Baby Milestones by Month: What to Watch First Year

How to use this baby milestones by month guide

Baby milestones are guideposts, not a strict report card. They give us a helpful way to notice how a baby is growing, learning, moving, and connecting, but they don’t mean every baby has to do the same thing on the same day.

A baby development chart usually looks at four main areas. Movement includes things like lifting the head during tummy time, rolling, sitting, crawling, and walking. Hands and play covers opening hands, reaching, grasping, looking at a toy, and exploring objects. Language includes coos, sounds other than crying, reacting to loud sounds, babbling, and later first words. Social connection is the warm back-and-forth stuff: looking at your face, calming when spoken to or picked up, smiling when you smile, and seeming happy to see you.

There’s a range for many skills. One baby may roll at 4 months, while another rolls closer to 6 months, and both may be developing normally. If rolling is on your mind, this guide to when babies roll over can help you spot signs and keep practice safe. You may also like these ideas for tummy time by age, since awake tummy time helps babies practice lifting their head and getting stronger.

If your baby was born prematurely or has special healthcare needs, ask your doctor whether to use adjusted age when looking at milestones. That can make the chart feel more realistic and less stressful.

And please don’t sit with worry for weeks. If your baby isn’t meeting one or more milestones, has lost a skill they once had, or something just feels off to you, bring it up early with your child’s doctor and ask about developmental screening. You know your baby best.

Newborn milestones: birth to 1 month

The first month can feel quiet and intense at the same time. Your baby is doing a lot, even when it looks like mostly eating, sleeping, and being held.

In these early weeks, many newborn movements are reflexes. You might see rooting, where your baby turns toward a cheek touch as if searching for milk. Sucking helps with feeding and comfort. Grasping shows up when a tiny hand curls around your finger. The startle reflex can look dramatic: arms fling out, body jumps, then everything settles again.

Newborns also begin taking in the world in small pieces. Your face, close and steady, is often the most interesting thing in the room. A parent’s voice can be soothing, and you may notice your baby stills, turns, or changes expression when you talk. This is why those sleepy little chats during diaper changes count. They really do.

Feeding and sleep are the main rhythm right now. Newborns usually need frequent feeds, and sleep often comes in short stretches rather than a predictable schedule. Alert windows can be brief, sometimes just enough time for a feed, a cuddle, a diaper change, and a few minutes of looking around before sleep cues appear again.

Small support goes a long way:

• Try tummy time on your chest while your baby is awake and you’re watching closely. For more ideas as your baby grows, see Tummy Time by Age: Positions, Timing, Daily Tips.
• Hold your face close and talk softly.
• Respond to cries with feeding, holding, rocking, or checking for discomfort.
• Let floor time stay simple. Rolling and crawling come later, and you can read ahead with When Do Babies Roll Over? Timing, Signs, and Safety or When Do Babies Crawl? Signs, Stages, and Tips.

Ask your baby’s doctor if feeding seems poor, your baby feels very floppy or very stiff, doesn’t respond to loud sounds, or has fewer wet diapers than expected. Trust that little parent alarm bell. It’s there for a reason.

2 month milestones: first smiles and stronger head control

At 2 months, many babies start feeling a little more “here” with us. They may look at your face, watch you as you move, calm when you speak or pick them up, and smile when you talk or smile at them. That first social smile can show up in tiny flashes, maybe during a diaper change when you lean in close and say, “Hi, I see you.”

You may also hear more than crying now. The CDC lists “makes sounds other than crying” as a 2-month language milestone, so those soft coos, little vowel sounds, and experimental squeaks count. Cries may begin to sound different too. One cry might come with hands-to-mouth hunger cues, another with yawning and turning away, and another when a diaper, burp, or tight waistband is bothering them.

Movement is changing in small but meaningful ways. During awake tummy time, many babies can hold their head up for a bit. They may move both arms and both legs more smoothly, and their hands may open briefly instead of staying tightly curled. If you want a simple age-by-age guide, Tummy Time by Age: Positions, Timing, Daily Tips can help you keep practice short and doable.

Play can stay very ordinary. Talk during diaper changes. Hold up a high-contrast book and let your baby look for a few seconds. Try short tummy time sessions several times a day while they’re awake, with you right there. These early head-lifting moments are part of the foundation for later skills like rolling, which you can read about in When Do Babies Roll Over? Timing, Signs, and Safety.

