MONTH 1

• Make jerky, quivering arm movements
• Bring hands near face
• Keep hands in tight fists
• Move head from side to side while lying on stomach
• Focus on objects 8 to 12 inches away
• Prefer human faces over other shapes
• Prefer black-and-white or high-contrast patterns
• Hear very well
• Recognize some sounds, including parents' voices

MONTH 2

• Make sounds such as gurgling and cooing
• Follow objects
• Hold their head up for short periods
• May smile and laugh responsively
• Prefer more colors and shapes
• Start to move more smoothly and become more coordinated

MONTH 3

• Raise head and chest when lying on stomach
• Support upper body with arms on stomach
• Stretch legs out and kick when lying on stomach or back
• Push down on legs when feet on firm surface
• Open and shut hands
• Bring hands to mouth
• Grab and shake hand toys
• Follow moving object with eyes
• Watch faces closely
• Recognize objects/people at a distance
• Start using hands and eyes in coordination
• Begin to babble, may imitate some sounds
• Smile at the sound of parents' voices
• Enjoy playing with other people and may cry when playing stops

MONTH 4

• Hold head up steadily
• Can bear weight on legs
• Coo when you talk to him and may imitate sounds
• Enjoy doing mini push-ups        
• Can grasp a toy and may try putting it in his mouth
• Reach out for objects
• May roll over although that may not happen until next month
• Are easily distracted
• Can distinguish color shades and may prefer bright colors

MONTH 5

• Can distinguish between bold colors
• Can roll over
• May sit momentarily on their own
• Enjoy playing with hands and feet
• Enjoy repeating sounds and mastering new skills
• May turn towards new sounds
• May recognize their own name
• May be afraid of strangers
• Are building a wider range of expressions e.g. laughing

MONTH 6

• Have improved coordination
• May start moving objects from one hand to the other
• Turn towards sounds and voices
• Imitate sounds and still enjoys repeating sounds
• Roll over both ways (stomach to back and back to stomach)
• May sit without support
• Enjoy you reading aloud
• May be ready to eat solids

MONTH 7

• Sit without support
• Reach for object with hand
• Transfer objects from one hand to the other
• Support whole weight on legs when held upright
• Develop full-color vision and mature distance vision
• Use voice to express joy and displeasure
• Respond to own name
• Continue to babble chains of consonants (ba-ba-ba-ba)
• Distinguish emotions by tone of voice
• Explore objects with hands and mouth
• Struggle to get objects that are out of reach
• Enjoy playing peek-a-boo
• Show an interest in mirror images

MONTH 8

• Can better express their emotions
• Say "dada" and "mama" to both parents
• Begin to crawl, although some babies are already experts
• Transfer objects from one hand to the other
• May stand while holding on to something
• Point at objects
• May be afraid of strangers and feel separation anxiety

MONTH 9

• Combine syllables into word-like sounds
• Understand tones versus actual words
• Stand while holding on to something
• Explore objects in many ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping)    
• May use pincer grasp (thumb and forefinger) to pick up objects
• May walk holding onto furniture,
• Are more mobile so childproofing your home is necessary now

MONTH 10

• Use simple gestures, such as shaking head “no” and waving bye-bye
• Use pincer grasp to pick things up
• Sit without assistance
• Crawl well
• Walk holding onto furniture (cruise)   
• Say "dada" and "mama"
• Respond to their name and understand "no"

MONTH 11

• Say "dada" and "mama" to the right parent
• Stand alone for a few seconds
• Show more of their personality and opinions
• May be more anxious about certain sights and sounds
• Understand simple words, phrases and instructions
• Become more independent as their skills grow
• Try to climb stairs to be careful and fit a safety gate if possible

MONTH 12

• Sit without assistance
• Get into hands-and-knees position + crawl
• Pull self up to stand
• Walk holding onto furniture, and possibly a few steps without support
• Use pincer grasp (thumb and forefinger)
• Say “dada”/“mama” and “oh-oh!”
• Try to imitate words
• Respond to “no” and simple verbal requests
• Use simple gestures, such as shaking head “no” and waving bye-bye
• Explore objects in many ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping)
• Begin to use objects correctly (drinking from cup, brushing hair)
• Find hidden objects easily
• Look at correct picture when image is named