Remember that all babies are individuals and develop at their own pace. Premature infants, especially, reach many milestones later than their same-age peers. This checklist should be used only to get a general sense for where your baby is or where he is heading. If you have any concerns about your child's development, consult with your physician.
Physical Development
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Pushes up head and upper back while on stomach, supporting on elbows.
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May propel with arm power on stomach to move a few inches.
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Reaches for objects.
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Selects items to hold, may transfer from hand to hand if desired.
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May roll from stomach to back.
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Held in sitting position, may keep head steady.
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Bears weight on and even bounces on legs when held to standing.
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Moro reflex/startle reflex may still be present
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Grasp reflex fades.
Intellectual Development
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May be startled and overwhelmed by new feats like rolling over.
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Learns to satisfy self by sucking hands.
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Sees variety of colors.
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Begins to understand cause and effect.
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Begins to develop short-term memory.
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Becomes aware of differences in depth and distance.
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Prefers human faces to non-face objects.
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Delights in own hands and feet.
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May sleep a seven- to nine-hour stretch at night.
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Attentive during day up to 15 minutes at a time.
Social And Emotional Development
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Uses smiling skills to communicate with caregivers.
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Laughs, squeals, gurgles, and whimpers in response to others' actions.
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Can be calmed by soothing voice, holding, or seeing the face of parent or familiar caregiver.
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Distinguishes parents from other caregivers, especially the mother; tries to get her attention.
Language Development
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May make vowel-consonant sound such as ah-goo.
Dr. Bettye M. Caldwell Ph.D. Professor of Pediatrics in Child Development and Education
Parenting advice is given as a suggestion only. We recommend you also consult your healthcare provider.
