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What should a baby be able to do at 10 months?
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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A 10-month-old baby is no longer the helpless little one you brought home from the hospital. Now he can do much more. He has already increased his weight more than three times compared to his birthday, has learned to laugh and smile, and is increasingly delighting his parents with funny antics. What should a 10-month-old baby be able to do?
Height and weight of a child at 10 months
During the 10th month, the baby gains up to 450 grams of weight. And its growth is a little slower than before - up to 1.5 cm. On average, the baby's height at 10 months can reach 9500, and height - up to 76 cm.
If your baby grows faster or slower, don't worry. Everyone has their own growth and development characteristics. But if your baby's growth and weight have been erratic during these 10 months - sometimes growing and gaining weight, sometimes staying the same - you should definitely discuss this with your pediatrician. These may be symptoms of various diseases, sometimes hidden.
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Baby sleep at 10 months
At night, a 10-month-old child sleeps almost without waking up - up to 12 hours in a row. And during the day, his sleep should also be mandatory at least 2 times - up to 2 hours at a time. This is very important for the growth and weight of the child, who must definitely get enough sleep. If the child does not get enough sleep, he does not grow and gain weight as quickly and well.
If the child does not get enough sleep during the day, then most likely. At night, he will also wake up and prevent his parents from sleeping. Therefore, it is very important to follow the sleep and rest schedule of the baby at 10 months. It is important to adhere to such a schedule as long as possible - approximately until one and a half years. Then the baby will be sick less than his peers, and will develop better.
Speech development of a child at 10 months
Your 10-month-old baby's babble is already quite like real words. Your baby is showing interest in what he has to say and will continue to "talk" if you praise him for it or join in the conversation. When he tries to say a few words, such as "ok" for a sock, your baby will love it if you praise him: "Yes, these are your socks."
If the child previously only crawled, now he is trying to walk and stand. The child will cling to furniture (or your legs!) to learn to stand.
When will a 10 month old baby start walking?
A 10-month-old baby can already crawl on his hands and knees. The baby tried to crawl before, but now he crawls more confidently and picks up speed. Your baby can even sit quite confidently, without leaning on his arms.
The child can also stand up from a sitting position on his own. He can even begin to walk, holding on to furniture, letting go of the furniture for a moment, and stand without support.
Now the baby will start exploring the house very carefully and with great curiosity. He may try to crawl up the stairs or steps, so always be there for support.
Your baby can move around as much as he wants even when you're holding his hands. He may even try to reach down and grab a toy when you're holding his hand. The magical first steps to independence for a 10-month-old are just around the corner. And you'll have to spend a lot more time nurturing and keeping him safe once your baby can walk!
Communication of a child at 10 months
A 10-month-old baby's personality is rapidly developing. His social skills are improving, and he may well give everyone he meets a big smile. A child at this age may already be a little shy, hiding his face when he sees strange uncles and aunts.
The child increasingly willingly repeats sounds, gestures of adults, he already knows how to wave his hand when he sees that you are leaving. He very quickly understands what is allowed and what is not, but already expresses his own opinion when he does not want something. For example, if you want to transfer him to the car seat or put him in a stroller.
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Why does a 10 month old baby get upset about things that didn't bother him before?
A 10-month-old baby may be frightened by things that didn’t bother him before, like someone ringing the doorbell or the phone. When this happens, it’s best for parents to reassure the baby. Tell him that you’re there, and he’ll understand perfectly well. Over time, the baby’s fear will pass. The baby just needs extra hugs and words of comfort from adults until he calms down from the sounds and images that upset him.
Does a 10 month old child understand words and phrases from adults?
Your baby is just beginning to understand many simple words and phrases, so it's more important than ever to talk to him. You can help him learn new words by repeating his attempts to say them correctly. For example, if he points to his bottle of milk and says, "Boota," you can point to the bottle and say, "Yes, that's your bottle."
Although we may sometimes feel silly when speaking to our baby in his language, it is a great way to encourage his speech and listening skills. He always responds in the way he knows how. Your baby may smile a lot and babble more than you can stand. But soon, instead of incomprehensible babble, you will hear from your baby individual words or gestures that you already understand. A child, in addition to words, has access to other forms of communication, such as individual syllables, sounds and gestures.
Explaining to a 10-month-old child step by step what you are doing, describing colors, sizes, actions is also a very good move for developing his speech. When you put your baby in a stroller to go for a walk, tell him something like this: "Now you will walk in your blue stroller. I will dress you in your favorite blue coat so that you don't get cold. Now we will go to the park."
You can also recite nursery rhymes to him, accompanying them with gestures. Which illustrate your words. Play games with your child that are accompanied by nursery rhymes and counting rhymes. This is very good for developing the child's vocabulary.
He will be quicker to associate words with people and actions.
What if a child at 10 months is not developing normally?
Every child is unique and develops physically at their own pace. What you read online is simply a guideline for how your child should develop, if not now, then soon.
If your baby was born prematurely, it may take a little longer for him to be able to do the same things as other babies his age. That's why most babies born prematurely are assessed by doctors as having:
Chronological age, which is calculated from the child's date of birth
Age adjustment, which is calculated based on the gestational age of the child.
You should pay attention to the development of a premature baby against his corrected age, not his actual birth date. And doctors will help you assess the development of the child at 10 months and his skills and give the necessary recommendations.