4-8 Months: Babies in Motion - Milestones

1. Changes body positions.

Babies make rapid progress in gaining control of their bodies from four to eight months. While the sequence of development is fairly predictable, individual timing varies greatly. A few babies walk on their own by nine months, but most babies are just beginning to roll over from back to stomach, sit alone, and crawl during these months. For example:

Developing as expected, they might:

• use their arms to pull their body along on the floor, often moving backward rather than forward
• roll from their back onto their stomach
• succeed in moving from lying down to sitting all by themselves
• get up on their hands and knees and rock back and forth
• stand firmly on their legs when held in a standing position
• pull to standing at a table or other low piece of furniture

Needing development, they might:

• not sit up without support from a caregiver or in an infant seat
• not change from one position to another without adult assistance
• roll from their stomach onto their back, still surprising themselves, but continue to struggle to roll from back onto stomach
• not try to reach toward toys that are within easy reach

2. Uses both hands with intention and purpose.

Babies look at something and purposefully open their fingers, getting ready to grasp and hold it. At this age they can direct their hands to reach for and grasp everything within reaching range. They may still have trouble letting go when they want to. They are fascinated with small objects that fit nicely within their finger span. They are able to transfer objects from one hand to the other and try to pick up a third object when it is presented. They continue to bring objects to their mouth and bang whatever they are holding on hard surfaces. For example:

Developing as expected, they might:

• reach for and hold interesting objects
• pass a small block or stuffed animal from one hand to the other
• bang a block or other object on the tray or table
• reach with both hands toward their bottle and then put it in their mouth
• grab at the washcloth while being bathed and swish it around in the water
• hold a block in each hand and bang them together over and over
• feed themselves a cookie or cracker
• pick up a tissue or napkin and swipe at the surface of their tray
• mimic a hand clap or a wave good-bye
• pick up a rattle or a set of plastic rings and deliberately shake it to hear the noise

Needing development, they might

• reach toward interesting objects, but cannot yet able to hold onto them
• use only one hand for touching and holding
• have difficulty bringing things to their mouth
• not reach toward the sound of a rattle or musical toy
• continue to swipe at things, but not use their fingers to pick them up
• swipe at crackers or banana pieces, trying to pick them up