Call your baby’s doctor if you’re worried, especially if there’s no social smile by the end of 2 months, your baby isn’t watching faces, feeding is difficult, or they’re not moving both sides of the body. You know your baby best.

3 month milestones: cooing, tracking, and better tummy time

Around 3 months, many babies start to feel more “awake” with you. They may watch your face as you move across their view, then try following a bright toy for a few seconds. A simple rattle or soft cloth toy can become surprisingly interesting, especially if you move it slowly from side to side.

You may also hear more cooing and gurgling now. Not full words, of course, but sweet little sounds that invite a back-and-forth. Try copying your baby’s sound, then pause. Sometimes they’ll answer. Babies at this stage may also react to loud sounds, and some will turn toward a familiar voice or noisy toy.

Hands get busier too. You might notice their fists opening more often, hands drifting toward the mouth, or little swipes at a toy hanging nearby. Batting at toys can look random at first, but it’s early practice for reaching and coordination.

Tummy time often looks stronger than it did a few weeks ago. Your baby may lift their head for short stretches, push a bit through the forearms, or turn their face from one side to the other. Keep sessions short and safe, with toys at eye level and you close by. If you want ideas for making it easier, this tummy time by age guide can help. These small strength gains are also part of the bigger movement path toward skills like rolling, which you can read about in when babies roll over.

Bring questions to your baby’s doctor if your baby cannot lift the head at all during tummy time, seems very stiff, doesn’t react to sounds, has feeding trouble, or loses a skill they once had. You know your baby best.

4 month milestones: laughing, reaching, and rolling attempts

Around 4 months, many babies start feeling more like tiny social partners. You may hear little laughs, squeals, coos, and those sweet “talking back” sounds when you smile or speak. Try copying one sound your baby makes, then pause. If they answer with another sound or a big grin, you’ve got a simple back-and-forth conversation going right there on the changing table.

Hands get busy now, too.

Your baby may reach toward a toy, hold it for a short moment, or bring it straight to their mouth. That’s normal baby investigating. A soft rattle is perfect here: hold it near one side, give it a gentle shake, and watch whether your baby turns or reaches. You can also place a baby-safe mirror nearby during floor time so they can look, kick, and study that fascinating face looking back.

Rolling can begin as an attempt before it becomes a full roll. Some babies tip from tummy to side. Some accidentally roll tummy to back. Some take longer, and timing varies. If you’re watching for early signs, our guide to When Do Babies Roll Over? Timing, Signs, and Safety can help you know what to look for.

A key safety shift: stop swaddling once your baby shows signs of rolling. Free arms matter because babies need them to push, adjust, and protect their position.

Keep play simple. Try short floor play sessions, rattles, mirror time, and narrating ordinary routines: “One arm in the sleeve. Now the other arm. Zip.” Tummy time is still useful for building strength, and you can find age-by-age ideas in Tummy Time by Age: Positions, Timing, Daily Tips.

Call your baby’s doctor if you’re seeing no head control, your baby isn’t bringing hands to mouth, isn’t smiling or responding to people, or their eyes don’t seem to track together. You know your baby best, and asking early is always okay.

5 month milestones: grabbing, babbling, and body strength

At 5 months, play often starts to look more intentional. Your baby may reach with stronger aim, bring both hands together around a toy, and study objects by turning them, patting them, or bringing them to the mouth. Mouthing is one way babies explore texture, shape, and temperature, so this is a good time to offer safe, washable toys with different surfaces.

You may also hear more personality in those little sounds. Some babies start mixing coos with early babble-like noises, squeals, or happy shrieks, especially when you use a playful voice. Try copying one sound back, then pausing. That tiny back-and-forth is the beginning of conversation practice.

Tummy time may feel more active now too. Your baby might push up on their arms, lift the chest higher, or shift weight side to side. Those moves help build strength for rolling and later movement. If tummy time is still a struggle, keep it short and frequent, and try ideas from Tummy Time by Age: Positions, Timing, Daily Tips. For rolling support, you might also like When Do Babies Roll Over? Timing, Signs, and Safety or When Do Babies Roll Over? Signs and Safe Practice.

A few simple activities help a lot: place a toy just out of reach during floor play, sing repetitive songs like “Rock-A-Bye Baby” or “The Muffin Man,” and let your baby touch safe textures such as a soft cloth book or silicone teether. If your baby watches you eat, that interest is normal, but it doesn’t mean every baby is ready for solids yet. Ask your baby’s doctor if you’re unsure.

