Ages & Stages

Baby

Your baby will give you the most important information—how he or she likes to be treated, talked to, held, and comforted. This section address the most common questions and concerns that arise during the first months of life.

Is your baby due for a check-up? See the AAP Schedule of Well-Child Care Visits.

At Birth - 3 months your baby should...

/_catalogs/masterpage/assets/images/Baby_03Physical.jpg

Physical Skills

Raises head & chest when on stomach
Stretches & kicks on back
Opens and shuts hands
Brings hand to mouth
Grasps and shakes toys

View List

/_catalogs/masterpage/assets/images/Baby_03social.jpg

Social Skills

Begins to develop social smile
Enjoys playing with people
More communicative
More expressive with face & body
Imitates some movements & expressions

View List

/_catalogs/masterpage/assets/images/Baby_03sensory.jpg

Sensory Milestones

Follows moving objects
Recognizes familiar objects and people at a distance
Starts using hands and eyes in coordination
Prefers sweet smells
Prefers soft to coarse sensations

View List

Birth - 3 Months Articles

At 4 - 7 months your baby should...

/_catalogs/masterpage/assets/images/Baby_47Physical.jpg

Physical Skills

Rolls both ways
Sits with and without support of hands
Supports whole weight on legs
Reaches with one hand
Transfers object from hand to hand
Uses raking grasp

View List

/_catalogs/masterpage/assets/images/Baby_47Social.jpg

Social Skills

Enjoys social play
Interested in mirror images
Responds to expressions of emotions
Appears joyful often

View List

/_catalogs/masterpage/assets/images/Baby_47sensory.jpg

Cognitive Thinking

Finds partially hidden object
Explores with hands and mouth
Struggles to get objects that are out of reach

View List

4 - 7 Months Articles

At 8 - 12 months your baby should...

/_catalogs/masterpage/assets/images/Baby_812Physical.jpg

Physical Skills

Gets to sitting position without help
Crawls forward on belly
Assumes hands-and-knees positions
Gets from sitting to crawling position
Pulls self up to stand
Walks holding on to furniture

View List

/_catalogs/masterpage/assets/images/Baby_812Social.jpg

Social Skills

Shy or anxious with strangers
Cries when parents leave
Enjoys imitating people in play
Prefers certain people and toys
Tests parental response
Finger-feeds himself

View List

/_catalogs/masterpage/assets/images/Baby_812sensory.jpg

Cognitive Thinking

Explores objects in different ways
Finds hidden objects easily
Looks at correct picture when the image is named
Imitates gestures
Begins to use objects correctly

View List

8 - 12 Months Articles