Developmental milestones: red flags for 8-12 months old
By now, your baby is happily crawling or scooting across the room, sometimes at speeds that make leaving delicate objects on the floor a dangerous idea.
Your baby may even have taken some tentative steps. But if your infant still hasn’t crawled or cannot sit up unassisted, you may want to talk with your pediatrician about his or her developmental milestones.
Below is a list of red flags to know about your child’s development. Contact your child’s doctor or nurse if you see these signs of possible developmental delay, especially if you see your child regress in skills or development.
It is important to remember that this is not a definitive list, and babies develop according to their own schedules. If your child has not reached a particular milestone, there may be nothing to be concerned about, but it’s a good idea to make an appointment.
| Age 8-12 months | |
|---|---|
| Your baby may be able to: | You may want to talk to a healthcare professional if your baby: |
| Pull to stand | Cannot bear weight on legs with support |
| Get into a sitting position | Doesn't sit |
| Make a lot of different sounds like "mamamama" and "bababababa" | Doesn't babble ("mama," "baba," "dada") |
| Play peek-a-boo | Doesn't play any back-and-forth games |
| Recognize and respond to a name | Doesn't respond to or seem to recognize own name |
| Cling to familiar adults | Doesn't seem to recognize familiar people |
| Point at things with fingers | Doesn't point to show things to others |
| Begin to use objects correctly, such as a cup or brush | Doesn't know what familiar things are for |
| Copy sounds and gestures of others | Doesn't copy others |
| Say "mama," "dada"and exclamations like "uh-oh!" | Doesn't gain new words |
| Show favoritism towards things and people | Doesn't notice or mind when a caregiver leaves or returns |
| Find hidden items easily | Cannot find hidden items |
| Explore objects in different ways, like banging or throwing | Doesn't show interest in how things react; for instance, throwing a cup to the ground |
Reviewed by Dr. Sara Connolly, August 2019
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