Infants

Eyes

Blinking reflex is well-established

Hands

Handles, shakes, and pounds objects; puts everything into mouth

Hands

Holds own bottle

Hands

Pinches and uses cortical opposition in both hands

Let child handle checkers and poker chips in containers – Pringles can, tennis ball can, checkers, poker chips, snack items, coasters, jar lids, egg carton, keys, items off teething rings

Hands

Reaches for objects with both arms simultaneously; later reaches for one hand or the other

Give two objects to your child at once to encourage decision making.

Hands

Transfers objects from one hand to the other; grasps objects using entire hand (palmar grasp)

Hands

Uses finger and thumb (pincer grip) to pick up objects

Hands

Will retrieve hidden toy – all trails

Place shown object under screens in this order 1, 2 , 3, 1, 2 – scarves, washcloth, inverted box, wax paper, ball, doll, cup

Hands

Will retrieve hidden toy – all trials

Show child objects, hide object completely under 1 screen

Hands, eyes

Focuses eyes on small objects and reaches for them

Put string of lights out in front of baby

Body

Enjoys being placed in standing position, especially on someone's lap; jumps in place

Body

Pulls self into a crawling position by raising up on arms and drawing knees up beneath the body; rocks back and forth, but generally does not move forward

Body

Rolls over from front to back and back to front

Use tambourine, noisy rattle, bells, whistles, and noise-makers to encourage baby to roll and flip

Body

Sits alone without support, holding head erect, and arms propped forward for support

Body

Sucking reflex is well-established

Body movements

Uses hand, mouth, and eyes in coordination to explore own body, toys, and surroundings

Head

Lifts head when placed on back

Play up down games

Locomotion

May accidentally begin scooting backwards when placed on stomach; soon will begin to crawl forward

Listening

Responds appropriately to familiar words, such as "daddy" and "go bye-bye?"

Listening/hearing

Turns toward and locates familiar voices and sounds

Make big “noises” then small ones

Talking/communication

"Talks" to toys.

Talking/communication

Babble by repeating same syllable in a series: ba,ba,ba.

Make words out of sounds baby makes

Talking/communication

Laughs out loud

Talking/communication

Produces a full range of vowels and some consonants: r,s,z,th, and w.

Feeding/eating

Shows interest in feeding activities; reaches for cup and spoon while being fed

Tactile

Handles and explores objects in a variety of ways; visually; turning them around; feeling all surfaces; banging and shaking them.

Give objects with different sounds and textures

Attachment

Full attachment to mother or single caregiver.  Coincides with growing understanding of "object permanence", the idea that objects exist even when they are no longer visible.

Attachment

Still friendly toward strangers at the beginning of this stage; later is reluctant to be approached by, or left with, strangers; exhibits "stranger anxiety".

Emotional

Becomes upset if toy or other objects are taken away.

Emotional

Expresses emotions, such as pleasure, satisfaction, and anger by making different sounds.

Imitation

Imitates actions such as pat-a-cake, waving bye-bye, and playing peek-a-boo.

Temperament

More outgoing and social in nature: smiles, coos, reaches out