Baby Development: 6-12 Months

Becoming Mobile and Independent

The second half of baby’s first year is filled with exciting milestones—sitting independently, crawling, pulling to stand, possibly those first magical steps, and maybe even a few words. Your baby is transforming from an infant into a small person with clear preferences, emerging language, and increasing independence. This is an exciting, exhausting, and rewarding time!

Physical Development and Motor Skills

Sitting:

• 6-7 months: Sits independently without support; can play with toys while sitting
• 7-12 months: Sits confidently, pivots while sitting to reach toys, transitions in and out of sitting position independently

Crawling and Mobility:

• 6-7 months: May begin scooting, army crawling, or creeping
• 7-9 months: Most babies crawl (hands and knees), though some skip crawling entirely
• Crawling variations: All normal—traditional crawl, bear crawl, bottom scooting, rolling, or commando crawl
• 9-12 months: Crawls efficiently, may crawl up stairs (can’t come down safely yet)

Some babies never crawl and go straight to walking—this is perfectly normal.

Standing and Cruising:

• 7-9 months: Pulls to standing using furniture
• 8-10 months: Stands holding onto furniture
• 9-11 months: “Cruises” (walks sideways holding furniture)
• May stand independently briefly (lets go of furniture for a few seconds)

Walking:

• 9-12 months: Some babies take first steps
• Most babies: Walk between 12-15 months
• Some babies: Don’t walk until 16-18 months
• All normal: Wide variation in walking age

Safety Note: Once mobile, baby-proofing becomes essential!

Hand Skills and Fine Motor:

6-7 Months:

• Raking grasp (uses hand like a rake to pull small objects closer)
• Transfers objects hand to hand smoothly
• Bangs two objects together
• Still mouths everything

7-9 Months:

• Pincer grasp develops (thumb and forefinger pick up small objects)—around 8-9 months
• Points at objects with index finger
• Picks up small objects precisely
• Feeds self finger foods

9-12 Months:

• Refined pincer grasp (can pick up tiny objects)
• May hold spoon (though messy!)
• Stacks blocks (may stack 2 blocks by 12 months)
• Turns pages of board books (several at once)
• Points to indicate wants
• May wave bye-bye and clap hands

Cognitive Development

Object Permanence:

• 6-8 months: Begins understanding objects exist even when hidden
• 8-12 months: Actively searches for hidden objects
• Plays peek-a-boo understanding you’re still there even when hidden

Cause and Effect:

• Drops objects intentionally to watch them fall (this is learning, not naughtiness!)
• Presses buttons to make toys work
• Understands their actions produce results
• Tests gravity repeatedly (by dropping everything!)

Problem Solving:

• Figures out how to reach desired objects
• Removes obstacles to get to toys
• May use one toy to reach another
• Trial and error learning

Memory:

• Recognizes familiar people, places, and objects
• Remembers games and routines
• Anticipates next steps in familiar sequences
• Looks for objects in places they’re usually found

Exploration:

• Explores everything by touching, shaking, banging, dropping, and mouthing
• Opens cabinets and drawers
• Pulls items out of containers
• Examines objects from all angles

Social and Emotional Development

Attachment and Separation Anxiety:

8-9 Months: Separation anxiety peaks

• Cries when you leave the room
• Clings to you around strangers
• This is a POSITIVE developmental milestone (shows healthy attachment)
• May wake more at night wanting reassurance

How to Help:

• Lots of reassurance
• Play peek-a-boo to practice separation and reunion
• Leave and return repeatedly during play
• Keep goodbyes short and cheerful
• Consistency helps baby learn you always come back
• Don’t sneak away (increases anxiety)

This phase passes! Usually improves by 12-15 months.

Stranger Anxiety:

• Baby may cry or cling around unfamiliar people
• Varies by temperament (some babies more cautious than others)
• Normal protective response
• Don’t force interaction with strangers

Social Interaction:

• Copies simple actions (clapping, waving)
• Enjoys games with others (peek-a-boo, pat-a-cake)
• Shows preference for certain people
• May offer toy to you (though doesn’t want to let go!)
• Begins showing empathy (concerned if another baby cries)
• Likes being around other babies (parallel play)

Emotional Expression:

• Shows clear happiness, sadness, anger, frustration, fear
• May have “tantrums” when frustrated (precursor to toddler tantrums)
• Shows affection (cuddles, pats, kisses)
• Asserts independence (“do it myself” attitude emerging)

Communication and Language

Babbling Progresses:

6-9 Months:

• Complex babbling with many consonant-vowel combinations
• Babbling sounds like conversation with intonation
• May say “mama” or “dada” (but not meaningfully yet—just sound practice)

9-12 Months:

• May say first meaningful words (though most first words appear 12-15 months)
• “Mama,” “dada,” “ball,” “dog” common first words
• Babbling continues and may include “jargon” (babbling that sounds like sentences)
• Uses gestures with vocalizations

Receptive Language (Understanding):

• Responds to name consistently
• Understands “no” (though may not always obey!)
• Follows simple one-step directions (“Give me the ball,” “Come here”)
• Recognizes names of familiar people and objects
• Understands many more words than can say
• Responds to simple questions with actions (Where’s daddy? Looks toward daddy)

Communication Without Words:

• Points to communicate wants
• Waves bye-bye and hello
• Shakes head “no”
• Reaches arms to be picked up
• Pushes away unwanted items
• Gestures become increasingly intentional

Encouraging Language:

