Development guide · 0-2 years

Baby milestones 0-14 months

A guide to what babies may practice from birth to 14 months

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0-3 months

Settling into the world

The first months are about regulation, bonding, early head control, and learning your baby's signals.

You may notice

✓Briefly lifts head during tummy time
✓Turns the head to both sides
✓Lying tolerated on all sides of the body
✓Primitive reflexes present and active

How to support

3-6 months

Everything starts moving

Your baby begins to explore with the whole body: reaching, rolling, stronger tummy time, and more active communication.

You may notice

✓Forearm support (propping on forearms)
✓Weight-shifting on the forearms
✓Pushing up onto extended arms (high prone)
✓Lying on the back: lifting the legs
✓Crossing hands across the midline
✓Bringing both hands together
✓Reaching for objects
✓Hands to feet / feet to mouth
✓Rolling/turning over
✓Rotating around own axis
✓Bringing hands/objects to the mouth
✓Grasping/ releasing grasp
✓Focused vision
✓Visual tracking across the midline
✓Smiling/ laughing

How to support

✓Place interesting objects just within reach
✓Offer floor time on back, tummy and both sides

6-9 months

Curiosity gets stronger

Development from 6-14 months also so called "Stage II" — emerging independence The stage where the child begins to develop independence in movement, in wants, and in communication, and starts to solve different kinds of problems. AUTONOMY & ATTACHMENT (across the whole stage) • Object permanence (understanding people and things still exist when out of sight) • Wariness of strangers • Fear of being left / separation sensitivity

You may notice

✓ Rolling to both sides (a prerequisite for crawling)
✓Lying on the tummy and reaching toward a stimulus (forward and to the sides)
✓Pivoting on the tummy in both directions (rotating around the axis)
✓Belly crawling
✓Straightening the elbows while on the tummy (pushing up onto extended arms)
✓Coming up and rocking on six points of support, then crawling
✓Transitioning into sitting from all-fours, and coming out of sitting again
✓"Mermaid pose" (side-sitting) as a way to move from all-fours into sitting, and from sitting back into crawling
✓Fine motor skills
✓Feeling secure with new people and places when a parent is present
✓Recognizing a familiar person

How to support

✓Create safe spaces for movement practice
✓Let your baby solve small movement problems
✓Repeat simple words during everyday routines

9-14 months

Confidence, steps, and words

Toddlers practice walking, climbing, imitation, independence, and early language at their own pace.

You may notice

✓Crawling on hands and knees, legs hip-width apart
✓Sitting in the regular position and in ring sitting (legs forming a triangle)
✓A mobile, flexible back
✓ Sitting on the heels (kneel-sitting) and tall kneeling (kneeling upright)
✓Washerwoman pose" (half-kneeling, one knee down and one foot flat) as the way up to standing
✓Pulling to stand with support nearby
✓Shifting weight while standing
✓A developed sense of balance while sitting and standing
✓Lowering back down from standing, and moving from standing to sitting and back again
✓Cruising sideways along a support, and moving from one support to another
✓Independent transitions to standing without support
✓Using the main directions of movement, including turns
✓Preparing to walk
✓Pointing and waving
✓Back-and-forth games like peek-a-boo
✓Responding to their own name
✓Early attempts at first words

How to support

✓Give choices between two simple options
✓Name actions out loud
✓Keep routines predictable while allowing exploration

Your baby is not a checklist

Development is individual. This page is here to help you notice patterns, ask better questions, and feel more confident, not to add stress. If something feels off, trust that instinct and ask for support.

Common questions

What if my baby is not doing one of these yet?

Milestones are ranges, not deadlines. Look at the whole picture: comfort, curiosity, movement opportunities, and communication. If you are worried, speak with your pediatrician and get developmental guidance.

Should I compare my baby to other babies?

Try not to. Babies often focus on one skill area at a time. One baby may move earlier while another communicates earlier. Context matters.

Can a session help me understand my baby's stage?

Yes. A 1:1 session can help you understand what your baby is practicing now and what small changes at home can support the next step.

Want help understanding your baby's next step?

Tell Naila what you are seeing at home, and she will help you choose the right kind of support.

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