself, a pediatric OT specializing in infants, with the help of Lacey, the early intervention SLP inside Bloom by Infant Insights.

We all know there are a million voices and resources in the parenting space, and many of them may uphold expectations that are difficult to achieve. Maybe you’ve heard things like “your baby should roll over at 5 months” or “your baby should walk by their first birthday”, but in all honesty, these expectations are too high and are causing concern among parents. 

As a therapist and mom, I have been on both sides of this confusing topic. I’ve spoken to parents in panic that their baby isn’t reaching an expected milestone, and even nervous about my own kids not reaching certain milestones. I’ve been the mom in the pediatrician’s office completing the checklist nervously because my baby isn’t doing some of the things on the list... And maybe you have been here too.

Watching our babies grow and reach their milestones is one of the most rewarding parts of parenting, but this can also be a huge concern among parents (as well as a comparison trap). 

So, let’s simplify it with a guide to common infant milestones, when you might expect them, and a few tips for encouraging each of them along the way.

The Newborn Stage (0-2 months)

In the newborn stage, it may not seem like a ton is happening, but there is actually a lot of development taking place that we may not see. At the newborn age, there are a lot of reflexes present that are laying foundations for more purposeful movement in infancy. These reflexes include the Moro Reflex, Bauer Crawling Reflex, and others. At this age, your baby enjoys tummy time on an elevated surface, but does not exhibit strong head control. Your baby also responds well to black and white images and can only see at a close distance (8-10 inches away). 

At this age, you can expect communication milestones like crying to communicate, turning head in directions of familiar voices, and using their body movements to communicate their needs (arching when uncomfortable, pausing when a familiar voice is heard, and more).

Like stated previously, there may not seem like a ton of milestones are being reached at this age, but a lot of foundations are being laid. 

Things you can do at this age include: talking to your baby, singing to your baby, responding to their cries and needs, offering high contrast items for them to view, and completing tummy time on your chest or elevated on a wedge or boppy. Read more about newborn tummy time in this blog post here.

The Alert Baby Stage (2-4 months)

At the 2-4 month mark, a lot of things are starting to happen from a milestone perspective. 

Socially, your baby may smile around the 2 month mark and they also begin to make cooing sounds around this time too.

Your baby is becoming much more alert and attentive to the world around them. 

Around 4 months, your baby will begin to turn and look for familiar sounds in their environment and even notice when you leave the room.

From a motor perspective, your baby may begin to enjoy tummy time much more at this age and your baby may also start to exhibit significantly more head control after the 3 month mark. 

Your baby at this age will also begin to show signs of rolling possibly by 4 months, and these signs include grasping feet, arching their back to view a toy above head, and bringing one arm across the body. 

At this age you may encourage infant milestones by singing with your baby, continuing to meet their needs as they make them known, and offering lots and lots of free, floor time. For specific tips on how to encourage milestones for this age and all others 0-18 months, consider the Infant Insights Mastering Milestones course.

The Exploring Baby Stage (4-6 months)

By 4 months, your baby has strong head control in an upright and belly down position. Your baby may bobble their head a little at times, but your baby has no head lag present and can keep their head centered when weight is shifted to the sides. 

At this age, your baby may also roll belly to back and back to belly, but if not, that’s okay too!

Your baby is alert and may laugh during this age range. Additionally, your baby starts to turn in response to their name and is exploring their world through touch, movement, and visual exploration. 

Some pediatricians give parents the go at this age to start solids. If starting before 6 months old, I recommend offering purees until 6 months of age, or until your baby is exhibiting all of the signs of readiness for Baby-Led Weaning. 

At this age you may encourage infant milestones by offering free-floor play and tummy time to your baby, but also offering opportunities for singing and reading to encourage language and social skills. You can read more about 4 months milestones here and 6 month milestones here.

The Eating Baby Stage (6-8 months)

At this age, your baby is meeting many many milestones. Your baby will likely begin to roll over belly to back and back to belly by 8 months of age, and your baby will also begin sitting up more often. If your baby is still toppling over while sitting, there is no need to worry! This is typical at this age. 

At this age your baby is also starting solids and you may decide to offer foods following a Baby-Led Weaning approach (BLW). I recommend introducing a plethora of foods between 6-9 months as this is the time period that your baby is most accepting of new foods. Read this blog post here about taking a BLW approach to starting solids with your baby.

At this age your baby is also developing many social skills and may enjoy games like peek-a-boo. Your baby is becoming much more coordinated with their hands and can grasp and hold items purposefully without dropping. Your baby loves looking at themselves in the mirror at this age and may begin to imitate speech sounds like “mamamam” and “buh-buh-buh”. 

