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Milestones in Your Baby's Development
As a new parent, you're looking forward to your baby's first smile, first word, and other key milestones. Find out when to expect these signs of baby development and learn what you can do to encourage them.
Wyatt Myers
It's easy for new parents to get fixated on baby development and anticipate all those baby "firsts." After all, it's only natural for parents to want their baby to be healthy and happy. Parents tend to focus on baby milestones because they help gauge a baby's progress and tell them that their little one is developing as expected.
While baby's first smile, laugh, and word are certainly exciting, it's important for parents to have fun and not feel compelled to push these baby milestones too much, says Hannah Chow-Johnson, MD, assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. "Parents don't have to always be doing something," Dr. Chow-Johnson says. "Constant talking can be exhausting to an infant, who also needs down time."
With that in mind, here are some of the common baby milestones you can expect and some simple ways you can help your child reach them.
Smiling and Looking
One of the initial baby milestones is the first smile, and it always brings joy to parents when it happens. Chow-Johnson says you can expect the first smile around 2 months of age. "Social smiling is important because it gives us clues about an infant's socialization, and the baby's reaction and connection to other people," Chow-Johnson says. "Lack of smiling can be an early sign of disorders such as autism or pervasive developmental disorders."
When they are born, babies have a limited ability to focus their vision. And though it's not as notable as smiling, simply having a baby track your gaze and look into your eyes is also an important development. "By 2 months of age, a baby's visual tracking should be much improved, and it should be fixing its gaze and following movements more," Chow-Johnson says.
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Laughing and Babbling
Laughing often takes a bit longer to occur, usually at about 4 to 6 months, and will start to be accompanied by other sounds that lead up to talking. Even more than laughing, babbling is a key development for parents to look for, and it can start around 3 or 4 months of age. "Babbling is important because lack of babbling could indicate a problem with hearing," Chow-Johnson says. This is because babies who don't hear have trouble learning how to communicate and develop speech. "In rare instances, lack of babbling could indicate a neurological issue," Chow-Johnson says.
Eventually all those babbling sounds will begin to make sense as your baby starts to talk. And as with most baby milestones, this is a gradual progression that new parents can encourage, but without pushing their child too hard. "By 9 to 10 months, you can expect to hear 'ba-ba,' 'da-da,' and other single consonants," Chow-Johnson says. "By 12 months, it's single words like 'dada' and 'mama,' as well as lots of babbling. Your child will typically say three to six words by 15 months, 7 to 12 words by 18 months, and 50-plus words by 2 years old, as well as simple sentences."
Speaking and reading frequently to your baby will help prompt vocabulary through these stages. "Talking or reading to an infant helps develop concentration, vocal skills, and social interaction skills," Chow-Johnson says. "Infants who are read to concentrate better as they get older and often develop a love of reading and books."
In the realm of physical and mobile development, a baby's first attempt at crawling brings excitement to new parents. This typically will occur at around 8 to 10 months of age.
Early on, the secret to helping your baby learn to crawl and walk is to encourage "tummy time," or putting your baby on his or her belly for short periods during playtime. "Make sure to give your child tummy time even as an infant," Chow-Johnson says. "Even if it's brief, it's important. Lack of tummy time can lead to delayed rolling and crawling. And if they're on their back too much, infants can often develop a flat head."
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Ultimately, your baby's mobile development will progress to the highlight of all milestones: Baby's first steps. Most parents can expect to see these between 11 and 13 months of age, but don't distress if it takes a bit longer. "Walking is highly individual," says Cindy Cooke, DNP, FNP-C, FAANP, a certified family nurse practitioner and president-elect of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. "Some babies are walking well by 9 months, and others don't walk until well after their first birthday," Cooke says. "Walking begins by pulling up to a standing position and then 'cruising,' taking steps while holding on to furniture. This happens until the magic day when the baby lets go and takes off. That's when the transition from baby to toddler has begun."
Important Notes About Milestones
Baby milestones are very individual. While the timeline noted above is typical, don't worry if your child doesn't follow it exactly. "Remember that babies develop at different rates, so try not to compare your child with a friend's child or an older sibling," Cooke says. "There are normal limits that can vary widely."
At the same time, don't be afraid to contact your baby's doctor or other health care provider if you're concerned about your baby's development — trusting your parental instinct is best. "Write down your questions or concerns so you can get answers while you're at an appointment," Cooke says. Your baby's doctor is your best resource for learning about baby development and newborn care.
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