Call your doctor if your baby seems unusually floppy, doesn’t reach for toys, doesn’t make sounds, or has ongoing feeding difficulty. And if you’re saving milestone notes alongside baby-name keepsakes, even pages like Tanmay Suresh Upadhyay: meaning & origin can become part of the family record.

6 month milestones: sitting practice and first foods

Six months can feel like a big shift. Your baby may seem sturdier in your arms, more curious at meals, and much more eager to be part of the action.

At this stage, many babies are practicing sitting with support. That might look like sitting between your legs on the floor, propped gently at the hips, while you keep a hand nearby. Tummy time often looks stronger too, with baby pushing up through the arms and lifting the chest. Some babies are rolling both ways by now, while others are still working on one direction. If rolling is on your mind, our guide to when babies roll over can help you spot the small signs of progress.

You may also hear more playful sounds. Consonant babbles like “ba,” “ma,” or “da” can start popping up, usually as practice sounds rather than words with clear meaning. It’s still fun to answer back. If your baby says “ba,” you can smile and say, “Ba ba ba, I hear you!” Those tiny back-and-forth moments matter.

First foods often come up around this time. Readiness is less about the calendar and more about the body: good head control, sitting with support, and showing interest in food. For example, a baby who watches your spoon closely, opens their mouth, or leans forward at the table may be telling you they’re curious. Ask your pediatrician how to begin, especially if your baby was born early or has feeding concerns.

Hands are getting busier too. Your baby may start passing a toy from one hand to the other around this time or soon after. Try soft blocks, chunky board books, peekaboo, and supported sitting on the floor with a toy just within reach. Keep tummy time in the mix as well. These little floor sessions build strength for later movement, including the early skills that come before crawling. You can find more ideas in Tummy Time by Age and When Do Babies Crawl?.

Check in with the pediatrician if your baby isn’t rolling in either direction, has poor head control, isn’t reaching for things, isn’t making vowel sounds, or doesn’t show affection for caregivers. You’re not overreacting. You’re paying attention.

7 month milestones: sitting, exploring, and responding to name

Around 7 months, many babies are getting much steadier on the floor. You may see your baby sit without using hands for short stretches, then reach forward with both hands to grab a toy, pat the rug, or inspect a sock like it’s the most interesting object in the room.

This is a lovely stage because play starts to look more intentional.

Your baby may pass a toy from one hand to the other, bang two objects together, or drop something and watch what happens next. That “again, again” game can feel endless, but it’s early cause and effect. A simple basket on the floor with a soft block, a crinkly cloth, and a chunky rattle gives plenty to explore. Stay close, sit face to face, and let your baby choose what to grab.

You may also notice more social awareness. Some babies turn when they hear their name, light up for familiar people, and pause or cling a little when someone new leans in too quickly. Name games help: say your baby’s name warmly, wait, smile, then answer with, “Yes, that’s you!” You can do this during diaper changes, floor play, or after a nap.

Movement can vary a lot. Crawling may be coming soon for some babies, while others are busy rolling, pivoting on their tummy, or scooting backward. If floor time has been tricky, our guide to Tummy Time by Age: Positions, Timing, Daily Tips can help, and you might also like When Do Babies Roll Over? Timing, Signs, and Safety or When Do Babies Crawl? Signs, Stages, and Tips.

Check in with your baby’s doctor if your baby doesn’t respond to sounds, seems unaware of familiar caregivers, can’t sit with support, or uses one side much more than the other. You know your baby best. If something feels off, it’s okay to ask early.

8 month milestones: crawling signs and object permanence

At 8 months, many babies are getting much more serious about movement. It may not look like classic crawling yet, and that’s okay. You might see rocking on hands and knees, army crawling across the rug, scooting on the bottom, rolling to reach a toy, or pivoting in a circle during floor play.

If your baby has been practicing tummy time for months, you may notice those little bursts of strength starting to show up now. For a refresher on floor play positions, see Tummy Time by Age: Positions, Timing, Daily Tips. And if rolling is still part of how your baby gets around, these guides can help: When Do Babies Roll Over? Timing, Signs, and Safety and When Do Babies Roll Over? Signs and Safe Practice.

