Development in the first year happens faster than at any other point in a person's life. It can be thrilling to watch — and quietly anxiety-inducing when your baby doesn't seem to be doing what the books say they should.
Two things are worth holding onto throughout this post. First, developmental ranges are wide — "normal" covers a lot of ground. Second, the purpose of knowing milestones is not to create a checklist to stress over, but to know when something genuinely warrants a conversation with your health visitor or GP.
Newborn to 1 month
At birth, babies are more capable than they look. They arrive with a set of primitive reflexes that are both impressive and clinically useful — your health visitor and paediatrician will check for these in the early days.
What to expect:
- Rooting reflex — turns head and opens mouth when cheek is stroked; drives feeding
- Sucking reflex — sucks on anything placed in the mouth
- Moro (startle) reflex — throws arms out and pulls them back in response to sudden movement or sound
- Grasp reflex — curls fingers tightly around anything placed in the palm
- Tonic neck reflex — when lying on their back and head turns to one side, the arm on that side extends
Senses: Vision is limited to about 20–30cm — roughly the distance to your face during feeding. They can distinguish contrast, particularly black and white, and will track a slow-moving face. Hearing is fully developed at birth; your baby already recognises your voice from the womb.
Red flags to mention to your midwife or GP:
- Not responding to loud sounds
- Eyes not tracking a slow-moving face by 4 weeks
- Persistent asymmetry in movement — one side of the body moving significantly less than the other
2 to 3 months
What to expect:
- First social smiles appear — typically around 6 weeks, in response to your face and voice
- Begins to coo and make vowel sounds
- Holds head up briefly during tummy time; wobbles but improving
- Follows moving objects with their eyes
- Hands begin to open more; less fisted
- Recognises familiar faces and shows preference for caregivers over strangers
Tummy time: This is important for neck and upper body strength, and for preventing a flat spot on the back of the head (positional plagiocephaly). Aim for short, supervised sessions several times a day — even a few minutes at a time counts. Many babies dislike it initially; persevere.
Red flags:
- No social smile by 8 weeks (mention at the 8-week review)
- Not making eye contact
- Not responding to familiar voices
- Very stiff or very floppy muscle tone
4 to 6 months
Development accelerates noticeably in this window.
What to expect:
- Holds head steady without support
- Rolls from front to back (then back to front, usually a little later)
- Reaches for and grasps objects — initially with the whole hand, more precisely later
- Brings objects to mouth
- Laughs, squeals, and begins babbling with consonant sounds ("ba", "da", "ma")
- Recognises their own name
- Bears weight through legs when held standing
- Shows clear pleasure and displeasure — emotions are becoming readable
Sleep: Many babies consolidate into longer nighttime stretches during this period, though this is highly variable. Sleep regressions around 4 months are common as sleep cycles mature — it's normal and temporary.
Red flags:
- Not reaching for objects by 5 months
- Not laughing or making reciprocal sounds
- Not bearing any weight through legs when held upright
- Losing skills they had previously — always take regression seriously
6 to 9 months
What to expect:
- Sits unsupported — typically from around 6–7 months
- Transfers objects between hands
- Uses a pincer grip (thumb and forefinger) to pick up small objects — developing from around 8–9 months
- Begins to move — crawling usually appears around 7–9 months, though some babies shuffle, roll, or go straight to pulling up without crawling
- Shows stranger anxiety — distress around unfamiliar people is developmentally normal and a sign of healthy attachment
- Responds to "no" and their own name consistently
- Babbling becomes more complex and conversational in tone
- Begins to understand object permanence — knows things exist when out of sight; separation anxiety follows from this
Feeding: This is when weaning typically begins (around 6 months). Expect mess, refusal, gagging, and very little actually being eaten for the first few weeks — all of this is normal.
Red flags:
- Not sitting with support by 9 months
- Not babbling
- Not showing interest in faces or social interaction
- Not attempting to reach or grasp objects
9 to 12 months
What to expect:
- Pulls to standing using furniture; cruises along surfaces
- Some babies take first independent steps before 12 months; many don't — both are within normal range
- Points to draw attention to things (this is an important developmental milestone, not just a cute behaviour — it signals shared attention and early communication)
- Waves bye-bye, claps, plays peek-a-boo
- Says one or two words with meaning — "mama" and "dada" said to the right person, or a clear approximation of another word
- Follows simple instructions: "give it to me," "where's the ball?"
- Feeds themselves finger foods with increasing coordination
- Imitates actions: banging, stirring, patting
Red flags at 12 months — raise with your health visitor or GP:
- Not pointing or waving
- Not using any words with meaning
- Not walking with support or pulling to stand
- Loss of any previously acquired skill — speech, motor, or social
- Not making eye contact or responding to their name consistently
The 12-month review
Your health visitor will carry out a developmental review at around 12 months. It covers:
- Movement and physical development
- Communication and language
- Social interaction and play
- Hearing and vision
- Feeding and growth
Be honest at this review. If you have noticed anything that concerns you — however small — say so. Health visitors are not looking to alarm you; they are looking for early indicators where support or referral might help.
What development is not
It is not a race. A baby who walks at 10 months has no developmental advantage over one who walks at 15 months. Early milestones do not predict later intelligence, ability, or achievement.
It is not linear. Babies often plateau or appear to go backwards in one area while making a leap in another. A baby who was babbling constantly may go quiet for a week or two while mastering a new motor skill — this is normal.
It is not comparable. Your baby's development should be compared to their own trajectory over time, not to a friend's baby, a sibling at the same age, or anything on social media.
When to act, not wait
Contact your GP or health visitor promptly — without waiting for the next scheduled review — if your baby:
- Loses any skill they had previously (speech, social, motor)
- Has consistently asymmetric movement on one side of the body
- Does not respond to sounds or their name by 6 months
- Is not pointing or making eye contact by 12 months
- Has a significant squint or does not appear to follow objects visually
- You have any gut feeling something is not right
Early referral for any developmental concern leads to better outcomes. You will never be judged for raising something that turns out to be fine.