By age 8 months, most babies can sit up without support
Crawling is important for the development of integrated communication between the 2 sides of the brain. Some babies never crawl but rather scoot on their bottoms or move on their stomachs, like an army crawl
Babies become increasingly more mobile during this stage; now is the time to childproof so baby can explore and discover without the possibility of injury. Baby gates are important to block off stairs or rooms that could be dangerous (such as bathrooms).
After crawling is mastered, babies begin to pull themselves up to a standing position. They then begin to take some steps while holding on to something for support. This will change into cruising around the furniture. As their balance improves, babies may gradually take a few steps without holding on. Many babies’ first steps are taken around 12 months, but earlier or later than this is completely normal.
After crawling is mastered, babies begin to pull themselves up to a standing position. They then begin to take some steps while holding on to something for support. This will change into cruising around the furniture. As their balance improves, babies may gradually take a few steps without holding on. Many babies’ first steps are taken around 12 months, but earlier or later than this is completely normal.
By the end of this stage, babies begin to use the pincer grasp, using the thumb and first or second finger to pick up small objects. As babies learn how to open fingers, they are able to drop and throw things. Babies also more thoroughly investigate objects by shaking them, banging them, and moving them from hand to hand. Babies are interested in objects with moving parts, such as wheels and things that open and close. They also like to poke their fingers through holes.
Babies also show a lot of growth in their language development during this period. They begin to make recognizable syllables like “ma” or “da,” which eventually turn into “mama” or “dada.” They can also imitate speech sounds they hear others make. By age 12 months, many babies say at least one word (other than mama and dada) clearly. They understand the meaning of no and begin to follow simple commands. Babies communicate nonverbally by pointing, crawling, or gesturing toward desired objects. The can also initiate and play gesture games, such as peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake.
Babies learn object permanence, the concept that an object still exists when taken out of their sight, during this stage. For example, if a toy is hidden under a blanket, babies will pick up the blanket and search for it. Babies also learn that objects have functions besides being just something to chew on or bang with (such as a hair brush or phone).
Separation anxiety and stranger anxiety usually begin during this period and are a normal part of babies’ emotional development. Separation anxiety occurs when parents leave a babies’ sight, resulting in great distress with fussing and crying. Separation anxiety usually peaks between age 9-18 months and fades before their 2-year birthday. Stranger anxiety is a reaction of distress when an infant encounters a stranger.
By the end of this period, most babies have reached the following milestones
Motor skills
Get in and out of a sitting position independently
Get on hands-and-knees position and crawl
Pull self up to standing position, walk holding on to furniture, stand without support and, eventually, take a few steps without support and begin to walk
Use pincer grasp (thumb and first finger)
Place objects into container and take them out of container Begin to do more functional activities, such as hold a spoon or turn pages in a book
Language skills
Say “mama” and “dada” and use these terms specifically referring to a parent
Use exclamations such as “oh-oh!”
Try to imitate words and may say first word
Use simple gestures, such as shaking head for “no” or waving for “bye-bye”
Play interactive gesture games, such as pat-a-cake and peek-a-boo
Social/Emotional skills
Easily find hidden objects
Use objects correctly such as holding phone up to ear or drinking from a cup
Shy around strangers
Cry when mom or dad leaves