Infant Development

Physical

Mental

Language

Social

• arm and leg movement are reflexes
• head flops if not supported
• can see things about 10 inches away
• stares at object but does not reach
• loves skin-to-skin contact

• prefers to look at high contrast patterns and faces
• alert 1 out of every 10 hrs
• begins to trust caregiver
• most behavior is reflexive
• will cry if understimulated or overstimulated

• responds to voices
• small cooing begins
• likes it when you talk to her

• enjoys eye contact
• smiles at faces
• recognizes parent’s voices

Physical

Mental

Language

Social

• muscles relax and twitch less
• can lift head 45 degrees
• hands start to unfold
• can briefly hold rattle
• tracks moving objects

• starts to make associations – cry gets a need met
• protests if needs aren’t met
• wants visual stimulation

• gurgles, coos, and squeals
• exhibits emotions

• responsive smiling
• communicates moods
• studies faces
• your baby’s personality become more obvious

Physical

Mental

Language

Social

• can stretch limbs all the way out
• can roll back to side
• holds head up to search
• plays with hands
• can hold rattle longer
• swipes with arms
• can briefly bear weight on legs

• learns cause and effect
• discovers hands & feet
• likes detailed high-contrast images

• begins extended vowel sounds
• starts to laugh
• has different cries for different needs

• makes eye contact
• smiles at faces
• knows difference between parents and strangers
• stops crying when you come in the room

Physical

Mental

Language

Social

• can stand up with help
• rolls front to side
• lifts head 90 degrees
• sits with arms propped
• reaches for objects

• forms mental images of what your baby expects when giving a cue
• is aware that people and things have labels (dadda)
• starts to explore things by tasting them

• changes shape of mouth to change sounds
• sputters

• laughs hard when tickled
• greets caregiver
• social gestures-moves arms to signal “pick me up”
• likes social interaction

Physical

Mental

Language

Social

• rolls over from front to back
• grabs toes
• can wiggle forward on floor
• reaches with a good aim
• transfers objects from hand to hand

• shows interest in colors
• pushes away disliked actions (wiping nose)
• displays expression of decision-making

• babbles (ba-ba)
• tries to mimic sounds

• turns head toward speaker
• watches your mouth movements

Physical

Mental

Language

Social

• can sit unsupported
• rolls over both ways
• can stand if leaning on other object
• points at objects
• picks up small objects with thumb and finger
• reaches accurately
• can feed herself
• can drink from a cup
• gets up on all fours and rocks

• studies objects
• concentrates on one toy at a time
• analyses what to do with her toy
• understands the nesting of objects
• understands an object might behind something

• longer and more varied sounds
• experiments with diffents volumes and pitches of sounds
• makes 2-syllabled sounds

• mimics facial expressions
• exhibits moods with varied sounds and body movements
• may be shy or afraid of strangers
• responds to her name
• raises arms to signal her wanting to be picked up
• likes her reflection

Physical

Mental

Language

Social

• masters crawling
• can stand when supported
• climbs on furniture
• walks with help

• start to understand phrases (like “come here”)
• wants to explore things by touching everything
• builds, stacks and disassemble

• says simple words (“dog”, “hot”)
• understands “no”
• mimics sounds like tongue-clicking, raspberries, and cough

• enjoys mimicking
• points to things she want
• feels pride (especially when praised)
• likes games (peek-a-boo

Physical

Mental

Language

Social

• walks alone
• can climb up stairs
• can grip a crayon
• can run
• bounces to music

• favors one hand
• understands a word in context
• understands cause and effect
• starts pretending
• remembers

• likes to sing
• says several words
• says “no” and shakes head
• can follow simple direction

• copies and imitates
• likes to look at books together
• starts to exhibit a temper when angry
• waves good-bye
• laughs at funny things

Physical

Mental

Language

Social

• can walk backwards
• tries to kick a ball
• dances, trots, prances
• can walk in circles
• scribbles
• can throw an object

• learn by exploring
• separation anxiety is less strong (remembers caregivers when out of sight)
• can match shapes

• says 10-20 words
• puts shorts words together “no-no”, “bye-bye”
• makes first sentenc

• responds to verbal requests without signals
• loves it when you babble back to he

Physical

Mental

Language

Social

• can jump
• climbs (out of highchair and crib)
• can take clothes off
• opens doors

• can understand 2-step directions
• can draw circles and lines on paper

• says 20-50 words
• makes 3-word sentences

• understands more than she says
• likes to sing