Development

checklist
This resource should be used as a guide to
show the progression of development.
Some babies will not meet every milestone or
mini-milestone at the exact month specified.

If your baby was born prematurely, subtract

the number of weeks the baby was early from
his or her current age. This is referred to as
the “adjusted age” and should be used when
referring to this checklist.

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NEWBORN-1 MONTH
NEWBORN 1 MONTH

Baby’s body is in physiological Baby continues to have poor

flexion, which simply means baby head control due to weak neck
is tense and curled up and core muscles
Your baby will have poor head Baby starts lifting her head for
control due to weak neck and short spurts while in tummy time
trunk muscles
Your baby’s arms, legs, and trunk
While practicing tummy time,
are beginning to stretch out as
baby’s head is usually resting on
baby starts to lose that tight
the surface where he lies, facing
flexion pattern (physiological
sideways (it may be a little while
until baby starts to lift his head) flexion)
Baby may have jerky arm and Baby’s arm and leg movements
leg movements that are not are still jerky and continue to
purposeful move without purpose
Your baby will keep her hands His little hands continue to be
clenched in tight fists held in tight fists
Baby’s grasping reflex is present Baby can briefly focus on high
and strong, if you offer baby a contrast images (think black,
chance to hold your finger, their white, and red pictures) up to
little hand will tightly close 8-12” away
around it
Your baby’s Asymmetrical Tonic
Neck Reflex is present and will
continue through approximately
the next 6 months. This is also
known as “Fencer’s Pose”- you will
notice that if your baby’s head is
turned to the right, their right arm
will extend straight out, while the
left arm is bent at the elbow. Vice
versa if the head is turned towards
the left, their left arm will extend

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2-3 MONTHS
2 MONTHS
Baby will usually keep his head
turned to the side while on his
tummy
Baby’s eyesight starts to improve
and she begins to focus on toys
and faces
Baby begins visually tracking from
side to side with both the eyes
and head moving together to
follow an object (eyes cannot yet
track independently)
While lying on his back (supine),
baby’s head begins to stay in
midline (in line with the center of
the body)
Those tight little fists begin to
relax and open briefly
Baby will start to smile, though
not yet socially or purposefully (it’s
still super cute and photo worthy!)
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3 MONTHS
Baby’s head is consistently in
midline (center of their body)
while he is lying on his back or
tummy
Baby begins to bring hands to her
midline (center of the body) and is
starting to find her mouth
His arms begin swatting at toys
in direct line of sight. It’s time to
take out that play gym!
Baby’s eyes begin to focus on
more colorful items
Baby begins tracking moving
objects with her eyes while her
head stays still
Baby lifts his head and chest off
the floor for longer periods while
doing tummy time
When holding baby in a vertical
position, she will push down
through her feet (think standing
on your lap as you hold under her
arms)
Baby begins to socially smile
(keep that camera close by!)
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4-5 MONTHS
4 MONTHS 5 MONTHS

Baby can now maintain good Baby finds his feet and will love
head control when being held playing with them and even
and also while lying on her bring them towards his mouth
tummy (EVERYTHING will be finding a
Baby’s eyes consistently track way towards his mouth)
objects from side to side without Baby now reaches for toys with
needing to move his head both hands
Baby begins to tuck her chin Baby’s grasping accuracy for toys
when doing a “baby situp” and objects is greatly improved
(attempting to pull themselves up (meaning they can now get what
to sit on their own) they want!)
Those little hands begin to open Baby holds and manipulates toys
and reach for or grab onto a toy more easily
Baby brings hands and toys During tummy time, baby begins
to mouth (keep a close watch, to shift her weight slightly from
everything will find its way to his side to side in order to reach or
mouth from here on out!) play with a toy
Landau reflex may be observed Baby can now roll at least one
(baby appears to be flying or direction (back to belly/ belly to
swimming during tummy time, back)
think arms out like superman) While sleeping, baby may roll over
Also during tummy time, you will onto her belly and not know how
see arms under the shoulders, to turn back over (make sure to
chest elevated, and weight is lose the swaddle as soon as this
distributed through the forearms happens!)
(if you are into yoga, think a cobra During tummy time, baby
pose) is pushing himself up with
Baby now smiles spontaneously straighter arms (think upward
at people cobra pose)
Baby may begin rolling in one Baby may begin to sit in a tripod
direction (back-to-belly or belly- position- a seated position with
to-back) arms planted on the floor in front
added support (arms used as a
third leg of sorts)