Object permanence is another fun thing to watch. Try hiding a favorite teether under a light cloth. Does your baby pull the cloth away or look around for it? That “Hey, where did it go?” moment is a big deal.

Babbling may sound stronger now too. You may hear repeated sounds, copied noises, squeals, or little bursts of sound meant to get your attention. Answer back. Pause. Let your baby “reply.” It’s simple, but it turns everyday chatter into practice.

A few easy play ideas:

• Hide-and-find games with a cloth and toy
• Stacking cups to knock down and explore
• Toys placed just slightly out of reach during supervised floor time
• Short crawling practice, with tips from When Do Babies Crawl? Signs, Stages, and Tips

As movement increases, safety changes fast. Check outlets, cords, stairs, pet bowls, and small objects on the floor. Get down at baby level once. You’ll spot things you’d never notice standing up.

Ask your baby’s doctor if your baby isn’t bearing weight on legs when supported, isn’t sitting with help, isn’t babbling, or shows no interest in interactive play. Trust your gut. Questions are part of good parenting.

9 month milestones: pulling up, pointing soon, and simple games

Around 9 months, babies often look suddenly busy. Sitting is usually much steadier now, and you may see your baby twist, reach, lean, and move in and out of positions with more control. Some babies crawl on hands and knees, some scoot, roll, or army-crawl, and some are mostly interested in getting upright. If your baby is trying to pull to stand at the couch, that’s a big whole-body workout.

Floor time still matters here. Those earlier skills from tummy time and rolling practice help babies build the strength and coordination they use for sitting, crawling, and standing. If you’re wondering how movement usually unfolds, our guides on when babies roll over, safe rolling practice, and when babies crawl can help you picture the bigger pattern.

Hands are getting busy too. Your baby may rake small soft foods toward their palm, then start trying to use the thumb and finger together. It won’t look neat at first. Think squished banana, cereal stuck to a cheek, and a very proud baby studying their own fingers.

Socially, this is a fun age. Peekaboo can become hilarious. Your baby may wave with help, copy simple sounds or gestures, and look where you point, especially if you use an excited voice: “Look, the dog!” Babbling may come in strings like “ba-ba-ba” or “ma-ma-ma,” and simple words such as “no” or “bye-bye” may start to make sense in familiar moments.

One very 9-month example: your baby drops a spoon from the high chair, watches you pick it up, then drops it again. Annoying? A little. But they’re learning cause and effect: I do this, you do that, the spoon makes a sound, and the game keeps going.

Check in with your baby’s doctor if your baby can’t sit independently, doesn’t babble, doesn’t respond to their name, doesn’t look where you point, or doesn’t bear weight on their legs when supported. You know your baby best, and asking early is a caring move.

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10 month milestones: cruising, clapping, and early problem solving

Around 10 months, many parents start watching for more purposeful movement. That might look like pulling to stand at the couch, cruising sideways while holding furniture, crawling toward a favorite toy, scooting, rolling with intention, or finding another way to get across the room. If you’re still building those floor-time habits, our guides to tummy time by age, rolling over, and crawling signs and stages can help you think through safe practice.

Hands get busy now too. You may see clapping, waving, offering you a block, or copying a simple action like banging two cups together after you do it. Finger use can look more precise, with your baby trying to pick up small, soft, safe pieces of food or drop toys into a container and pull them back out again.

Language understanding often grows through ordinary routines. Your baby may perk up at a familiar person’s name, anticipate bath or feeding steps, or respond to a simple request when you pair it with a gesture, like holding out your hand and saying, “Can I have it?”

Play can stay wonderfully simple: a basket with safe objects to put in and take out, sturdy board books, music for clapping and bouncing, and a safe cruising path along stable furniture. A familiar song, even a nursery rhyme like “Rock-A-Bye Baby,” can become a sweet cue for connection.

Call your child’s doctor if you’re worried about no purposeful movement, not using both hands, no back-and-forth sounds or gestures, or any loss of a skill. You know your baby best.

11 month milestones: standing practice and stronger communication

At 11 months, movement can look busy and a little wobbly. Some babies briefly stand while holding the couch, cruise along furniture with growing confidence, lower themselves back down to sit, or take a few steps while holding both of your hands. Others are still focused on crawling, scooting, or figuring out how to pull up. That steady build from earlier skills matters, so if you want a refresher, our guides on tummy time by age, rolling over, and crawling signs and stages can help you see the bigger picture.

