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This page describes some of the milestones that your baby will reach during the second half of his first year of life. It
is important to keep in mind, however, that every baby develops at his own pace, and that the ages listed are not set in stone.
Also, this page describes development of the healthy baby who was born at full term. A baby who was born prematurely would
meet these milestones a bit later than a full-term baby.
Month seven
Your baby’s ability to sit up continues to improve this month, and he should be able to sit for a few minutes at a time. He
may still need his hands to support himself when sitting. He will not be able to maneuver himself into the sitting position
yet, though. He will need your help for that.
With your support, your baby should be able to stand and jump up and down. This will be a source of great enjoyment to him!
Bouncing up and down is a great workout for his legs.
Your baby’s hand coordination continues to improve this month. He may become quite adept at holding a toy in one hand, and
passing the toy from one hand to the other.
Month eight
By this time, your baby can not only sit up, he can also get himself into the sitting position without your help. He can even
pull himself into the standing position. He may have difficulty getting back down, though.
Some babies learn to crawl this month, and some don’t. Some prefer to slide on their belly or bottom instead of crawling.
Most start off travelling backwards first, before they try going forward. If your baby hasn’t learned to crawl yet, he will
learn soon enough, or he may simply go straight from sitting to walking later on.
Month nine
Your baby has learned to use his index finger to poke at items. This helps him to explore things that he is holding in his
hand. Another major accomplishment is that he now knows how to let go of an object voluntarily when he doesn’t want to play
with it any more. This eliminates a major source of frustration for your baby.
Month 10
If you hold your baby’s hand, he may be able to take a few tentative steps this month. He may also become quite good at carrying
out repetitive motions, such as picking up a toy in one hand and passing it to the other hand before dropping it in a pail
beside him.
Month 11
Your baby may be able to stand by himself for a few seconds this month. He will also be able to move from a standing position
to a sitting position when he wants to.
Month 12
This month, your baby may take his first step, if he has not done so already. He will keep his legs spread far apart when
he does this, to help improve his stability. Your baby will have to concentrate very hard when he takes his first steps. For
the next few weeks, he will often look at his feet when trying to walk, to keep track of where they are in relation to the
objects around him.
At this point, your baby may start to favour one hand over the other. This is called handedness. It is important that handedness
not develop too early in your baby’s development. If you notice your baby favouring one hand over the other within the first
few months of life, bring him to a doctor, as it may be a sign of a problem.
Your baby’s fine motor skills continue to improve this month. Around this time, he is able to grasp an object using his thumb
and forefinger. This is called the pincer grasp. He may enjoy stacking blocks or placing objects into one another. He may
also like to play with simple puzzles, preferably the wooden ones where each piece has a little handle.
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