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6-7 MONTHS
6 MONTHS 7 MONTHS

Baby’s hands can now grasp and Purposeful rolling is consistent for
shake a rattle baby
Baby can transfer a toy from one Baby can hold and play with toys
hand to the other while sitting (he no longer needs
During tummy time, baby his hands to prop him up)
consistently pushes up through While sitting, baby starts reaching
straight arms and is really working for toys in all directions without
on his core and neck strength falling over
While on her belly, baby is Signs of those beginning
pivoting in circles to seek out and crawling skills may be observed-
play with toys (the beginning think planking, downward dog,
stages of crawling) dolphin diving (baby looks like
Baby can now roll in both she’s kicking with her feet and
directions (back to belly/ belly to “diving” forward without the arm
back) formation)
Baby is beginning to sit either in a Baby may be able to get onto his
“tripod” (arms are planted forward hands and knees from tummy
for support) or “ring”position (legs time
are in a circle) When baby is on hands and knees
Baby may lose balance while (quadruped) she may start to rock
sitting and topple over (make sure back and forth or even push and
to practice sitting on a soft area move backwards
and keep close watch!) Your little one now may be able to
hold his own bottle

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8-9 MONTHS
8 MONTHS
Baby now brings toys together
and can even clap hands
She may show prerequisite
signs of crawling- planking or
downward dog patterns
Baby may start initial crawling
army style (he drags his belly on
the floor while moving forward)
for a few weeks before he can
move forward on all fours
May be able to transition in
and out of sitting (moving from
tummy time or lying on her back
to a seated position)
Baby may play in a kneeling
position (low or tall kneeling)
May pull to stand by holding onto
furniture, mostly using his arms to
get him to that upright position
Baby can wave “bye bye”, and give
high-fives
Baby has good dynamic sitting
balance and can reach in all
directions without falling over
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9 MONTHS
Baby begins to feed himself with
his fingers
Baby can now use an inferior
pincer grasp (pads of the fingers,
not the tips) to pick up a cheerio
or small puff
Baby plays is a side-sit position
(both feet are in pointed in the
same direction while knees are in
the opposite direction of her feet)
Baby continues to play in a
kneeling position (low or tall
kneeling)
He may start crawling up steps
(time to babyproof if you haven’t
already!)
While holding onto furniture, she
may start cruising (taking small
steps to get from point A to point
B holding onto the same couch or
ottoman)
While cruising, baby may feel
comfortable enough to let go
with one hand to play with toys
Baby crawls on hands and knees
to get across the room
Baby may now pull to stand using
both his arms and legs
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10-11 MONTHS
10 MONTHS
Baby now crawls over obstacles
and uneven surfaces (think
pillows, soft jungle gyms,
ramps,etc.)
Baby can pull to stand using arms
and legs
She may slowly lower herself to
the floor to take a seat from a
standing position
He may begin assisted walking
– first pushing something stable
(think diaper box or activity) then
progresses to a toy on wheels
(think walker or toy stroller)
Baby may stand independently
without holding on
Baby may begin to walk (walking
may initiate anytime between 10-
15 months, remember every baby
is different!)
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11 MONTHS
Baby can release a toy upon
request
Baby cruises along furniture,
easily letting go with one hand
to play
Baby can points purposefully with
one finger and is becoming very
curious these days
He can pull to stand using a
proposal stance (half kneel) while
holding onto furniture
Baby now climbs on furniture
She may stand independently
without holding on
Baby pushes walker toy, may still
start with something sturdy and
then progress to a toy on wheels
when he gains more confidence
May begin to walk independently
(walking may initiate anytime
between 10-15 months)
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12 MONTHS
12 MONTHS

Baby’s pincer grasp is fully mature (baby holds a cheerio or puffs with the
tips of her fingers)
Baby points purposefully with one finger
Baby squats (bends through their legs hovering above a
seated position) during play
Baby can now turn pages of a thick board book
Baby may start removing his socks (and thinks it is a fun
game to play!)
Baby pushes walker toy on wheels
Bay may stand independently without holding on for
longer periods of time
Baby may begin to walk (walking may begin anytime
between 10-15 months)
Baby may begin flinging or tossing a small ball (time for a
game of catch!)

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reach all of these milestones?
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guide you through your baby’s first year
and beyond!

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