Month 1 2: Making Eye Contact
That first moment when your baby locks eyes with you it feels big because it is. Around six to eight weeks, babies start to focus on faces, especially yours. This isn’t just adorable; it’s a key sign of early development. When your baby stares back at you, they’re starting to recognize people, process visual cues, and lay the groundwork for social connection.
Eye contact isn’t just about sight it’s about the brain. These tiny moments help build neural pathways that support emotional bonding, facial recognition, and future communication. Every eye to eye exchange is a brief but powerful form of connection that helps your baby learn trust and engage with the world.
If your baby isn’t making eye contact by two months, don’t panic but do bring it up with your pediatrician. Vision issues, hearing delays, or other developmental differences can show up subtly in these early months. No need to sound the alarm, but it’s always smart to stay ahead of any concerns.
Month 2 3: Social Smiles
Sometime around six to eight weeks, your baby flashes something different: not gas, not a reflex but a real smile. It’s a small moment, but it marks the start of big emotional development. This smile is a signal that your baby is beginning to recognize faces, respond to attention, and start the give and take of social communication.
That first genuine smile shows that the emotional wiring is kicking in. It means your baby’s brain is connecting the dots between people and feelings, comfort and connection. It’s also fuel for you as a parent confirmation that your presence matters and that bonding is in motion.
If you’re eager to encourage more interaction, don’t overthink it. Talk often, use expressive faces, and get close enough for your baby to track your eyes and mouth. Smile first, pause, and let your baby respond. These mini dialogues quiet, clumsy, back and forth are the groundwork for everything to come.
And remember: every baby works on their own timeline. If you’re not seeing smiles by three months, check in with your pediatrician not because it’s time to panic, but because early signals help guide support when needed.
Month 3 4: Head Control and Tummy Time
Around the three month mark, babies start building the neck and upper body strength they’ll need for every other movement milestone. You’ll notice signs like longer periods of head lifting during tummy time, arms pushing up off the ground, or a little wobbly control when they’re held upright. These aren’t just cute efforts they’re training for rolling, sitting, and eventually crawling.
Daily tummy time is your go to here. Start with short, supervised sessions just a few minutes at a time then gradually increase. Place toys or mirrors in front to keep your baby engaged, and try laying down next to them for encouragement. Don’t overthink it. The goal is to let them work those muscles with some gentle resistance from gravity.
As strength improves, you might spot mini push ups elbows under shoulders, chest lifting briefly. That’s your green light: their motor development is firing up. Rolling from tummy to back often follows.
Keep in mind: diapering routines are a great chance to sneak in some light exercises, too. For more practical ways to blend care and development, check out The Ultimate Guide to Diapering Tips for New Parents.
Month 4 6: Rolling Over
Rolling over is one of the earliest signs your baby is building the strength and coordination they’ll need for more complex movement. Most babies roll from tummy to back around 4 months, with back to tummy following closer to 6 months. It can happen earlier or later but this is the typical window.
The best way to help them get there? A flat, open play space where they can move without restriction. Think firm mats, supervised tummy time, and soft surrounding surfaces. Avoid upright containers like bouncers or swings for long stretches; they limit mobility. Instead, aim for short daily sessions on the floor, giving them space and time to explore.
If your baby isn’t attempting to roll by 6 months, or seems stiff or floppy, it may be worth checking in with your pediatrician. Some babies skip rolling altogether and hit later milestones just fine, but delays combined with other signs like limited limb movement or lack of interest in surroundings could signal a need for early intervention. It’s not about panicking. It’s about staying aware.
Month 5 7: Sitting Up with Support
Between five and seven months, babies often start sitting up with a little help. At first, they’ll rely on their hands for balance, planting them in front like a tripod. This is called hand propping. It’s a solid phase. They’re building trunk strength and learning spatial awareness. But the goal is independent sitting when they hold themselves upright without support or falling sideways like a toppled block tower.
To help them get there, tummy to sitting transitions are key. These aren’t always pretty they might roll onto their side, twist, or grunt their way up. Encourage it. Spread out some toys just out of reach to spark movement. Prop pillows behind them for soft landings, but let them wobble a little. That sway and correction? That’s building balance.
Posture matters, but perfection’s overrated. Avoid propping your baby into sitting too early with gear. If they can’t hold it, they’re not quite there. Instead, give them floor time. Let their core muscles do the heavy lifting. Think short, frequent sessions of supported sitting, with breaks for stretching and rolling. It’s a marathon, not a sprint and every micro movement counts.
