The rapid cognitive, physical and social development of an infant after birth can be one of the most enjoyable yet worrisome experiences for parents. Slow or delayed infant development and failure to meet milestones can be upsetting, although each infant develops skills at a different pace. Delayed development is not always cause for concern.
Background
After delivery, babies immediately start developing new skills. According to the National Institutes of Health, developmental skills can be divided into categories including gross motor, fine motor, social, language and sensory skills. Gross motor skills include physical development such as sitting, crawling and walking. Fine motor skills include using a fork and grasping toys. Social development involves the ability to interact and play with others. Language skills involve making sounds and learning to say words. Sensory skills involve the five senses, such as seeing and hearing.
0-3 Months
From birth to 3 months old, babies rapidly grow and develop new skills. According to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, babies typically can lift their head when lying on their tummy, grasp a toy, startle after hearing a loud noise, respond to voices, focus on a face, smile and coo, or make noises.
3-6 Months
By 6 months old, babies can typically achieve the following milestones, according to the National Institutes of Health: lift head and chest with hands when lying on stomach, sit up on the floor, roll from back to stomach, support most body weight on the legs, transfer objects from hand to hand, imitates sounds, babble and fear strangers.
6-9 Months
All infant developmental skills should be rapidly advancing from 6 to 9 months old. According to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, by 9 months most babies can or are beginning to crawl, roll over in both directions, pull up from sitting to standing, walk while holding onto furniture, pick up objects, make sounds and gestures, laugh, squeal, imitate sounds, babble, respond to her name and show increased stranger anxiety.
9-12 Months
Twelve months typically marks the end of infancy and beginning of toddlerhood. Developmental skills of a 12-month-old, according to the March of Dimes, include walking with or without support, using the thumb and forefinger to grasp objects, saying "mama" or "dada," responding to the word "no", following simple verbal requests, waving bye-bye or shaking the head "no," drinking from a cup or brushing hair and pointing to a correct picture when named.
References
- Medline Plus: Infant and Newborn Development
- Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research: Infant Development: What happens from birth to 3 months?
- Medline Plus: development milestones Record: 6 months
- Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research: Infant Development: What happens from 7 to 9 months?
- March of Dimes: Developmental Milestones for Babies