Communication is getting more expressive, too. You may see gestures starting to show up, like waving, reaching to be picked up, shaking the head “no,” or pointing soon. Baby may copy you in funny little ways: a fake cough after you cough, a scrunched nose, a clap, or tapping a toy because you did it first.

Babble can sound more like a real conversation now. You might hear rises and falls in tone, pauses, and serious eye contact, even when the “words” aren’t clear yet. Early understanding often shows in small moments, like turning toward a familiar object when you name it.

Simple support works best. Label what baby sees: “cup,” “sock,” “dog.” Pause after you talk so baby has a chance to answer with a sound, look, or gesture. Read the same short book often, even if you only get through two pages. Offer safe chances to pull up, such as at a sturdy couch, while you stay close.

Call your child’s doctor if baby doesn’t crawl or move toward things in any way, doesn’t use gestures, doesn’t respond to their name, or seems to lose balance skills suddenly. You know your baby best. For more movement practice, this rolling guide may help too: When Do Babies Roll Over? Signs and Safe Practice. And if you’re here after browsing baby names, Tanmay Suresh Upadhyay: meaning & origin is a sweet one to keep open for later.

12 month milestones: first words, first steps, and the 1 year checkup

The 1 year mark can feel big. Suddenly your baby may look less like a newborn and more like a tiny explorer with opinions, favorite games, and a very serious plan to empty every basket in the room.

Around 12 months, many parents are watching for those exciting movement milestones: pulling to stand, cruising along the couch, standing alone for a few seconds, or taking first steps. Some babies are bold and wobbly walkers right around their birthday. Others are still practicing strength and balance, then walk closer to 15 months.

That can still be healthy. At the 1 year checkup, your pediatrician will usually look at the whole picture: how your baby bears weight, moves both sides of the body, balances, pulls up, lowers down, and keeps making progress. Earlier motor skills build into this stage, so if you want a refresher, our guides on tummy time by age, rolling over, and crawling stages can help you see how those pieces fit together.

Communication is getting more fun now, too. Some babies say “mama” or “dada” with meaning by this age. Some use word approximations, like “ba” for ball or bottle. Gestures matter a lot here: pointing, waving, reaching to be picked up, and following a simple direction when you pair it with a gesture, like “give it to me” with your hand out.

Play can look simple, but there’s a lot happening. Your baby may put objects in and out of a cup, hand you a toy, look for something you hide under a blanket, or copy everyday actions like brushing hair. A baby who grabs a hairbrush and pats it on their head is doing real learning, even if half the brushing happens to their ear.

Bring your real-life questions to the 1 year visit. Feeding, sleep, teeth, walking, speech, social interaction, vaccines, and safety are all fair game. I’d write them in your phone as they come up, because checkup day has a way of making every thought disappear.

Ask questions sooner if you notice no gestures, no babbling, not standing with help, not searching for hidden objects, not responding to their name, or any loss of skills. You know your baby best. And if something feels off, asking early is a caring, practical step.

Baby development chart for the first year

A baby development chart is best used as a quick check-in, not a scoreboard. The CDC reminds parents that milestones are clues about how a baby plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves, and they don’t replace well-child visits or developmental screening.

Here’s a simple month-by-month layout you can use to jot down what you’re seeing at home.

For the early months, Tummy Time by Age: Positions, Timing, Daily Tips can help you make awake floor time feel less random. If rolling is on your mind, these guides on when babies roll over and safe rolling practice are helpful next reads. Later, you may want When Do Babies Crawl? Signs, Stages, and Tips.

If your baby was born early, ask your doctor whether to use adjusted age for milestone tracking for a while. And if your baby loses a skill, isn’t meeting milestones, or something just feels off, bring it up. You know your baby best.

When to ask the doctor about infant milestones

If something feels off, ask early. You’re not overreacting. You’re parenting.

The CDC reminds parents that how a baby plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves can offer clues about development, and that you know your child best. If your baby isn’t meeting milestones, has lost a skill, or you have another concern, it’s okay to call the doctor and say, “Can we talk this through?”