Month 6 9: Starting Solid Foods
This is the milestone most pediatricians keep a close eye on and for good reason. Introducing solids is a sign that your baby is developing the motor control and reflex maturity needed to safely chew and swallow. It’s not just about age; readiness is physical and behavioral.
Here’s what doctors usually look for: First, your baby should be able to sit upright with minimal support. Good neck control is non negotiable. Second, the tongue thrust reflex the automatic pushing of anything foreign out of the mouth should be fading. That’s a big green light. Third, watch for interest. Babies who open their mouth for a spoon or reach for your food are telling you something.
Start slow. Stay patient. This shift isn’t only about nutrition it’s about independence, sensory exploration, and trust building. If in doubt, don’t guess. A quick check in with your pediatrician goes a long way.
Month 7 10: Crawling
Crawling isn’t just adorable it’s a major developmental milestone that builds strength, coordination, and brain body connection. Babies typically try out a few different styles before finding their groove. There’s belly crawling (aka the army crawl), where they shimmy their way forward using elbows and knees. Scooting comes next for some moving around seated or with one leg dragging behind. Then there’s traditional hands and knees crawling, where babies start to get rhythm, balance, and some serious floor mileage.
But crawling isn’t just a way to get around. It works both sides of the body in a cross pattern that actually helps wire the brain across hemispheres. This lays groundwork for skills like reading, writing, and spatial awareness later on. In other words: crawling is big, even if it looks small.
If your baby skips crawling entirely and goes straight to standing or walking, don’t panic. Some do. Still, it’s worth bringing it up to your pediatrician. You can also create time for floor play, tummy time, and simple obstacle courses to encourage cross body movement, even outside of classic crawling. Movement matters how they get there is flexible.
Month 8 11: Pulling to Stand
Once your baby discovers the thrill of pulling up to stand, everything changes fast. This milestone signals a leap in strength, coordination, and growing independence. It’s also a big indicator that walking may be right around the corner.
Why This Milestone Matters
Pulling to stand requires:
Lower body strength to push up
Core stability to hold the position
Fine motor control for gripping nearby supports
Together, these skills set the foundation for cruising and eventually taking those exciting first steps.
Baby Proofing for the Pull Up Phase
As your baby becomes mobile in vertical spaces, safety becomes even more critical. Here are some steps to prepare your home for this active stage:
Secure furniture: Anchor bookshelves, TV stands, and other tip prone pieces
Remove hazards: Clear sharp or breakable items within reach
Use corner guards: Cushion sharp edges on tables and low shelves
Check grip surfaces: Babies will pull on couches, toy bins, and more make sure these won’t roll or slip
Encouraging Safe Practice
Support your baby’s efforts to pull to stand without rushing the process. Provide safe, fun environments to explore the skill:
Low furniture play: Use ottomans, play tables, and stable chairs where baby can safely grab and pull up
Cruising setups: Arrange furniture so baby can move along the edge while holding on
Motivational toys: Place favorite items just out of reach to inspire movement and standing
Remember, not every baby will pull to stand at the same time. Celebrate the effort as much as the achievement, and create a safe space for practicing and falling without fear.
Month 9 12: First Words
This is the stretch when babbling starts to sound more intentional. Somewhere between 9 and 12 months, many babies begin to shape simple sounds like “mama” or “dada” into meaningful communication. These aren’t just noises anymore they’re attempts at real language. Word like sounds might only make sense to you at first, but they’re big cognitive leaps.
The best way to encourage development here? Repetition. Name objects often. Respond to your baby’s sounds like you’re having a real conversation. Use full sentences, even if your baby only replies with a squeal or a syllable. The back and forth matters more than the vocabulary count.
Now, if your baby isn’t making many sounds or has stopped babbling altogether it’s worth bringing up with the pediatrician. Silence doesn’t always mean there’s a deeper issue, but it’s better to check early if you notice communication seems stalled.
Keep talking, keep listening. Words are coming.
By 12 Months: First Steps
Walking isn’t a deadline it’s a range. Some babies take their first steps at 9 months, others closer to 15. Both are totally normal. What matters most is steady progress in balance, coordination, and confidence, not hitting a specific date. Instead of chasing the calendar, watch for the signs: pulling to stand with ease, cruising along furniture, and squatting without tipping. These all suggest your baby is getting close.
A lot of parents stress over shoes, but here’s the truth babies learn best barefoot. Soft soles or grippy socks indoors help them feel the floor and strengthen key muscles. Hard soled shoes can actually trip them up. Save those structured first walkers for outdoor adventures. When the time comes, look for lightweight, flexible designs that allow natural movement rather than restrict it.
Make every milestone a moment and don’t stress if the timeline shifts. Every baby grows at their own pace. Stay observant, stay supportive.