What a child should be able to do before a year - by months

By the time a child turns one year old, he can already do a lot. His height and weight increase every month, the child develops rapidly. The baby's weight increases by an average of 500-600 grams every month, and his height by 1-2 cm. How does a baby develop month by month up to one year?

By the end of the 1st month the child:

• Raises head briefly
• Can turn head from side to side
• Likes to look at a human face from a distance of 20-25 cm
• Makes sharp hand movements
• Brings hands to face
• May turn head towards familiar voice
• Reacts to loud sounds
• Flashes in bright light

[ 1 ]

By the end of the 2nd month the child:

• Smiles
• Follows objects with his eyes
• Cries when he is unhappy
• Can produce vowel sounds such as "a" or "o"

[ 2 ], [ 3 ]

By the end of the 3rd month the child:

• Raises his head and chest when placed on his tummy
• Raises head up 45 degrees
• Straightens legs when lying on back
• Opens and closes the cam
• Pushes off with its feet when placed on a hard surface
• Reaches for hanging toys
• Grabs and squeezes toys in his hand
• Looks at moving objects
• Begins to imitate sounds
• Recognizes familiar objects and people, even from a distance
• The child begins to develop the so-called social smile
• Hand-eye coordination begins to develop
• Holds head up longer

[ 4 ]

By the end of the 4th month the child:

• May sleep about six hours all night before waking up (total sleep is usually 14 to 17 hours)
• Sits with support
• Raises head 90 degrees
• Can follow a moving object in a 180 degree arc
• Amuses himself with new sounds
• Reacts to all colors and shades
• Explores objects, puts them in mouth
• Can suck on a pacifier or breast
• Shows his pain, fear, loneliness and discomfort through crying
• Reacts to a rattle or bell

[ 5 ], [ 6 ]

By the end of the 5th month the child:

• Draws attention to small objects
• Can see the range of the entire room
• Begins to use both hands to transfer toys from one hand to the other
• The baby begins the process of teething

By the end of the 6th month the baby:

• Holds head up when sitting
• Pronounces some vowel-consonant sounds
• Sits with minimal support
• Opens mouth to take spoon with food
• Grabs the toy
• Trying to crawl
• Drinks water, milk or compote from a cup without a nipple
• Can hold a bottle with his hands
• Tries to copy some facial expressions
• Pronounces the simplest words of two syllables

By the end of the 7th month the child:

• Turns head in the direction of the voice
• Imitates many sounds
• Distinguishes the tone of human emotions
• Sits independently, almost without support
• Crawls
• Rolls from tummy to back and vice versa
• Babble
• Pronounces the syllables "pa", "ma", "ba"
• May not wake up at night

[ 7 ]

By the end of the 8th month, the baby usually:

• Reacts with laughter or a smile to objects that he likes
• Can suck compote or milk from a bottle
• Turns his head when he's finished sucking
• Can sleep about 11-13 hours a day; daytime sleep takes 2 to 3 times (this number may vary)
• Sits without support
• Crawls in a position on knees and hands
• Depending on different needs, he cries differently
• Reacts to his name
• He has different reactions to different family members.
• Shows signs of separation anxiety from parents

By the end of the 9th month the child:

• Reaches for toys
• Throws objects and then looks for them
• Grabs a spoon during feeding
• Rolls from back to tummy and vice versa
• Picks up small objects with two fingers
• Begins to recognize himself in the mirror's reflection

[ 8 ]

By the end of the 10th month the child:

• Gets upset if his toy is taken away
• Trying to walk
• Trying to stand
• He amuses himself by looking at his reflection in the mirror for a long time
• The child already understands that the mother leaves and returns. He no longer has the conviction that an object that disappears ceases to exist
• The child likes to look at books with bright large pictures

By the end of the 11th month the baby usually

• Says "ma-ma" and "yes-yes"
• Understands the word "no"
• Clapping his hands
• Trying to walk
• It's already standing more steadily.
• Maintains balance better
• After parents' request, he picks up and brings the toy
• Eats soft fruits and vegetables
• Eats with a spoon
• Better coordination of gaze and movements

By the end of the 12th month the child:

• Puts objects into a box and then takes them out
• Can go for an object and pick it up
• Shakes head "no"
• Increases weight three times compared to the day of birth
• Opens and closes cabinet doors with fun
• Walks holding the hands of adults
• Says "ma-ma" and "yes-yes"
• "Dancing" to the music
• Is interested in books and can look at pages with interest
• Can understand a few simple commands
• Afraid of strangers
• Gives away toys but wants to take them back
• May show affection for a person
• He pushes away what he doesn't want.
• When he doesn't want to get dressed, he pushes, pulls and throws off clothes or a blanket
• Takes off his hat and socks
• Understands the use of certain items
• Waiting for parental reaction to his behavior
• Raises arm or leg when getting dressed
• Identifies his reflection in the mirror

A child under one year old, as we see, can already do a lot. He pleases his parents with his laughter, first awkward steps and such a sweet trusting smile. Therefore, you should always keep a camera and video camera at the ready.