0-4 Months: Baby in Motion - Milestones

1. Gaining control of head and body.

Babies' first movements are mostly reflexive and happen without intention. These reflexes begin to fade within the first several months, and movements become more purposeful, beginning to show some control. Some babies are able to hold their heads up for a few seconds right at birth; most gain this control over months. By four months, some babies are able to push their way around in their cribs and can flip over from front to back. Babies vary greatly in the timing of when they acquire body control. If they are growing quickly in another area of development, they may seem to be on a plateau in this area. For example:

Developing as expected, they might:

• turn their head easily from side to side when lying on their stomach
• lift their head and chest when on their stomach and look around for a minute
• reach with their arms toward a sibling when being held on their mother's lap
• thrust their legs and feet against the bottom of the crib over and over
• hold their head erect and steady when they are held on a shoulder
• sit with support

Needing development, they might:

• continue to need support for their head when being held
• wave their arms in random motions, not really reaching toward objects placed within their view
• hold their head up for a very brief moment only when being held on someone's shoulder
• swing their arms toward objects like a dangling rattle or a face, but not yet reach with consistency
• kick their legs more as exercise, rather than with the realization that they can control these movements

2. Reaches toward things that capture their attention.

Newborns usually hold their fingers in a tight fist. At about six weeks, their hands start to relax and they begin to watch their hands when they cross their field of vision. By two months of age, most babies are able to wave their arms toward objects they see dangling in front of them, and by four months, they begin to reach toward caregivers and other familiar people. They also start to bring their hands together over their tummies and explore touching one hand with the other. For example:

Developing as expected, they might:

• bat at soft toys held in front of them when they are sitting in their infant seat
• watch and touch their fingers as they move toward midline and meet
• swing their hands toward a familiar face or their bottle
• relax with their hands predominantly open
• look at toys placed near them on the floor and seem to try to reach out toward them
• wave a rattle placed in their hand, often with a floppy grip

Needing development, they might:

• not seem to see objects within their range of vision
• keep their fingers fisted most of the time
• continue to swing their arms and hands randomly, without apparent purpose
• kick with their feet, making the mobile move, not yet connecting their kicks with the movement

3. Holds things briefly before they drop from fingers.

By four months of age, most babies not only reach toward objects, but also are able to fold their fingers around what they touch and can hold on to it. This is a difficult task because babies are still not competent at opening their hands before contact, so they often don't make the connection. They cannot yet open their fingers to let things go intentionally, which means that rattles, blocks, or their bottles drop from their hands as their fist relaxes. For example:

Developing as expected, they might:

• fold their hands around a small rattle placed in their fist and hold it for a minute or more
• hold onto the ring on the cradle gym after their hand has touched it
• hold their bottle for almost an entire feeding
• start to bring toys or their fingers to their mouth
• grab onto their toes as they wiggle and move in front of them
• bring objects placed in their hands to their mouth

Needing development, they might:

• not seem to notice when things are in their grasp or when they drop from their fingers
• swing their hands about, even after the rattle has fallen out
• not grasp objects even when the objects touch their hands
• continue to grasp your finger automatically when it touches their hand, but without intention