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Developmental Milestones of Infants

Birth Through 6 Months

Learning about ages and stages of typical development can help parents better anticipate, then guide children more successfully and confidently, through each developmental stage. Please keep in mind that even though there are typical patterns of development, actual timelines will vary for each child. The information below is a basic guideline to help parents identify the developmental milestones of their infants.

1 Month

  • Responds to parents’ faces and voices
  • Lifts head briefly
  • Moves head from side to side
  • Brings hands to face
  • Has strong reflex movements (e.g., rooting, sucking, gripping, etc.)
  • Can sleep 3-4 hours at a time. Stays awake an hour or longer between sleep times
  • Can be comforted by being held or talked to

2-3 Months

  • Smiles in response to attention
  • Follows objects with eyes
  • Coos in response to language
  • Can lift head, neck, and upper chest when lying on tummy
  • Straightens and kicks legs when lying on back
  • Grasps and shakes hand toys
  • Holds head up with control

4-6 Months

  • Coos and makes some consonant-vowel sounds such as “dada”
  • Amuses self with babbling and noises including laughs and squeals
  • Controls head well
  • Lies on tummy and lifts head and chest to look around
  • Rolls over from tummy to back and eventually back to tummy again
  • Explores objects with mouth
  • Reaches for and bats at objects
  • Begins teething- Bites on toys and objects
  • Recognizes the bottle or breast and eventually holds bottle
  • Pulls up to a sitting position holding someone’s fingers
  • Sits with support
  • Can see across the room
  • Is interested in toys
  • Pays attention to small objects
  • Recognizes and eventually reaches for parents

If you feel your baby is not growing or learning in the way you expect, please talk with your pediatrician and/or call Alabama’s Early Intervention System for further assessment (1-334-242-8114).

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