A summary of key baby milestones
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Babies usually tend to start smiling at around 6 to 8 weeks old, alongside increased eye contact.
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Rolling over typically begins between 4 and 6 months.
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Babies will begin independent sitting usually around 6 months.
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Most babies begin crawling between 6 and 9 months.
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Their first recognisable words usually arrive around 12 months.
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Babies are likely to sleep through the night between 3 and 6 months as they start taking longer stretches of sleep and circadian rhythms mature.
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It is important to note that every developmental timeline is unique.
If you're a first-time parent, it's likely that you were already thinking about when your little one would start to smile, giggle, walk, and talk long before they were born.
Sam Saunders from The Baby Guru says that "as parents and caregivers we have a significant impact on a child's development. It can be challenging, but also so rewarding watching them grow, explore and discover all the opportunities that're offered to them".
Every month with a new baby brings with it exciting developments. So, to help you know what to expect - and when to expect it - we've pulled together this guide to the key stages during the first 24 months of your baby's life.
Remember, every baby is different, so they may reach milestones at different times - and that's totally okay, you aren't doing anything wrong. If you're worried about your baby's development, speak to your health visitor or GP for reassurance and guidance.
Baby development milestones in their first year
0-3 months: Building early connections
During these early months it may feel like a non-stop cycle of eating, sleeping, crying, and nappy changes. Outside of that routine, incredible growth is happening.
At about one month old, your little one may be able to briefly hold your gaze. Newborn babies can see large shapes and faces when they're near them, so even in the early days, time spent interacting is super important for their development.
Key milestones to watch for:
- Holding and grasping: Baby will start to hold and examine their own hands, be able to follow a toy held in front of them in a semi-circle, and can grasp and hold your finger, uttering little noises when content.
- Smiling: You can look forward to your baby lifting their head and showing their first intentional smile at around 6-8 weeks.
You can begin to introduce tummy time to your baby from birth by lying them on your chest when you're wide awake. Then, when your baby is ready, try doing tummy time on the floor. It helps to develop the muscles in their back, neck, and shoulders that they'll need for sitting and crawling later on.
It can take some babies a bit of time to get used to lying on their tummy, so try putting some toys out within easy reach and propping your baby up a bit by putting a small, rolled-up towel under their arms. If they still seem unsure, that's okay, some babies just don't like being put on their tummies and that'll change as they continue to develop week by week.
By three months, speech and communication skills emerge as your baby shows excitement at the sound of your voice or footsteps approaching. Complement these early routines with soft-touch swaddles and sleep aids engineered to create a calming nursery set up.
4-6 months: Mobility & sensory exploration
Between four and six months, babies start seeing in 3D and can focus on things a little further away. Your little one will now begin to recognise their own name, show emotions like excitement, likes and dislikes, and they'll start babbling to communicate with you.
They'll copy the movements, facial expressions and sounds of others and start blowing raspberries, so get your tissues ready!
Key milestones to watch for:
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Rolling over: Rolling from front to back typically develops between 4 and 6 months as core strength increases.
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Sitting up: By around 6 months, core stability allows sitting with support, a key sign of readiness for weaning.
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Teething and weaning: Most babies begin teething by six months, chewing on everything in their reach. As you begin introducing soft finger foods, messy mealtimes are easier to navigate with ergonomically designed, easy-clean tableware.
7-9 months: Active movement and first words
Get ready to stay on your toes as movement takes off.
Key milestones to watch for:
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Crawling: Babies often start crawling or shuffling around between 6 and 9 months. Ensure your living space is safely baby-proofed for exploration.
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Independent sitting and motor skills: Over these months, babies learn to sit unsupported for longer stretches, reach for objects, and use a pincer grip (thumb and index finger) to pick up small items. They may also start dropping toys from the highchair or cot to test cause and effect.
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Communication: Repetitive babbling increases, and you may hear their first simple words alongside an understanding of words like “no” and “bye-bye”. They will also react when asked where each parent is by looking around the room.
10-12 months: Cruising and independence
By the time they've reached the 10-month mark, your little one will begin to wave their hands to greet others and shake or nod their head when you ask them a question.
Key milestones to watch for:
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Standing and cruising: Babies find their feet by holding onto furniture and cruising around the house. It's important to remember that some slips and falls are all part of learning!
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Talking: Recognisable first words typically arrive around 12 months.
Sam from The Baby Guru says that "between 10-12 months old, little ones often become clingy and start to show signs of separation anxiety or object permanence, an understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen. They can clearly distinguish between strangers and familiar others, requiring reassurance before accepting their smiles and cuddles".
By their first birthday, they'll learn to copy you and begin to understand how to use everyday objects like hairbrushes, keys, and telephones.
Baby milestones after their first year
13-18 months: Toddlerhood and self-feeding
Get ready to step into toddlerhood and put on your dancing shoes, because your little one can now recognise songs and will start to bop along from the age of 13 months.
They'll stand and cling onto your legs and hands for support as they walk, and even give kisses - aww!
Key milestones to watch for:
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Independent feeding: Mealtime independence grows rapidly. Babies can hold a cup and self-feed with easy-grip cutlery.
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Building and drawing: By 15 to 16 months they might be able to build a tower of two or more bricks and hold crayons to draw you some lovely colourful creations, your fridge will soon be covered in one-off works by your mini-Picasso!
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Walking: At 18 months of age, they'll really start to find their feet and might be able to run in short spurts.
At 18 months of age, they'll start to recognise themselves in a mirror, and show a preference for being left-handed or right-handed.
19-24 months: Language and personality
19 months usually marks the point when toddlers can point to one or two body parts, like their head and tummy, on request. During these months, they'll start to understand simple one-step instructions, and story time gets more interactive as they begin to really enjoy listening to stories and can turn the pages of cardboard books by themselves!
Key milestones to watch for:
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Play and imitation: By 21 months old, toddlers enjoy dressing up, household tasks, and naming familiar people, animals and vehicles they see a lot when out and about.
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Social interaction: By age two, toddlers will do silly things just to make you laugh and become confident enough to play and interact with other little ones in varied environments, such as a new playground.
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Expressing emotions: Sam from The Baby Guru says that "strong willed, determined, but easily distracted" is a good description of a typical two-year-old, as they use 50 or more words and hold strong opinions.
Navigating development with confidence
Tracking milestones is about watching progress unfold at a natural pace. As routines evolve from late-night feeds to messy weaning and active exploration, having the reliable essentials at hand makes every transition smoother.
Our products are engineered to fit effortlessly into your lifestyle. Enjoy the journey, one milestone at a time and remember:
Remember, all babies develop at different speeds, so don't be worried if your little one is a few weeks ahead on some things and slightly behind on others. However, if you are concerned that they've missed out one or more important milestones altogether, speak to a healthcare professional.
