Every baby develops at a slightly different pace. Missing a milestone by a few weeks or even months does not always mean something is wrong.
| Activities (Movement & Physical Skills / Hearing & Vision / Talking & Communication) | Age | Sleep & Eat |
| • Moves arms/legs randomly, strong reflexes (startle, grasp), briefly lifts head when on tummy
• Hears voices, recognizes mother’s voice, startles at loud sounds, prefers human voice over noise, sees blurry shapes close up • Cries to communicate hunger, discomfort, temperature, sleepiness |
0–2 weeks | Sleep: 16–18 hrs/day
Eat: breast milk/formula every 2–3 hrs |
| • Slightly stronger neck, brief head control when held upright, stretches more, beginning muscle control
• Watches faces briefly, prefers high-contrast patterns, tracks objects slowly • Makes small sounds/grunts, changes crying intensity |
3–4 weeks | Sleep: 15–17 hrs/day
Eat: milk only |
| • Turns head slightly during tummy time, improving head lifting strength
• Tracks nearby objects horizontally • Different cries for hunger, pain, discomfort, tiredness |
1 month | Sleep: 14–17 hrs/day
Eat: milk only |
| • Holds head more steadily, smoother arm/leg movements, begins pushing slightly during tummy time
• Smiles when spoken to (social smile begins), recognizes familiar voices • Coos, vowel sounds begin (“oo”, “ah”) |
2 months | Sleep: 14–16 hrs/day
Eat: milk only |
| • Pushes up on forearms during tummy time, stronger neck control, brings hands to mouth
• Recognizes familiar faces, follows moving objects with eyes, improved focus • Laughs, responds to voices, early social interaction sounds |
3 months | Sleep: 14–16 hrs/day
Eat: milk only |
| • Rolls tummy-to-back, reaches for toys, grasps objects briefly, improved hand-eye coordination
• Better distance vision, follows moving objects smoothly, notices colors more • Babbles more, begins experimenting with sound patterns |
4 months | Sleep: 13–16 hrs/day
Eat: milk only |
| • Rolls both directions, stronger grip, transfers objects between hands
• Turns toward sounds, recognizes voice direction, improved auditory tracking • Squeals, vocal play, begins consonant sounds (“ba”, “ga”) |
5 months | Sleep: 13–15 hrs/day
Eat: milk only |
| • Sits with support, may begin rocking on hands/knees (early crawling prep), stronger core muscles
• Responds to own name, recognizes familiar voices clearly • Babbling (“ba”, “da”, “ma”), repeats sounds intentionally |
6 months | Sleep: 12–15 hrs/day
Eat: milk + purees/soft foods |
| • Sits without support, rotates while sitting, begins crawling attempts
• Recognizes emotional tone in voices, reacts to praise or disapproval • Copies sounds, increased babbling, vocal experimentation |
7 months | Sleep: 12–15 hrs/day
Eat: mashed foods, soft fruits/vegetables + milk |
| • Crawls well, pulls to stand, begins cruising along furniture
• Understands “no”, responds to name reliably, stronger memory for familiar people • “Mama/Dada” sounds, may associate sounds with people |
8 months | Sleep: 12–15 hrs/day
Eat: finger foods + soft solids + milk |
| • Cruises holding furniture confidently, may stand briefly unsupported
• Watches gestures and expressions closely, understands pointing • Waves, claps, imitates sounds and actions |
9 months | Sleep: 12–14 hrs/day
Eat: more textures + soft solids + milk |
| • Stands briefly without support, may attempt first steps
• Observes and imitates daily actions (phone, clapping, brushing hair) • Uses gestures purposefully, increasing sound imitation |
10 months | Sleep: 12–14 hrs/day
Eat: self-feeding soft foods + milk |
| • Walks holding furniture or hands, improved balance and coordination
• Understands simple instructions (“come”, “give”, “no”) • Says simple words, uses gestures + sounds together |
11 months | Sleep: 12–14 hrs/day
Eat: family foods (soft cut pieces) + milk |
| • May walk independently, improved balance and confidence
• Recognizes familiar people, objects, and routines clearly • 1–3 meaningful words, points to communicate needs |
12 months | Sleep: 11–14 hrs/day
Eat: soft varied family foods + milk |
| • Walks well, climbs small furniture, squats and stands
• Points to objects when named, identifies familiar items • 3–10 words, imitates new words frequently |
15 months | Sleep: 11–14 hrs/day
Eat: mixed family foods + milk |
| • Runs awkwardly, throws ball forward, pushes/pulls toys with purpose
• Follows simple one-step commands without gestures • 10–20+ words, starts combining meaning through tone |
18 months | Sleep: 11–14 hrs/day
Eat: regular family foods |
| • Runs better, kicks ball, climbs onto furniture easily
• Identifies pictures, body parts, and familiar objects • 2-word sentences (“want water”, “go out”) |
2 years | Sleep: 10–13 hrs/day
Eat: regular meals + snacks |
| • Jumps with both feet, pedals tricycle, improved coordination
• Understands most speech in daily context • Short conversations, 3–5 word phrases |
3 years | Sleep: 10–13 hrs/day
Eat: independent eating, balanced diet |
| • Hops on one foot, balances better, draws basic shapes
• Understands complex instructions, answers questions logically • Clear storytelling, asks “why” questions frequently |
4 years | Sleep: 10–12 hrs/day
Eat: full balanced diet |
| • Runs, skips, strong coordination, refined motor control
• Strong comprehension of speech and social cues • Speaks fluently in full sentences, narrates experiences clearly |
5 years | Sleep: 9–11 hrs/day
Eat: full family diet |
Feeding Timeline
| Age | Main Feeding |
| Birth–6 months | Breast milk/formula only |
| Around 6 months | Start soft complementary foods |
| 7–9 months | Mashed foods + finger foods |
| 9–12 months | Soft family foods |
| 1 year+ | Most normal foods (cut safely) |
Avoid:
- Honey before 1 year
- Whole nuts (choking risk)
- Too much salt/sugar
- Soda/soft drinks for babies
Common “Firsts” Timeline
| Skill | Common Age Range |
| Social smile | 6–8 weeks |
| Rolling over | 4–6 months |
| Sitting alone | 6–8 months |
| Crawling | 7–10 months |
| Standing | 9–12 months |
| First steps | 10–15 months |
| Running | 18–24 months |
| First words | 10–14 months |
| Simple sentences | 2 years |
When to Talk to a Doctor
Consider checking with a pediatrician if a baby:
- Does not respond to sounds by 2–3 months
- Cannot hold head up by around 4 months
- Is not sitting by around 9 months
- Is not attempting movement/crawling by 12 months
- Is not walking by 18 months
- Loses skills they previously had
Most babies simply develop at their own pace, but regular checkups help monitor growth well.
