During his first year, your baby will progress at an extraordinary speed: lying down, sitting, then on all fours and finally standing, he will finally accomplish the greatest feat of all, his first steps!
To do this, from birth, your child will improve day after day his muscular control and the coordination of his movements through his various experiences.
Alongside this brain maturation, it will gain weight and grow, its limbs will lengthen and gain muscular strength.
At each stage of his development, support him by giving him your attention, your encouragement and your congratulations, as well as by offering him new activities as he develops: in this way, you will best stimulate his awakening and his progress. .
Also have confidence in his abilities: your child will sense this and will draw additional strength from it to move forward.
And if your baby doesn't reach all the milestones in the indicated time, don't worry!
Even if there are certain middle-age benchmarks, children develop their motor skills at their own pace and many factors can influence their progress: their possible prematurity at birth (or gestational term), their body size, their temperament, stimulation that they receive, etc. Regular check-ups with your doctor will be an opportunity to check that your little one is developing correctly.
AT BIRTH
When your baby is born, his limbs are bent, his neck and chest are not very toned. He is unable to support his head on his own for more than a few seconds: don't forget to place one hand under his neck when you lift him!
His movements are involuntary and anarchic. He has several archaic reflexes which will disappear over the following months:
• If you stroke his cheek, he turns his head toward your finger and opens his mouth to suck. • A finger placed in his mouth triggers a sucking reflex.
• If you lift him a little too suddenly or he feels physical discomfort, he suddenly straightens his arms and legs by opening his hands, then he brings his limbs back into flexion: this is Moro's reflex.
• Held in a vertical position on a surface, it automatically takes a few steps: your baby already knows how to walk, but he will soon forget it to better relearn it later.
• If you brush one of your fingers against the palm of his hand, he grabs it tightly and holds it tight.
AROUND 1 MONTH
• You can catch your baby's gaze by placing yourself close to his face and moving gently: he will follow you with his eyes.
• He “smiles at the angels” when he feels good.
AROUND 2 MONTHS
• Your baby holds his head up for a few moments, then it wobbles.
• If you keep him sitting, his back is still soft and he stays hunched over.
• He sucks his fingers.
• Between one and two months, he gives you his first real smiles, in response to a request from you.
AROUND 3 MONTHS • Your baby is now able to hold his head up when you hold him in your arms.
• His back becomes more and more toned when you keep him sitting.
• If you lay him on his stomach, he lifts his head and leans on his forearms for a few moments.
• On his back, he alternately extends and flexes his legs. • He is fascinated by his hands, which he spends a lot of time contemplating.
• If you place a rattle in his hand, he automatically grabs it and then lets go.
AROUND 4 MONTHS
• Placed on his back, your baby explores his body by caressing his stomach or knees. He can also roll onto his side.
• He manages to hold an object placed in his hand for a few moments, but he still often loses it.
• He brings his hands together and holds them tight.
• He turns his head when he hears a noise.
• He starts laughing out loud.
AROUND 5 MONTHS
• Lying on his back, your child “pedals” and plays with his little feet.
• He can sit for a short time if you prop him up with cushions.
• He grabs an object placed within his reach and immediately brings it to his mouth to suck it.
• He smiles at his image in the mirror. V
ERS 6 MONTHS
• Placed on his stomach, he manages to roll over to get back on his back. Lying on his back, he plays with his feet and brings them to his mouth. He also lifts his head and torso to try to sit up on his own, but he can't.
• He extends his arms towards you for you to take him. • He holds his toys very well. He drops one if you hand him another.
• When you support him in a standing position, his legs exert flexion – extension movements like springs: this is the “jumper” stage.
AROUND 7 MONTHS
• Your baby is finally able to sit up: it's a big victory for him! In this position, he holds his back and head very straight without moving.
• Lying on his stomach, he is able to hold on to one hand to grab a toy with the other. • He turns from his back to his stomach and from his stomach to his back. • He passes his toys from one hand to the other without letting go and bangs them on a table.
AROUND 8 MONTHS
• In a sitting position, your baby can lean forward to grab a toy, then stand up straight again without falling. He leans on his hands to maintain his balance.
• Lying on his back, your child manages to sit up on his own by leaning on one of his arms.
• He knows how to drink from a bottle or a sippy cup alone.
AROUND 9 MONTHS
• Sitting, your baby rotates on his bottom to change orientation.
• Placed on his stomach, he can get on all fours (in “bear” position), but he cannot yet move forward. On the other hand, he can move by crawling, leaning on his forearms. But first he goes in reverse!
• He manages to stand for a few moments by holding on to the bars of his playpen, a piece of furniture or your hand, then he falls into a sitting position.
• He grasps small objects between his thumb and index finger.
• He hands you his toys and gives them to you.
AROUND 10 MONTHS
• Your baby walks on all fours, and he can even go very fast. He has finally conquered his mobility! However, don't panic if your child does not adopt this mode of locomotion: some babies go straight to walking without ever crawling.
• He stands up by first getting on his knees then adopting the “knight serving” position, one knee on the ground and the other leg bent resting on the foot. From this position, he pushes up on his feet while holding on to a support with his hands, and there he is standing!
• If your child can stand up by holding on to the bars of his bed or playpen, he will probably walk within about 3 months.
• He takes a few steps while holding on to furniture but often falls.
AROUND 11 MONTHS
• Your baby stands without support for a few moments.
• Standing, holding himself with one hand, he manages to bend over to pick up something from the ground.
• He walks when you hold both hands, or by holding on to furniture. You may be surprised by his “charlot” gait, spreading his arms and legs: perfectly normal, this amusing posture allows him to better control his balance. Little by little, he will reduce the distance between his legs, which will allow him to gain confidence and move from one support to another while letting go.
• He points to objects that interest him.
• He says “goodbye” and “well done” with his hands.
BETWEEN 12 AND 15 MONTHS
• On average around 14 months, your baby walks alone. What a tremendous feat in such a short time!
• He stands up alone without support.
• He climbs a staircase on all fours.