Buckle up, parents! Only a couple thousand more to go, this year alone! Developmental milestones are behaviors and physical skills children reach and master as they grow. Some first-year-of-life physical milestones include:. It may seem that your baby is simply an eating, pooping, and sleeping machine at this point.
But a lot is going on in that tiny body. Milestones to watch for include:. Your baby is starting to act, well, more baby-like. By the end of 2 months, your baby is likely to be:. Your baby is progressing from dependent newborn to more independent baby yay — you might find those 5 minutes to take a shower!
This is when some of that cuteness overload starts to kick in. Watch for:. At this stage, your baby is taking the milestones already achieved and perfecting them. For example, they may hold their head up more consistently and for longer periods, grasp toys with more coordination, and copy your expressions with more accuracy.
Other milestones are:. Your baby continues to grow, explore, and master. As their strength and coordination increase, you may notice that your baby is:. Given that they are now getting better and better at grasping and holding objects, the American Academy of Pediatrics says 6 months is a good time to begin to encourage your baby to use spoons and their hands to feed themselves.
You can even introduce a sippy cup or regular cup with help. You might notice that your little one can now roll over, sit up, and move objects from hand to hand or hand to mouth like a pro. You might also begin to see your baby:. Babies born prematurely or with a health issue or congenital disorder can also take more time to reach milestones.
If you feel something needs investigation, speak up. Remember that the average ages for reaching certain milestones are just that — averages. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
The sucking reflex is important for infant nutrition and is used in both breastfed and bottle-fed babies.