Babies experience two main types of motor development, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Gross motor development includes large muscle groups that allow for sitting, walking, running and other complex movements, while fine motor development refers to the ability to eat, point, draw and perform other small movements with the hands.
One Month
When an infant is just one month old, her motor development is limited. However, even in just her first few weeks of life, a baby develops the ability to bring her hands within the range of her mouth and eyes and clench her fists, reports Healthy Children, a website of the American Academy of Pediatrics. A baby at this age can also thrust her arms and move her head to either side while lying on her stomach, though the movements are not yet smooth and controlled.
Three Months
Gross motor development in a three-month-old baby includes the ability to lift his upper body with his arms when lying on his stomach and wiggle both his arms and legs, reports the National Network for Child Care. Fine motor skills also improve between one and three months; by this age, a baby can firmly grasp toys and other objects and open and clench his fists.
Seven Months
By the time a baby is seven months old, she has made some major improvements in her gross motor development. Healthy Children reports that a seven-month-old can support her weight on her legs, roll over and sit up. Fine motor developments at this age include reaching out with a hand and moving objects from one hand to the other.
Twelve Months
A baby at twelve months of age can sit up and stand up on his own and crawl on his hands and knees. By this time, a baby develops the ability to walk while holding onto someone's hand or a piece of furniture, says the NNCC. Medline Plus reports that some babies will even take their first steps by the end of the first year. Meanwhile, fine motor skills like grasping things with a thumb and forefinger, feeding himself with his hands and banging two objects together have appeared, according to the NNCC.
Considerations
Parents are advised to keep a close eye on their child's motor development. If you suspect that your baby's development is slower than average, make an appointment with your pediatrician. According to Healthy Children, possible warning signs of a developmental delay include not crawling or pointing to objects by the age of twelve months. The NNCC advises parents to allow extra time for the development of a baby who was born prematurely, according to how many weeks before her due date she was born.
References
- Healthy Children: Developmental Milestones: 1 Month
- National Network for Child Care: Developmental Milestones - A Guide for Parents, The First Year
- Healthy Children: Developmental Milestones: 7 Months
- Medline Plus: Developmental Milestones Record
- University of Michigan Health System: Developmental Milestones
