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Looking Beyond the Big Milestones
Every parent wonders if their new baby is on track developmentally. Every milestone is exciting when you have a new little person in your life. Most parents already know about the ones like rolling over and walking. But what about the not-so-subtle milestones that are important?
#1. Eye Contact
Eye contact is one of the first milestones you'll notice. Babies usually start looking you in the eye when they are about six to eight weeks old. Your face is going to be what they look at most, so if your baby doesn't make eye contact by their two-month well visit, be sure to mention it to your pediatrician so they can take another look.
#2. The Social Smile
Another milestone that should come around the same time is the social smile. This isn't the spontaneous smile that happens when your baby passes gas. It's the smile that your baby gives when you smile at your baby, and your baby smiles back at you. It's a sign that the vision and social parts of his brain are developing. Your baby should be smiling by three to four months old. If not, it could be a vision problem or a problem attaching to parent figures.
#3. Babbling
Next is babbling by six months. This is different from cooing that newborns do because it requires babies to figure out how to use their tongue and the front of their mouth to make sounds like, "da, ba, ga, ma." No, your baby will not say "mama" or "dada" and know they are referring to you as parents specifically, although I do get told that a lot. Recognizing you guys and saying mama and dada and meaning mama and dada, is closer to the nine-month scale.
Be sure to encourage the babbling by talking back to your baby. This is how they learn language skills. If there is no babbling by a six-month-old, your pediatrician may want to get your baby's hearing checked again, even if it was normal in the nursery.
#4. Reaching and Grabbing
Then there is reaching and grabbing, which is followed by babies putting everything they grab directly into their mouths. This is good, actually. It shows curiosity and interest in learning more about their environment, and it should be encouraged so your baby can use all their senses. But it is also a prime time for childproofing and making sure there are no choking hazards around your baby.
#5. Pulling to a Stand
Finally, there is pulling to a stand. This is one of the most important gross motor milestones because it shows the stability and strength of the legs and torso that are needed for walking to start. It also shows that your baby is motivated to move and get something they want. Babies should start doing this around 10 months old and should be walking by 18 months old. If they don't have the ability to do this, then your pediatrician may have them see a physical or occupational therapist to help with this milestone.
We, as pediatricians, monitor every milestone closely. So if you have any concerns about your baby's milestones, be sure to ask, and we can let you know if you need to worry or not.
updated: June 16, 2026
originally published: November 14, 2016
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