Child Development
Age groups
Physical development
(Gross and fine)
Communication and intellectual development
Social, emotional and behavioural development
0-3 months
From birth babies have reflexes which allow them to turn their head to suckle when their cheeks are being touched.
They can flex and extend their fingers, arms and legs.
By 1 month their eyes are following moving light this may only be for a few seconds.
When you put the baby on their tummy they will lift their head.
When they are two months they will enthusiastically kick their legs.
By 2 to 3 months they will watch and follow moving faces. They can also discover that their hands and will bring them to their mouth. They have weak neck muscles and a heavy head they will begin to gain control of it and turn with purpose.
They will be startled by loud noises. Babies also prefer people to toys. They will make noises such as gooing and cooing. By 1 month babies respond to loud noises. By 3 months they smile when they hear people voices, they squeal and laugh spontaneously. Between 3-4 months they are gurgling and babbling constantly.
Babies only have one signal which is to cry. Crying therefore increases at 2 weeks it will peak in intensity around about 2 months and will then gradually decrease by 3-4 months.
They begin to learn self soothe. They will feel safe when their needs are met.
Babies will smile to express pleasure by 2 months. They will recognise and prefer familiar faces and voices.
6-12 months
Babies crawl and roll; they can also sit up with support and can then sit by themselves. They can use fine development to pick up things by using their thumb and finger. Their first teeth start to appear.
They babble with lots of sounds, they start to also recognise words and simple phrases. They can say some words, which are not always clear. They can respond to their own name and can also point to familiar things.
They can also start to understand words such as bye-bye
Physical development
(Gross and fine)
Communication and intellectual development
Social, emotional and behavioural development
0-3 months
From birth babies have reflexes which allow them to turn their head to suckle when their cheeks are being touched.
They can flex and extend their fingers, arms and legs.
By 1 month their eyes are following moving light this may only be for a few seconds.
When you put the baby on their tummy they will lift their head.
When they are two months they will enthusiastically kick their legs.
By 2 to 3 months they will watch and follow moving faces. They can also discover that their hands and will bring them to their mouth. They have weak neck muscles and a heavy head they will begin to gain control of it and turn with purpose.
They will be startled by loud noises. Babies also prefer people to toys. They will make noises such as gooing and cooing. By 1 month babies respond to loud noises. By 3 months they smile when they hear people voices, they squeal and laugh spontaneously. Between 3-4 months they are gurgling and babbling constantly.
Babies only have one signal which is to cry. Crying therefore increases at 2 weeks it will peak in intensity around about 2 months and will then gradually decrease by 3-4 months.
They begin to learn self soothe. They will feel safe when their needs are met.
Babies will smile to express pleasure by 2 months. They will recognise and prefer familiar faces and voices.
6-12 months
Babies crawl and roll; they can also sit up with support and can then sit by themselves. They can use fine development to pick up things by using their thumb and finger. Their first teeth start to appear.
They babble with lots of sounds, they start to also recognise words and simple phrases. They can say some words, which are not always clear. They can respond to their own name and can also point to familiar things.
They can also start to understand words such as bye-bye