What to Expect from a Baby in the First Year of Life

Jul 30, 2024

4 min read

The first year of your baby's life is exciting. Everything is new—for both of you. During this time, your baby experiences rapid development. In fact, babies form neural connections, also known as synapses, at a rate of over one million per second in the first few years of life. This level of brain growth is unmatched at any other point. By age two or three, the brain can have twice as many synapses as it will in adulthood, which highlights just how important early experiences and interactions truly are.

To help you understand what to expect and how to support your baby’s development, here’s a month-by-month guide based on information from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and other developmental research.

Birth to 3 Months: Building the Foundation

Listening and Attention:Your baby will begin to recognize your voice and may calm when hearing it. They may startle at loud noises and begin turning their head toward sound sources—an early sign of auditory processing.

Communication: Expect cooing and different cries for different needs (e.g., hunger, discomfort). Smiles often emerge as early social responses, especially in reaction to familiar voices or faces. These early sounds lay the groundwork for language.

💡 Tip: Narrate your day as you care for your baby. Describe what you're doing, name objects, and respond to their coos. Even before they understand words, this builds their listening and communication skills.

4 to 6 Months: Becoming More Vocal

Listening and Attention:Babies begin to respond to tone changes and become more interested in sounds around them, especially toys that make noise or music.

Communication:You’ll hear a wider variety of babbling—sounds like “ba,” “ga,” and “da.” Laughter and playful squeals emerge, and babies may start to mimic some of your sounds or facial expressions.

💡 Did you know? According to ASHA, frequent, responsive interactions—like smiling back or repeating baby’s babbles—are key to helping your child learn how conversations work.

7 to 9 Months: Interactive Communication

Listening and Attention:Your baby starts to understand simple, familiar words like “no” and “bye-bye.” They may pause and look when spoken to and begin to anticipate routines (e.g., quieting down for a nap when they hear a lullaby).

Communication:Babies begin using gestures like pointing or waving. Imitation becomes more common, both in sounds and facial expressions. Some babies may try to match the tone or rhythm of your speech.

💡 Try this: Play peek-a-boo or sing repetitive songs. These types of games support memory, listening, and turn-taking—essential skills for communication.

10 to 12 Months: First Words and More

Listening and Attention:Babies at this age can usually respond to their name, follow simple directions like “come here,” and recognize names of familiar people and everyday objects such as “cup,” “dog,” or “book.”

Communication:This is when many babies say their first real words—often “mama” or “dada”—with intention. Babbling becomes more speech-like with varied intonation and rhythm. They may also pair gestures with words, like holding up a toy while saying “ball.”

💡 Helpful hint: Repeating and expanding on what your baby says—if they say “ball,” you can respond with “Yes, red ball!”—helps develop vocabulary and sentence skills.

🍼 Baby Milestone Chart: Birth to 12 Months

Age	Communication	Cognitive	Motor Skills	Social/Emotional
0–3 Months	- Cries differently for different needs - Coos and makes vowel sounds	- Explores through senses (vision, hearing, touch) - Follows moving objects with eyes	- Lifts head briefly during tummy time - Moves arms and legs actively	- Begins to smile at people - Calms to familiar voices
4–6 Months	- Babbles with sounds like “ba,” “da” - Laughs and squeals	- Shows curiosity by looking and reaching - Watches faces closely	- Rolls over (front to back, then back to front) - Reaches for and grasps toys	- Enjoys playing with others - Recognizes familiar faces
7–9 Months	- Responds to name - Imitates sounds - Understands “no”	- Looks for hidden objects (early object permanence)	- Sits without support - Begins crawling or scooting	- May show separation anxiety - Expresses a range of emotions
10–12 Months	- Says “mama,” “dada” meaningfully - Uses gestures (waving, pointing)	- Looks at the correct picture or object when named - Follows simple directions	- Pulls to stand - Cruises (walks while holding furniture) - Picks up small items using thumb and forefinger	- Shows preference for certain people or toys - Offers toys to others (early sharing)

When to Seek Support—and When to Breathe Easy

It’s natural to feel concerned if your baby isn’t hitting every milestone “right on time.” But it’s important to remember: every baby develops at their own pace. Some little ones may talk early but walk late, while others may skip babbling and jump right into words. Small differences in the timeline are common and not always a cause for concern.

That said, early detection of developmental delays—especially in communication—can make a big difference. If your baby is missing several milestones in a row or shows little progress over time, it may be time to check in with a pediatrician or a certified speech-language pathologist (SLP).

Here are a few signs to keep an eye on:

Your baby isn’t smiling or making eye contact by 3 months
Doesn’t babble or respond to sounds by 6 months
Isn’t using gestures like pointing or waving by 9 to 12 months
Doesn’t say any meaningful words by 12 months
Seems uninterested in interacting or playing with others

Don’t panic—these signs don’t necessarily mean something is wrong, but they do suggest a professional evaluation might be helpful. Many communication delays can improve significantly with early, targeted support. And sometimes, a short-term delay is just that—a delay.

💬 "Early intervention is not about labeling—it’s about empowering parents with tools and support when it matters most."

If you’re ever unsure, trust your instincts and reach out. A quick conversation with an SLP can give you peace of mind—or help you take the next step if your baby needs extra help.

Remember

Early experiences shape communication skills for life. Keep talking, playing, and connecting with your baby—these are the most powerful tools you have to support their development.

Sources:

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). (n.d.). How Does Your Child Hear and Talk? Retrieved from: https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/chart/
ASHA Leader. (2023). What the Research Really Says About Screen Time and Communication Development. https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/2023-10-30-screentime-slps-evidence/full/
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2021). InBrief: The Science of Early Childhood Development. https://developingchild.harvard.edu