One Months

• Raises head slightly off floor or bed, when lying on stomach
• Holds head up briefly when supported
• Briefly watches and follows object with eyes
• Some 'noise in throat' sounds
• Avoids mildly annoying sensations (placement of cloth on face)

Two Months

• Vocalizes
• Holds head erect, bobbing, when supported in sitting position
• Follows moving person with eyes
• Imitates or responds to smiling person with occasional smile

Three Months

• Lifts head and chest when lying on stomach
• Vigorous body movement
• Head control is improving
• Recognizes bottle or breast
• Coos
• Chuckles

Four Months

• Good head control
• Rolls from side to side
• Takes object, such as a rattle, held near hand
• May begin reaching
• Follows moving object when held in a sitting position
• Laughs aloud
• Enjoys play

Six Months

• Sits with minimal support
• Rolls from back to stomach
• Transfers object from hand to hand and from hand to mouth
• Babbles - more than two sounds

Nine Months

• Sits alone - changes position without falling
• Plays with 2 objects at the same time
• Says Ma-ma Ba-ba

One Year

• Pulls self to standing - may step with support
• Picks things up with thumb and one finger
• Stacks two blocks
• Gives toys on request
• Gives affection
• Follows simple directions accompanied by gestures
• May say 2 or 3 words

Help Me Grow - Ohio Department of Health

Developmental Activities

12-18 months

Gross Motor

Kick-Kick   When your baby kicks his legs back and forth, play this game. Sign in rhythm to his kicking. When your baby stops kicking, stop singing. When he starts again, start singing. This will develop into a fun game of stop and go. The times when this might happen are when you are changing your baby's diaper, getting him ready for bed or when he is lying on the floor. Your baby is not only exercising his muscles but learning to enjoy language as well.

Reaching for Fun  If your baby is pulling himself to a standing position put some of his favorite toys on a low table. Let your baby stretch to reach them. This will give your baby practice with reaching and balance and help him become aware of concepts such as near and far.

                             If your baby is not pulling himself to a standing position, when baby is on the floor allow baby to hold your fingers and help him to do a sit up. Don't pull baby up, but allow baby to use core muscles to sit up. The core muscles are critical in helping baby begin to walk and balance on his own.

Walking Practice   Once your baby has started to walk, he will want to practice a lot. Show your baby how to hold on to a light weight chair and push it around the room. Sturdy cardboard boxes mke great push toys (or empty diaper boxes with canned foods).

Communications

Following Directions  Help your baby learn to listen and follow simple directions. Try simple directions like, "Find Ma-ma" or "Wash your hands."

Grocery Shopping  When you and your baby go to the grocery store, talk about what she is seeing. Let your baby hold  a box or put items into the grocery cart. Point out signs, colors, numbers, and shapes. Be sure to say the name of the item as you point to it. Use sign language in conjunction with saying the words and pointing out objects.

Family Album  Get pictures of your family members including your baby. Put these in a family album and let your baby lok at and point to all the pictures. Talk about people in the pictures. As your baby grows, continue to add to the album so there are new faces to talk about.

Fine Motor

Cheerio Spill  Put some Cheerios in a plastic bottle. See if your baby can figure out how to tip over the bottle to feed self. Using the same concept, have baby fill a small bucket with blocks or balls, dump the bucket with two hands and then refill.

18-24 months

Verbal

Expand on what your child says. When she says, "Milk" you can say "You would like some milk?" This helps you expand your child's language skills.

Give your toddler choices among options that are all acceptable. Does she want the red cup or the pink cup. Avoid asking her opinions when only one choice is available - are you ready to go?

Self Control

Help prevent tantrums by heading them off. If you see your child getting frustrated, try to calm her down and suggest another activity before the meltdown comes!

Use consequences that are directly connected to the behavior of your child. If she is pouring water on her high chair - take the water away and take her out of the high chair. Possibly offer a more acceptable form - to the bathtub or outside for water play.