• Talk constantly about what you’re doing
• Name objects baby shows interest in
• Read books together daily
• Sing songs
• Respond to baby’s babbling as conversation
• Expand on baby’s attempts (“Ba!” “Yes, that’s a ball!”)
• Avoid baby talk—use real words

Sleep Development

Nighttime Sleep:

• Most babies sleep 10-12 hours at night (may include 1-2 brief wake-ups)
• Some babies sleep through the night; others still wake frequently
• Both are normal at this age

Naps:

• 6-9 months: Usually 2-3 naps (morning, midday, possibly late afternoon)
• 9-12 months: Transition to 2 naps (morning and afternoon)
• Total daytime sleep: 2-4 hours

Sleep Challenges:

• 8-10 month sleep regression: Common due to separation anxiety and developmental leaps
• Increased mobility can disrupt sleep (baby practices new skills in crib)
• Teething may disturb sleep
• Separation anxiety causes night waking

Sleep Training: If desired, this age range works well for sleep training methods. But sleep training is optional—do what works for your family.

Feeding Development

Breast Milk or Formula: Remains primary nutrition through 12 months, but solid foods become increasingly important.

Solid Foods Progression:

6-8 Months:

• Beginning solids or advancing from first foods
• Purees or baby-led weaning
• One new food every 3-5 days
• 1-2 meals per day
• Focus on iron-rich foods

8-10 Months:

• 2-3 meals per day plus snacks
• Increasing texture (thicker purees, mashed foods, soft chunks)
• More variety of foods
• Self-feeding with fingers
• Introducing cup (sippy cup or open cup)

10-12 Months:

• 3 meals plus 1-2 snacks
• Eating more table foods (soft pieces)
• Self-feeding with fingers (spoon too messy still)
• Drinking from cup (breast milk, formula, or water)
• Participating in family meals

Foods to Avoid Before 12 Months:

• Honey (botulism risk)
• Whole cow’s milk as main drink (can offer small amounts in cooking)
• Choking hazards (whole grapes, nuts, hard raw vegetables, popcorn)
• High-sodium or high-sugar foods

Allergy Introduction: Current guidelines recommend introducing common allergens (peanuts, eggs, dairy, wheat, soy, tree nuts, fish, shellfish) between 6-12 months to reduce allergy risk. Introduce one at a time and watch for reactions.

Self-Feeding:

• Allow baby to self-feed finger foods
• Expect mess—this is learning!
• Offer spoon (baby will mostly play, occasionally get food to mouth)
• Never leave baby alone while eating

Teething Continues

6-12 Months:

• Most babies get 4-8 teeth during this period
• Usually bottom two center teeth first, then top two center
• Then lateral incisors (next to center teeth)
• Wide variation in timing is normal

Teething Relief: Same strategies as earlier:

• Cold teething toys
• Gentle gum massage
• Age-appropriate pain reliever if needed

Age-Appropriate Play and Activities

Physical Play:

• Crawling “obstacle courses” (pillows, tunnels)
• Playing with balls (rolling, chasing)
• Push and pull toys
• Activity tables to practice standing
• Stacking and nesting toys
• Climbing (supervised)

Fine Motor Play:

• Blocks to stack and knock down
• Nesting cups
• Shape sorters
• Simple puzzles (large pieces)
• Containers to fill and dump
• Books to turn pages

Social Play:

• Peek-a-boo, pat-a-cake, and other interactive games
• Songs with actions (If You’re Happy and You Know It)
• Playing with other babies (parallel play—near each other but not together)
• Hide and seek with toys

Cognitive Play:

• Hiding toys for baby to find
• Containers to open and close
• Cause-and-effect toys
• Water play (supervised)
• Exploring textures

Music and Reading:

• Sing songs and nursery rhymes
• Dance together
• Read books daily (board books baby can help hold)
• Musical instruments (shakers, drums, xylophones)

Best Toys:

• Stacking blocks or rings
• Nesting cups
• Push toys (once cruising)
• Shape sorters
• Simple puzzles (large knobs)
• Balls of various sizes
• Board books
• Musical toys
• Bath toys
• Cause-and-effect toys

Screen Time: Not recommended before 18-24 months except for video chatting with family.

Baby-Proofing

Now Essential:

• Secure furniture to walls (babies pull up on everything)
• Gates at top and bottom of stairs
• Cabinet and drawer locks
• Outlet covers
• Toilet locks
• Keep cleaning products, medications, and hazards locked away
• Remove choking hazards
• Pad sharp furniture corners
• Secure cords and strings
• Remove or secure unstable furniture

Check from baby’s perspective—get down on floor and look around.

Developmental Red Flags

Contact pediatrician if by 12 months baby:

• Doesn’t crawl or show some mobility
• Can’t stand with support
• Doesn’t search for hidden objects
• Doesn’t say single words like “mama” or “dada” (even if not used correctly)
• Doesn’t learn gestures like waving or shaking head
• Doesn’t point to objects
• Loses skills previously mastered
• Shows no interest in interactive games
• Doesn’t respond to name by 9 months
• Your parental instinct says something isn’t right

Remember: Development varies, but persistent concerns should be discussed with pediatrician. Early intervention helps if needed.

First Birthday

Your baby is almost a toddler! At 12 months:

• May take first steps or be very close
• Says 1-2 words meaningfully
• Follows simple directions
• Recognizes family members
• Shows clear personality and preferences
• Feeds self finger foods
• Drinks from cup
• Has transformed from helpless newborn to mobile, communicative little person

Celebrate this incredible first year—you’ve both accomplished so much!