From the moment your baby is born, they are constantly learning, growing, and exploring the world around them. And, although every baby experiences the same milestones, it’s important to remember that all babies are different and will develop at their own pace.

Whether you’re a parent-to-be or a new parent finding your feet, it’s likely that you will have a lot of questions when it comes to learning more about how your child will develop during those early months.

During the first 1,000 days of life, your baby’s brain develops faster than at any other time, meaning there’ll be lots of development milestones, from rolling over, smiling and laughing, to gurgling or walking. During this time, your baby’s environment and experiences play a huge role in shaping their future.

We’ve created a guide outlining a baby’s development journey, highlighting all of those important milestones. Remember, these milestones are just a guide and every baby develops at a slightly different pace.

Baby milestones at one-month-old

At one-month-old, many babies can do the following:

• Lift their head when on their tummy
• Respond to different sounds
• Turn their head toward the light
• Follow objects
• Stare at faces
• Recognise black-and-white patterns

Some babies can also smile and hold their heads at a 45-degree angle.

Baby milestones at two months old

At two months old, your baby will be curious and engage with everything around them, they will become increasingly sociable and enjoy interacting with other children and adults.

Babies can often do the following:

• Make gurgling and cooing sounds
• Hold their head up for a short period of time
• Follow faces
• Recognise your voice
• Smile responsively and at others
• Track people and objects with their eyes
• Hold their head at a 45-degree angle

Some babies may also be able to bear weight on their legs and hold their heads steady with little support.

Baby milestones at three months

At three months old, babies can typically do the following:

• Hold their head steady
• Recognise your face
• Laugh and smile

At this age, some babies can also turn towards loud sounds.

Baby milestones at four months

At four months old, your baby will start to mimic the sounds they hear and the movements they see others doing. They will learn how to communicate feelings such as hunger, frustration, and discomfort with different cries.

Many babies can:

• Hold their head up steadily
• Bear weight on their legs
• Coo and babble when you talk to them
• Imitate speech sounds such as mama and dada
• Copy movements and facial expressions
• Start to recognise objects and familiar people from a distance

Some babies might also cut their first tooth at this stage and demonstrate the ability to roll over.

Baby milestones at five months

At five months old, babies can often do the following:

• Distinguish between bold colours
• Turn towards new sounds
• Roll over from their tummy onto their back
• Amuse themselves by playing with their hands and feet

At this stage, some babies can also sit unsupported for a short period of time and roll over from their back to their tummy. At five months old, some babies will also start to place objects in their mouths and become anxious around strangers.

Baby Milestones at Six months

At six months old, babies start using sounds to express emotion and will soon be on the move as they start to crawl.

Babies can generally do the following:

• Turn towards sounds and voices
• Blow bubbles
• Roll over in both directions
• Imitate sounds
• Recognise their own name
• Start to eat solid foods
• Respond to the emotions of others
• Pass things from one hand to the other

Some babies may also start crawling, drag an object towards them, and sit up without any support.

Find out more

Developmental milestones offer important information about your little one’s progress and health and watching your child reach these developmental milestones at the typical ages shows that your child is developing as they should.

Our team of health professionals are ready to guide you through your pregnancy and into parenthood. We are a modern alternative, drawing on the very latest evidence-based research. Together, let’s get ready to parent.