Development

At 1 month, a baby moves mostly by reflex: startling at noise, gripping your finger, turning the head to look for the breast. They see clearly at 20-30 cm and prefer faces. They sleep 14 to 17 hours a day in short stretches and take only milk, on demand. A fever of 38 °C or more means seeing a doctor without delay.

Around 2 months, most babies smile when you talk to them, coo and lift their head on their tummy. Crying peaks around 6 weeks and usually eases by 3 or 4 months. Milk alone is enough, on demand. If baby does not smile at people or react to loud sounds, talk to the doctor.

At 3 months, baby watches their hands, brings them to the mouth and grips the rattle you slip into them. They hold the head better, push up on the forearms, and many begin to chuckle. Days are organised around three naps, but baby still wakes at night to feed. Milk is still all they need.

At 4 months, most babies hold their head up, grip a toy slipped into their hand, swing an arm towards what attracts them and put everything in their mouth. Some already roll from tummy to back, others will wait until 6 months. Nights can get unsettled. Once baby rolls, never leave them alone on a raised surface.

At 5 months, baby puts everything in the mouth: it is their way of exploring, not necessarily a tooth or hunger. They are learning to roll and stare at your meals, but interest is not enough: to eat, baby must sit with the head steady, grab food and swallow it. Keep anything small enough to choke on out of reach.

At 6 months, most babies sit while propping themselves on their hands; some manage alone, others not until 9 months, and that is normal. The WHO starts complementary foods at this age, while breastfeeding continues. First teeth often arrive now. Make the house safe before your baby starts moving around.

At 7 months, many babies sit for a few moments without support, pass a toy from one hand to the other and string syllables together. Others will get there later: the WHO places sitting between 3.8 and 9.2 months. Play on the floor every day, keep going with solids and talk to the paediatrician if a milestone is missing or worries you.

Around 8 months, many babies start to crawl and cry as soon as a parent moves away. This separation anxiety is a normal stage that lasts from a few weeks to a few months. Announce your departures, leave without lingering, play peekaboo and make the floor safe. Some babies never crawl on all fours, and that is normal too.

At 9 months, most babies sit alone, get around in their own way and look for a toy you have just hidden: this is object permanence. Many pull themselves up on furniture, a milestone the WHO places between 4.8 and 11.4 months. American paediatricians recommend a developmental screening at this age.

At 10 months, many babies move around standing and holding on to furniture, point at what interests them and copy your gestures, such as waving goodbye. The CDC only expects most children to walk with support at 12 months. Answer every pointed finger, fix furniture to the wall and forget the baby walker.

At 11 months, some babies take their first steps alone, while others will wait until 15 or 17 months: the WHO places independent walking between 8.2 and 17.6 months. First words often come around 12 months, and many babies want to feed themselves. Keep him barefoot at home, offer finger foods and make stairs and kitchen safe.

At 12 months, most babies pull up to stand, walk holding on to furniture, wave goodbye and look for a hidden object. Some already walk alone, others will wait until 17 or 18 months, and that is normal. This first year ends with a visit to the paediatrician, best prepared with your own observations.

At 18 months, most children walk on their own, understand short sentences and say anywhere from a few words to about twenty. Their wish to do things alone outpaces their language, so feelings overflow. Play, talk and read with your child every day, without screens. No words, no pointing, no walking, or lost skills: see a doctor.

At 2, most children run, eat with a spoon and put two words together. Their wish to decide for themselves explains the endless “no”: offer simple choices and few rules. Free play, daily outings and 11 to 14 hours of sleep help. No two-word phrases, or lost skills: see a doctor.

At 3, most children speak in sentences, ask questions, are understood most of the time, dress partly on their own and begin to play together. To prepare for school, focus on everyday independence and play, not early reading. Speech hard to understand outside the family, or lost skills: see a doctor.

Most children walk alone between 12 and 15 months, but the WHO observed first steps anywhere from 8 to 18 months in healthy children. What helps: floor time, stable furniture, a push toy and bare feet. Baby walkers are not recommended. Not walking alone at 18 months: see a doctor.

A baby’s language is built from birth: cooing in the first months, babbling and gestures before age 1, first words around 12 months, two-word sentences around 2 years, conversations at 3. Talk, read and sing to your child, in your own language. No words at 18 months, no sentences at 2, or lost skills: see a doctor.