Baby development milestones (2024)

Find out what to expect from your baby at each stage during their first six months. Bear in mind that all babies develop differently. If your baby was born early (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or with a condition linked with developmental delays, such as Down's syndrome, they may reach these milestones a little later than other babies (AAP 2020, NHS 2022a). If you have any concerns about your baby’s development, ask your health visitor for advice (Harvey 2020).

1-month-old baby milestones

• Tries to lift head when on their tummy (Sharma et al 2022)
• Responds to sound (Sharma et al 2022)
• Stares at faces (Sharma et al 2022)
• Turns head towards light (Sharma et al 2022)
• Can see black and white patterns (NCT 2017)

• Follows moving objects with their eyes
• Makes "ooh" and "ah" sounds
  (Sharma et al 2022)

• Smiles
• Lifts head when on their tummy
  (Sharma et al 2022)

Find out more about your baby at one month.

2-month-old baby milestones

• Makes gurgling and cooing sounds
• Follows faces and objects when held near face
• Holds head up for short periods
  (Sharma et al 2022)

• Recognises your voice
• Smiles responsively
• Brings hands together over their chest or chin
• Movements become smoother
  (Sharma et al 2022)

• Holds head steady
• Bears weight on legs
• May lift head and shoulders using their forearms for support (mini push-up)
  (Sharma et al 2022)

Find out more about your baby at two months.

3-month-old baby milestones

• Holds head steady (Sharma et al 2022)
• Prefers looking at faces (Sharma et al 2022, Simion and Giogio 2015)
• Follows your movements
  (Sharma et al 2022)

• Does mini push-ups
• Makes happy sounds (AAP 2020, Sharma et al 2022)

• Turns towards loud sounds
• May bring hands together and bat at toys
  (Sharma et al 2022)

Find out more about your baby at three months.

4-month-old baby milestones

• Holds head up steadily
• Can bear weight on legs briefly (Sharma et al 2022)
• Coos and laughs when you talk to them (AAP 2020, Sharma et al 2022)
• Does mini push-ups

• Can reach out and grasp objects or toys (AAP 2020)

• Imitates speech sounds, such as "baba" and "dada" (Raising Children 2023)
• May cut first tooth (NHS 2022b)
• May roll over from tummy to back (AAP 2020)

Find out more about your baby at four months.

5-month-old baby milestones

• Can distinguish between bold colours (AOA nd)
• Can roll over from tummy to back (AAP 2020)
• Amuses themself by playing with hands and feet (Sharma et al 2022)

• Turns towards new sounds (Sharma et al 2022)

• May sit momentarily without support
• May roll over from back to tummy
• Mouths objects
• May show signs of stranger anxiety
  (Sharma et al 2022)

Find out more about your baby at five months.

6-month-old baby milestones

• Turns towards sounds and voices (Sharma et al 2022)
• Imitates sounds, blows raspberries (Raising Children 2023)
• Ready for solid foods (Sharma et al 2022)

• Reaches for objects and mouths them
• Rolls in both directions

• May lunge forward or start crawling
• May jabber or combine syllables
• May drag object towards themself
• May sit without support
• Recognises own name (Sharma et al 2022)