Baby Development: Milestones in the First Year
Typical milestones from birth to 12 months, and why every baby develops at their own pace.
Before you use this guide: This is general educational information, not an individual medical assessment. We do not identify a clinician reviewer on this page, so please confirm personal health decisions with your doctor, midwife or paediatrician.
Milestones are a guide, not a test. Babies develop at their own pace, and premature babies often reach milestones based on their corrected age.
A rough guide
- By 2 months: social smiles, follows faces with the eyes
- By 4 months: laughs, holds head steady, brings hands to mouth
- By 6 months: rolls over, reaches for toys, babbles
- By 9 months: sits without support, may crawl, responds to name
- By 12 months: pulls to stand, says simple words, waves bye-bye
How to support development
- Talk, sing and read to your baby every day.
- Offer supervised tummy time while awake.
- Give safe toys to reach for and explore.
Talk to your doctor if
You are concerned that your baby is not meeting several milestones, loses skills they had, or does not respond to sounds or make eye contact.
Trusted resources to read next
These public health resources provide additional information. Guidance can vary by country, so prioritise advice from your own care team and local health service.
- CDC: Helping babies sleep safely — Safe sleep environment recommendations for babies.
- NHS: Early days — Newborn checks, feeding, and support during the first days.
This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.