Development milestones 1 to 6 months

Baby Developmental Milestones

1 to 6 months

This is a guideline for baby developmental milestones during the first year.

It’s so exciting the first time they smile at you and then at each other. So when do babies generally start to smile and grasp, crawl and start teething? This is a guideline only of when a baby may accomplish each milestone by month. Not necessarily in this order exactly or exact age especially if they have an adjusted age

Developmental Milestones 1 – 6 Months

1 Month Old

  • Lifts head while lying on tummy
  • Responses to loud sounds and may recognize parents’ voices
  • Likes looking at your face, getting to know you
  • Can see black and white or high contrast patterns
  • Moves head from side to side
  • Blinks in bright lights
  • Can focus on objects 8 – 12 inches away
  • Brings hands to their face
  • Moving and jerking their arms

2 Months Old

  • Smiles and may giggle
  • Follows objects with their eyes
  • Starting to vocalize with coos and oohs
  • Movements becoming smother

3 Months Old

  • Knows mom by scent and face
  • Can hold their had more steadily
  • Lifting head and chest when lying on tummy
  • Bring hands to mouth
  • Stretching and kicking legs
  • Starting to imitate sounds
  • Grabs and shakes rattles
  • Flexing hands open and shut
  • On a firm surface can push down with legs
  • Recognize familiar faces and objects
  • Follows moving objects
  • Brings hands together
  • Starting to use hand-eye coordination
  • Lifts head up 45 degrees

4 Months Old

  • Rolls over from stomach to back
  • May crying if playing stops, starting to recognize emotions
  • Can reach arms out for dangling toys
  • Sits while being supported
  • Responses to colors
  • Recognizes the bottle or breast
  • Reacts to noises
  • Can follow an object across the room
  • May sleep for longer periods of time
  • Starting to put things in their mouth

5 Months Old

  • Starting to recognizes their name
  • May begin to roll in both directions
  • Plays with hands and feet
  • Plays with hands and feet
  • Teething may begin now

6 Months Old

  • Turns head towards a sound
  • Imitates sounds and may use two syllable noises
  • Ready for solids, opens mouth for a spoon
  • May start lunging forward or crawling
  • Head is held up well
  • Sitting with minimal support
  • Can hold a bottle
  • Starting to copy facial expressions

It is important to understand that twins may not reach their twin baby milestones exactly as per the above development milestones, and that is also fine as there are a number of factors at play, but generally full term twins meet the milestones as above.

 

If you are at all concerned about the development of your children, please contact your doctor directly.

Scroll to Top