“One of the biggest misconceptions families have is that babies are supposed to hit these milestones within a very specific timeframe,” said Dr. Razaan Byrne, a pediatrician at Children’s Minnesota. The truth is, babies are a lot like us: wonderfully diverse and unique. Every baby crawls, walks, and talks at their own distinct pace — and that’s OK. While most milestones do have a general timeline, there’s plenty of wiggle room padded into these dates. Try to view them more as a range than a rigid setpoint.
Major milestones can happen anytime-
Infant:
→ 2 months: Begins to smile at people
→ 2 months: Coos and makes gurgling sounds
→ 4 months: Begins to babble
→ 4 months: Laughs out loud
→ 6 months: Strings vowel sounds together (“ahhh,” “ooooh”)
→ 6 months: Starts to say consonant sounds (“mmm,” “bbbbb”)
→ 6-9 months: Combines vowels and consonants (“da-da-da-da”)
→ 9-12 months: Copies and uses simple gestures and sounds (clapping, waving, nodding head)
One to Two Year Olds:
→ 12 months: Responds to simple requests (“Give me the book”)
→ 12 months: Says a few simple words like “mama,” “dada” or “uh-oh”
→ 12-18 months: Points to show what he wants or is curious about
→ 12-18 months: Says a number of short, simple words (“truck,” “ball”)
→ 18-24 months: Begins to run and kick/throw balls
Concerned about Baby’s progress?
- Talk to your doctor. Pediatricians are trained to look at all aspects of development. He or she can address your concerns and assess whether Baby’s development still falls within the normal limits or could benefit from interventions.
- Contact Help Me Grow. A joint initiative of the Minnesota Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Help Me Grow offers free screenings and evaluations for infants and toddlers. Learn more at helpmegrowmn.org.
