Infant Physical Development

  • Month 4

    ~Supports upper body on hands when lying on stomach
    ~Shows preference for red and blue over yellow
    ~May begin to use vowels and consonantsin babbling, such as "ag ga"
    ~Grasps rattle
    ~Puts hands in mouth
    ~Rolls from tummy to back
  • Month 1

    ~Lifts headand turns it from one side to the other when placed on stomach.
    ~Focuses on objects from about 10 inches to up to 3 inches away
    ~Reacts to parent's voice
  • Month 2

    ~Makes sounds such as "ooh" and "aah"
    ~Watches objects moved about 6 inches away from face
    ~ Responds to more sounds and different pitches of voice
  • Month 3

    ~Opens and closes hand
    ~ holds head steadily when held up
    ~Lifts head and chest when on stomach
    ~Swipes at objects
    ~Brings hands together
  • Month 5

    ~Rocks on stomach while kicking legs and making swimming motions with arms
    ~Reaches out and grabs toys
    ~Turns head in direction of sound
    ~Knows positive speech from unhappy speech
  • Month 6

    ~Passes a block from one hand to the other
    ~Puts object to mouth with hand
    ~May begin creeping
    ~Recognizes basic sounds of native language
  • Month 7

    ~Rolls over both ways
    ~Sits up steadily
    ~Stands with assistance
    ~Knows parents and caregivers by their voices and by sight
    ~Can follow a path of moving objects with eyes
    ~Babbles with strings of vowels and consonants, such as "ba, ba, ba"
    ~Grabs for objects with raking motion
  • Month 8

    ~Pulls self up to standing
    ~Bangs blocks together
    ~Propels self by arms, knees or squirming motion
    ~Looks at objects with sustained attention
  • Month 9

    ~Uses index finger to poke
    ~Puts objects in containers
    ~Leans forward to pick up toy
    ~Notices small objects
    ~May start associating sounds with objects
  • Month 10

    ~Crawls well
    ~Can put objects into containers
    ~Uses index finger to start pointing
    ~Imitates new word sounds more frequently
  • Month 11

    ~Walks while holding furniture or crib rails for support
    ~Uses gestures like shaking head for no
    ~Releases objects intentionally
    ~Grasps with thumb and forefinger
  • Month 12

    ~May walk a few steps alone
    ~Stands alone for short time
    ~Picks up small objects using thumb and forefinger
    ~Puts objects into and takes them out of containers
    ~Holds and drinks from cup