Infant development varies from child to child, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Doctors offer general guidelines on motor skills, communication, hearing and vision, but the rate of development doesn't have to be exact. The University of Illinois Extension recommends allowing each infant to be herself and adapt to her behavior instead of pushing her to meet expectations. Most normal infant development can vary by up to three months.
Newborn to 3 Months
When you first bring your baby home, he probably won't be able to hold his head up for extended periods of time if at all. His head may be wobbly and appear unsteady. Very soon, he will be able to hold his head still while lying on his back, and it won't be long before he'll be able to lift it while lying on his tummy. His kicks will grow stronger, and he may roll from his side to his back. He might be able to hold onto a toy or stuffed animal.
Sometime during his second or third month, you may see an intentional smile. If you do something he enjoys, he might communicate by making happy sounds. He may even imitate facial expressions. During his first three months he may reach out for you to hold him or pick him up.
He may or may not respond to sound as a newborn, even if he can hear. According to the Mayo Clinic, he might respond to sounds within just a few weeks. He's likely to recognize the sound of your voice.
As you feed him, he may look at your face and make eye contact. During the first three months, you'll see him gradually study shapes and perhaps develop a preference for certain colors. By the time he is 3 months old, interesting visuals may catch his attention.
4 to 6 Months
According to the University of Illinois Extension, your baby's vision should be more developed by 6 months. She'll have better command over her muscles, and she may be able to sit up with some support. During this time, generally around the 5-month stage, she'll start to roll from her tummy to her back.
During the 4-to-6-month stage, she'll recognize people she sees frequently and know that she can trust her parents to take care of her needs. Crying is her main method of communicating, so when she cries, she may expect you to pick her up, feed her or change her diaper.
As her development is fine-tuned, she'll focus on specific objects and study them. She's likely to recognize certain sounds and turn toward them. During this time, she may start to put everything she can hold into her mouth.
7 to 9 Months
Between 7 and 9 months, your baby should be responding to his name by turning toward you or smiling. According to the University of Illinois Extension, he should be able to reach for objects and grasp them. When something rolls or moves out of his line of vision, he may go looking for it. He is likely to make eye contact with other people.
He is probably crawling by now. Some babies are able to pull up to a standing position by the end of 9 months. He may enjoy dropping things over the side of his crib or high chair. If you don't pick up the object, he will probably cry or fuss.
10 to 12 Months
During the last quarter of an infant's first year, she should begin to pull herself up and stand while holding on to furniture, if she hasn't already. She might even take a few steps unassisted. She's likely to recognize herself in the mirror, and you may find her smiling at her image. Her sounds may start to sound like words during this period, and you may actually hear her giving one-word commands. Many babies can say "Mommy" and "Daddy" by the age of 12 months.
By 12 months, your baby will probably imitate the behavior of adults and older children. You may see her babbling while holding a phone to her ear. She is likely to be able to drink from a sippy cup without assistance. She is able to feed herself finger foods.
During this period, you'll need to keep a very close eye on her. Whether she's crawling or walking, she can move much more quickly than before. Her curiosity will have her inspecting new areas, and she'll enjoy opening cabinet doors.
