Are you a new or expecting parent? Many parents wonder what is normal for their newborn when it comes to developmental milestones. This is part three of a three-part blog series. Throughout the week we will post a list of developmental milestones submitted by Deborah Winders Davis, Ph.D., professor of Pediatrics in the School of Medicine at the University of Louisville. To read part one, developmental milestones for 1 to 3 months, click here. To read part two, developmental milestones for 4 to 7 months, click here.
If you are concerned about your child reaching certain developmental milestones, please make sure to discuss any issues with your child’s pediatrician. If you need a pediatrician, click here to learn more about UofL Pediatrics.
Movement
- Gets to sitting position without assistance (8-10 months.)
- Crawls forward on belly
- Assumes hand and knee position
- Creeps on hands and knees
- Gets from sitting to crawling or prone (lying on stomach) position (10-12 months)
- Pulls self to standing position
- Walks holding on to furniture
- Stands momentarily without support
- May walk two or three steps without support
Hand and Finger Skills
- Uses pincer grasp (grasp using thumb and index finger; 7-10 months)
- Bangs two one-inch cubes together
- Puts objects into container (10-12 months)
- Takes objects out of container (10-12 months)
- Pokes with index finger
- Tries to imitate scribbling
Cognitive
- Explores objects in many different ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping) (8-10 months)
- Finds hidden objects easily (10-12 months)
- Looks at correct picture when image is named
- Imitates gestures (9-12 months)
Language Milestones
- Responds to simple verbal requests
- Responds to “no”
- Makes simple gestures such as shaking head for no
- Babbles with inflection (8-10 months)
- Babbles “dada” and “mama” (8-10 months)
- Says “dada” and “mama” for specific person (11-12 months)
- Uses exclamations such as “oh-oh”
Social/Emotional
- Shy or anxious with strangers (8-12 months)
- Cries when mother or father leaves (8-12 months)
- Enjoys imitating people in his play (10-12 months)
- Shows specific preferences for certain people and toys (8-12 months)
- Prefers mother and/or regular care provider over all others (8-12 months)
- Repeats sounds or gestures for attention (10-12 months)
- Finger-feeds himself (8-12 months)
- Extends arm or leg to help when being dressed
Developmental red flags
- Does not crawl
- Drags one side of body while crawling (for over one month)
- Cannot stand when supported
- Does not search for objects that are hidden (10-12 months)
- Says no single words (“mama” or “dada”)
- Does not learn to use gestures such as waving or shaking head
- Does not sit steadily by 10 months
- Does not show interest in “peek-a-boo” or “patty cake” by 8 months
- Does not babble by 8 months (“dada,” “baba,” “mama”)
Adapted from Early Childhood Direction Center, C/O Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, 219 Bryant St., Buffalo, New York 14222