This is a fun age and ways to encourage infant milestones at this time include messy play during feeding tasks, lots of mirror play, continued free floor play, and lots of singing and reading with your baby! For specific tips on how to encourage milestones for this age and all others 0-18 months, consider the Infant Insights Mastering Milestones course.

The Mobile Baby Stage (8-10 months)

At this age, things get crazy! Your baby is showing LOTS of pre-crawling skills before this age, but crawling may occur around 9 months for your baby. But, don’t panic if not! Crawling can happen between 7-12 months!

At this age, your baby is a STRONG sitter, meaning they can be sat down and left without the fear of them toppling over. Your baby is also transitioning out of sitting and onto their belly possibly at this age. 

At this age your baby is becoming much more social, and enjoys peek-a-boo, fun songs like “Happy and You Know It” and may be very stand-offish to strangers in their environment. 

Your baby is beginning to imitate you through vocals and actions and may even begin to understand phrases like “no no” and “bye bye”. 

At this age, baby sign language becomes an exciting thing to try with your baby if you haven’t already done so. This is a great way to encourage communication that can be used now and into childhood. Other ways to encourage infant milestones at this age include singing, playing simple games, offering stacking toys and large blocks, continuing to let your baby explore different foods, and offering lots and lots of free floor play.

The Walking Baby Stage (10-12 months)

More fun to come at this age! At this age range, your baby will begin to crawl on hands and knees and it’s so important for them to reach this milestone. 

If an infant is not showing signs of crawling by 10 months, it’s worth bringing to your healthcare providers attention. But, if your baby is showing signs of crawling, then the milestone is likely in the near future at this age range. Learn about the importance of crawling in this blog post here.

At this age range, your baby may also pull to stand and may even begin to cruise around furniture. Babies at this age LOVE movements and they are so excited to explore their big world. 

From a social and language perspective, your baby is beginning to wave “bye bye”, imitate simple baby sign language, and may start using “mama” and “dada” appropriately. Socially they are beginning to understand simple words and follow very simple instructions. Additionally, your baby LOVES to be encouraged in social play, like peek-a-boo. 

This age is SO fun and the best way to encourage infant milestones at this age is to offer toys that challenge your baby from a hand skill and problem solving perspective. Toys that require your baby to place things IN are great for this age range! You may also introduce a straw cup at this age range in preparation for weaning if your baby is bottle fed. 

The Babbling Baby Stage (12-15 months)

Your baby should definitely take their first steps in this age range if they haven’t already done so! And once those first steps are taken your baby will begin to jump, skip, and hop in no time! These milestones aren’t expected until 18 months + though, so no worries!

At this age, communication skills skyrocket and your baby should have 2-6 spoken words other than “mama” and “dada” at this age. 

Your baby also may begin to throw tantrums at this age due to difficulty communicating with spoken words. But, your baby is also beginning to show interest in others in their surroundings but continues to play independently. 

Your baby also may experience a picky eating phase at this age as they become more aware and opinionated. This phase is very common, so know you are not alone! 

At this age, continue to offer hand-based toys to your baby like shape sorters, puzzles, and stacking toys. Your baby’s hand skills are increasing rapidly and manipulating toys sets your baby up for handwriting skills later. Additionally, reading to your baby is GREAT for language building and offering opportunities to use baby sign language helps with the emotional outbursts. Explore books that your baby will enjoy here.

The Social Baby Stage (15-18 months)

Lastly, the last baby stage because your baby is now basically a toddler. 

At this age, your baby will be increasingly more interested in the people around them and you may find your child engaging in cooperative play at the very end of this stage with some help from the caregiver. 

By 15 months, it is recommended that your baby have 10 spoken words in addition to “mama” and “dada”. You will also find that your baby can follow simple sentence directions like “go get your shoes” because of their expanding vocabulary. 

At this age, hand skills are continuing to take off and you may find your child is significantly more able to use their utensil or an open cup. Although spills and difficulties are very common at this age, their hand skills will continue to develop with time.

At this age, there is nothing better than reading to your child. Reading develops so many skills in areas of language, attention, and more. Additionally to reading, work with your child to complete simple puzzles and coloring tasks on paper. All of these activities will support childhood development now and future. For specific tips on how to encourage milestones for this age and all others 0-18 months, consider the Infant Insights Mastering Milestones course.

Tracking infant milestones can help you better understand and appreciate your baby’s growth and development while giving you a peace of mind too. At the end of the day, these moments are meant to be celebrated, not stressed over. And every single baby is different! That’s what makes us all beautiful! Enjoy each new skill, knowing that every smile, step, and word is part of your baby’s one-of-a-kind journey to become who they are meant to be!