Most babies develop at similar paces to one another. In some areas, your baby may be ahead of the curve. In others, she may be slightly behind. These discrepancies typically are nothing to worry about. However, knowing what your baby's developmental milestones should be will help you know when to consult her pediatrician.
0 to 3 Months
Straight out of the womb, your baby has many reflexes and will clench her fingers when her palm is touched. She'll likely be 5 to 7 weeks before she reaches her first major milestone--smiling. By 6 weeks she will probably hold her head up when placed on her stomach. Newborns communicate through their cries. Parents soon become able to discern a hunger cry from a soiled diaper cry and so on. By 7 weeks old, she'll begin to coo, according to Child and Youth Health. At 8 weeks old, she'll begin to kick, like swimming, when placed on her tummy. By 12 weeks, she will laugh aloud.
4 to 6 Months
As your baby grows, she's also becoming more alert. She's discovering how to control some of her movements and enjoys flailing her hands and kicking her feet. She also will discover the ability to clap her hands, grab things dangling in front of her face and rake small items closer using her fingers, according to the Mayo Clinic. She'll start babbling. Plus, she'll begin to have better head control and usually can hold it up unassisted. It's also likely that she will learn to rollover, a crucial step toward crawling.
7 to 9 Months
By 7 months old, your baby may be crawling or scooting around in a modified crawl. She is able to sit up without support and may even push up onto all fours or pull up to standing. She also is able to see clearly across a room and likely is feeling the first pains of teething. Mentally, a unique change is happening by 9 months. Finally, your baby is realizing she is a separate entity from you and this may cause bouts of separation anxiety, according to Discovery Home and Health. Changes are happening inside your baby as well. Her digestive tract is maturing and you can introduce solid foods at this age.
10 to 12 months
The last few months of your baby's first year are full of amazing milestones. She's learning to say words, such as "mama" and "dada," with a real understanding of what she's saying, according to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. She's also learning how to feed herself finger foods and may begin walking while holding onto furniture. Some baby's will even begin walking unassisted by 12 months. She also will become very helpful and personable at this age. When you drop an item, you can expect her to retrieve it. When you are leaving for work, she will wave goodbye. She also can follow simple, one-step, commands such as, "Come over here."
