🧬 Overview
Between 6 and 12 months, babies go from quiet observers to mobile, curious explorers. You’ll see big leaps in movement, communication, social interaction, and thinking. Each baby progresses at their own pace — what's most important is steady growth over time.
Development doesn’t follow a straight line — it’s full of loops, plateaus, and bursts.
đź“… Month-by-Month Highlights
✅ 6–7 Months
- Rolls in both directions
- Sits with or without support
- Babbles with consonant sounds (“ba,” “da,” “ga”)
- Recognizes familiar faces and begins to show stranger anxiety
- Passes objects hand-to-hand
- Enjoys mirror reflections
✅ 8–9 Months
- Begins crawling or scooting
- Sits steadily without support
- Uses pincer grasp (thumb and finger) to pick up small objects
- Understands "no" and responds to own name
- Plays peekaboo and simple social games
✅ 10–12 Months
- Pulls to stand, cruises along furniture
- Says “mama” or “dada” specifically (may vary by baby)
- Points at things of interest
- Waves “bye-bye”
- May take first steps or stand independently
- Imitates gestures and sounds
🧩 Tips for Parents
- Provide safe spaces for exploration (floor time, play mats, supervised crawling)
- Narrate what you’re doing to support early language
- Read picture books together daily
- Offer age-appropriate toys that support grasping, banging, transferring, and cause-effect play
- Encourage social interaction through singing, clapping, and peekaboo
⚠️ When to Call Your Pediatrician
- Doesn’t roll or sit independently by 9 months
- Doesn’t babble or show vocal play
- Doesn’t respond to name or familiar voices
- Avoids eye contact or shows little interest in people
- Seems unusually floppy or stiff
- Isn’t trying to move (crawl, scoot, pull up) by 12 months
đź“š Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Developmental Milestones: 6–12 Months” – cdc.gov
- American Academy of Pediatrics. “Baby Milestone Chart: Month-by-Month”
- Zero to Three. “Your Baby’s Development from 6 to 12 Months”