Baby development and milestones

Baby development and milestones

Development describes the series of complex changes - physical, emotional, social - which your baby undergoes on her way to adulthood. While you may be amazed by the speed at which your baby develops (particularly in the first year), development is a gradual process that stops and starts.

Your baby's development is not a competitive sport so don't feel any pressure to compare your baby with another. They are all unique and will develop at different rates. Instead, enjoy the ride - your baby will learn more in her first year of life than ever again, so just watch and wonder (and clap your hands when appropriate!)


Developmental achievements are called 'milestones'. Growth and development milestones are meant to be used as a guide, but not something to worry about. While there is a wide range of 'normal' in the growth and development of your baby, most babies do actually pass through developmental stages in the same order.

Regardless of what your parenting bible says your baby should be doing in week 12, your gut instincts will tell you more about whether your baby is thriving than a list of milestones ever will.

Developmental milestones tend to be grouped according to body parts:

  • Gross motor skills are the large body movements that involve the coordination and control of large muscles and refer to skills such as sitting, walking and running.
  • Fine motor skills are the small body movements that involve the coordination and control of small muscles and refer to skills such as picking up blocks, clapping hands and holding a book.
  • Vision refers to the eyes and your baby's ability to see and interpret what she sees.
  • Hearing and speech refers to the ability to hear, listen to and interpret sounds, as well as the ability to understand and learn language.
  • Social and emotional behaviour and understanding refers to your child's ability to learn and interact with others and includes the skills needed for playing with others, communicating and developing empathy.

Milestone concerns:

As a general guide, if you notice any of the following, you should seek the advice of an expert:

  • Your baby isn't responding to noises.
  • Your baby has white or cloudy pupils, or doesn't seem to see objects.
  • She doesn't show any curiosity or interest in what's going on around her.
  • At three to four months, your baby has poor head control and can't hold it up.
  • After three to four months, your baby cries persistently each day for more than three hours.
  • Your baby doesn't move or use both her arms and legs.
  • By 10 months, your baby cannot sit well on her own.
  • By 12 months, your baby resists bearing her own weight.


Premature babies generally reach milestones closer to their adjusted age - the age they would be if they had been born full-term.


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Nutritious first foods

  1. Apple and mango puree
  2. Apple and raspberry porridge
  3. Apple and raspberry puree
  4. Apple yoghurt
  5. Apple, pear and cinnamon puree
  6. Apricot chicken
  7. Baby bolognese
  8. Baby crispbread
  9. Baby guacomole
  10. Baby porridge
  11. Baby spaghetti bolognese
  12. Baby yoghurt
  13. Baby's first apple puree
  14. Baby's first vegetable purees
  15. Baby's rice pudding
  16. Baked custard
  17. Banana and avocado puree
  18. Banana oatmeal breakfast
  19. Banana pudding
  20. Banana teething biscuits
  21. Banana, raspberry and mango sorbet
  22. Bean, pea and potato puree
  23. Beef and vegetable dinner
  24. Beetroot and chickpea dip
  25. Beetroot and potato puree
  26. Blueberry, pear and raspberry swirl
  27. Boiled eggs
  28. Broccoli trees
  29. Broccoli, pear and pea puree
  30. Carrot and swede puree
  31. Carrot, corn and chicken
  32. Chicken and corn chowder
  33. Chicken, rice and vegetables
  34. Creamy sweet corn puree
  35. Delicious chicken dinner
  36. Easy beef casserole
  37. Easy chicken casserole
  38. Egg and vegetable omelette
  39. Eggless baby cereal cookies
  40. French toast soldiers
  41. Fruit jelly
  42. Fruit puree
  43. Fruity chicken and rice
  44. Homemade baby oat cereal
  45. Homemade brown rice cereal
  46. Homemade cheese sticks or cubes
  47. Homemade cottage cheese
  48. Homemade teething rusks
  49. Homemade yoghurt
  50. Hot corn cereal
  51. Lamb and pumpkin
  52. Nutritious teething biscuits
  53. Pea and zucchini puree
  54. Peach and mango mash
  55. Peachy chicken
  56. Pear and apricot puree
  57. Pear and rice puree
  58. Pear, peach and banana puree
  59. Penne pasta
  60. Pikelets
  61. Pumpkin and potato mash
  62. Pumpkin and spinach risotto
  63. Red egg
  64. Rice and lentil dinner
  65. Roasted pumpkin puree
  66. Steamed and julienned carrot sticks
  67. Stewed prunes
  68. Sweet corn and avocado puree
  69. Sweet potato and sweet corn mash
  70. Sweet veggie puree
  71. Weet-Bix custard
  72. Weet-Bix with apple and cinnamon
  73. Zucchini, potato and spinach mash