Concerns often fall into a few buckets:

• Movement: very stiff or very floppy body, trouble lifting the head during awake tummy time, using one side much more than the other, or losing a movement skill. If you’re watching early strength and head control, our guide to Tummy Time by Age: Positions, Timing, Daily Tips can help you know what practice can look like at home.
• Hearing and vision: no reaction to loud sounds, not looking toward a toy for several seconds, or not watching you as you move nearby.
• Communication: not making sounds other than crying by around 2 months, or later, not responding in ways that seem typical for your baby.
• Social connection: poor eye contact, not calming when spoken to or picked up, not looking at your face, or not smiling back when you talk or smile.
• Feeding: ongoing trouble feeding, not showing hunger signs like turning toward the breast or bottle, or not showing fullness cues like closing the mouth or turning away.

Specific examples help more than a general “I’m worried.” Try: “She used to roll both ways, but now she doesn’t,” or “He doesn’t turn when I say his name.” If rolling is the concern, you may also want to read When Do Babies Roll Over? Timing, Signs, and Safety or When Do Babies Roll Over? Signs and Safe Practice. For later movement questions, When Do Babies Crawl? Signs, Stages, and Tips may be useful.

After you raise a concern, your doctor may ask questions, do a developmental screening, check hearing, refer you to a specialist, suggest physical therapy, or connect you with an early intervention evaluation. That doesn’t mean something is “wrong.” It means your baby gets a closer look and, if needed, support sooner.

Call emergency services right away for trouble breathing, blue color, seizure-like movements, signs of dehydration, or extreme sleepiness that feels unusual for your baby. For milestone worries, call the doctor. For urgent symptoms, don’t wait.

Simple ways to support first year milestones at home

You don’t need a room full of expensive toys to support baby milestones. The best “activity kit” is usually already happening: feeding, diaper changes, bath time, cuddles, floor time, and those sleepy little chats after a nap.

Talk during care routines. “One sock on. Other sock on. Zip goes up.” Read a board book even if your baby mostly chews the corner. Sing the same bedtime song each night, or use a simple nursery rhyme like “Rock-A-Bye Baby” if that’s part of your family rhythm. Babies learn through your face, voice, touch, and the back-and-forth of everyday moments.

Tummy time is one of the simplest places to start. When your baby is awake, place them on their tummy with a toy at eye level, and stay close. Short, happy tries count. If you want practical positions and timing ideas, this guide to tummy time by age can help.

Floor time matters too. Babies need safe space to move both arms and legs, turn their head, reach, wiggle, roll, and later push up toward crawling. If rolling is on your mind, you may like When Do Babies Roll Over? Timing, Signs, and Safety or When Do Babies Roll Over? Signs and Safe Practice. For later in the first year, When Do Babies Crawl? Signs, Stages, and Tips gives a clear look at what can come next.

Follow your baby’s lead as much as you can. Pause. Wait for a look, wiggle, smile, or sound. Then respond. If your baby coos, copy the sound and wait again. If they turn away, yawn, or fuss, give them a break. That little pause-and-respond pattern teaches early conversation and helps your baby feel safe.

A few easy examples: shake a rattle off to one side and see if your baby turns toward the sound. Place a toy slightly to the side during floor play for reaching or rolling practice. Later, put a favorite toy in a clear container with an easy lid and let your baby work out how to get it.

Keep safety simple. Avoid too much time in seats, skip walkers with wheels, limit screens for babies, and keep small choking hazards far out of reach.

Connection, safe practice, and responsive care are the biggest supports. The small daily things really do count.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most important baby milestones by month?

The key milestones are movement, hand use, communication, and social connection. Your baby's doctor looks at the pattern over time, not one skill alone.

Is it normal for babies to reach milestones at different ages?

Yes. Milestone ages are ranges. One baby may crawl at 7 months and another at 10 months, and both may be on track if they keep gaining skills.

Should I use my baby's actual age or adjusted age for milestones?

If your baby was born premature, ask the pediatrician about adjusted age. Many babies born early are tracked this way during infancy.

When should I worry about delayed infant milestones?

Call your pediatrician if your baby loses a skill, does not respond to sounds, seems very stiff or floppy, feeds poorly, or is far behind several milestones.

Do babies need to crawl before they walk?

Not always. Some babies scoot, roll, or go straight to pulling up and cruising. The bigger question is whether they are building strength and moving purposefully.

What milestones are checked at the 1 year visit?

The doctor usually checks movement, standing or cruising, gestures, babbling or first words, feeding, growth, sleep, teeth, and social interaction.