8-12 Months: Learning About Me -- Milestones

1. Shows likes and dislikes.

Infants are beginning to know a lot about who they are. They pay attention to their reflections in the mirror, express their feelings–sometimes strongly–and let us know what they want. By the end of their first year, babies have made tremendous strides in identifying their feelings and in communicating their needs and desires. They are becoming aware of what they don't want and what frightens them, as well as what they do like and what they prefer. While it may seem that babies who were happy and calm are now more anxious than they were, this is a sign of growth and indicates babies' emerging understanding and recognition of the world and who they are in it. For example:

Developing as expected, they might:

• point to the juice several times and protest when given water instead
• vocalize and try to reach for the toy or cookie they want
• look away and squirm when someone tries to read to them when uninterested
• pull off their hat after it was just put on
• push the spoon away if someone tries to feed them when they aren't hungry
• "rear back" when put into the high chair before they're ready
• repeat "ba-ba" when they want their bottle instead of a cup
• cling to your leg and begin to cry when you don't pick them up

Needing development, they might:

• not vocalize or point in order to indicate a toy they want
• not seem to have a preference, but be willing to take any object given to them
• go along with almost everything without protest
• not have consistent sounds to convey what they want
• fuss or whine, but be unable to clearly indicate what they need or want

2. Tries to manage own behavior in different situations.

As they grow, babies begin to develop their own special ways of coping with new situations and problems. Some babies grow attached to a familiar blanket, or a special teddy bear–a "lovey" or "transitional object." Other babies suck their thumbs or carry around a pacifier. These support strategies are important in helping babies learn how to cope with the many stressful situations that may arise in their lives. For example:

Developing as expected, they might:

• rub the satin trim of their special blanket against their cheek when upset or tired
• relax in the arms of their caregiver after being startled by a loud clap of thunder
• look toward their parent's face to find out if they can pick up the object on the rug
• suck their thumb when taken into the supermarket
• grab and cling to their favorite teddy bear when they feel there are too many people around

Needing development, they might:

• cry when taken into a new situation, even though their caregiver holds them and tries to comfort them
• continue to be afraid after being frightened by a loud noise, even though they are being held and someone is talking to them
• not be able to stop crying when upset, even though the caregiver tries to soothe them with the offer of a bottle, snack, or pacifier
• throw their spoon on the floor when they can't scoop up the carrots in their dish