8-12 Months: Baby Discoveries -- Milestones

1. Shows understanding of things in the environment during exploration.

As babies' mobility increases, they discover a whole new world to explore. They experiment with everything that comes within their reach. They push, pull, taste, bang, pile, build, and dump. They especially like household objects such as plastic cups, wooden spoons, pots, pans, and lids. They like taking things apart, putting them together, banging them, putting things in containers and taking them out again. They are interested in sounds - both those they can make with their toys and those they hear in the outdoors or on the radio or TV. For example:

Developing as expected, they might:

• try to make the square shape go in the round space, pounding and pushing with all their might
• unstack the nesting blocks and then try to pile them back together again
• pull out all the pots in the bottom cabinet
• inspect the clapper in a bell, turning the bell over and over
• inspect the breadcrumb they found on the floor, and then put it in their mouth
• pull all the CDs off the shelf
• fiddle with all the knobs on the TV, even after having been told, "No, don't touch!"

Needing development, they might:

• not look spontaneously around at the small or large toys that are nearby
• not appear interested in things on shelves or in lower cabinets and drawers
• look at the block they are holding, but not bang it, turn it over and over, or try to drop it on the floor
• keep mouthing the round cylinder and not respond to efforts to encourage them to put it in the round hole in the shape box

2. Demonstrates memory.

Babies show great memory skills by their first birthday. They remember where things are stored and where to find their own special cabinet in the kitchen. They enjoy imitation, and their play often incorporates activities of their caregivers or family members as they use a spoon to stir, or pull a string to bring a wooden toy closer to them. For example:

Developing as expected, they might:

• pretend to drink from the cup in the tea set and then offer a drink to you
• point to several body parts when you name them
• try to buckle the strap on the booster seat or on the car seat
• unwrap their small doll after watching you hide it in a napkin
• point to appropriate pictures in a book as you read to them
• open only certain drawers and cabinets because these are where their toys are stored
• take the wooden spoon and stir it around in the bowl they are playing with

Needing development, they might:

• not see the connection between the string and its attachment to the toy on wheels
• randomly try the shape blocks in all the holes or spaces, showing they've not yet learned where they go
• hold toys, but not use them for their intended purposes or to perform actions
• look at you blankly when you ask them to point to objects or animals in pictures
• not point to body parts as you name them

3. Makes expected things happen.

Babies are beginning to think things out. You can almost see their thought processes churning as they show that they now expect certain outcomes when they push a button or squeeze a rubber toy. One-year-olds are very persistent and try the same things over and over. When things don't happen as they expect, you can see the puzzlement on their faces. For example:

Developing as expected, they might:

• push the buttons on the toy box and wait for a clown to pop up
• splash water in the tub and close their eyes in anticipation of getting water in their face
• drop an object over the edge of the high chair and wait expectantly for someone to pick it up
• turn the stack of rings upside down, and then restack them, not necessarily in order of size
• throw a toy and wait for you to tell them, "No throwing," as you put the toy out of reach
• find a favorite small toy under the cup after being shown how you can hide it, and then find it right where it was hidden

Needing development, they might:

• not persist in their play activities or play with much repetition
• not look over the edge of the high chair tray for the toy they pushed over
• not show that they expect that squeezing the rubber toy will produce a sound
• still startle when the phone or doorbell rings