Early Motor Milestones: What to Expect in Your Child 6-12 Months

First published May 2016
Updated April 2026

Between 6-12 months, you’ll start to see big changes in movement, curiosity, and independence. Here’s a simple guide to what you might notice as your baby grows and explores.

Six Months

By six months, your baby is starting to show off some exciting new skills! They may be sitting up for short periods without support and becoming much more interactive during play. You'll likely see lots of grabbing, banging, shaking—and yes, plenty of exploring toys with their mouth. This is all part of how babies learn about the world around them.

Seven Months 

Your baby is on the move and eager to explore. Rolling from back to belly becomes much easier, and you may notice they don’t stay on their back for long anymore (hello, wiggly diaper changes!). While on their tummy, they might start pivoting in circles to reach toys and even begin pushing up to rocking on their hands and knees. Sitting is improving too, though balance is still a work in progress—so tip-overs are completely normal.

Eight Months 

Your baby is becoming more confident moving on their hands and knees, in a rocking motion or even forward, and may begin transitioning in and out of sitting on their own. You’ll notice them playing more independently, using different sitting positions, and reaching for toys without losing their balance. They’re also starting to refine their hands skills—picking up smaller objects and moving them from hand to hand—so keeping an eye on what’s within reach becomes extra important.

Nine Months 

Your baby is likely on the move, crawling to explore everything around her. You may notice them pulling up to stand at furniture and even starting to take little sideways steps while holding on. Don’t be surprised if they try to climb onto things, too—their curiosity is growing right along with their confidence! One thing many parents notice at this stage is that while babies can pull to stand, they’re not always sure how to get back down yet... and that’s completely normal. They may need a little help as they figure it out. You might also see them beginning to take a few steps forward.

Something important to note—one of the most powerful (and often overlooked) milestones in early development is crawling on hands and knees. During this stage, your child is doing so much more than getting from point A to point B—they're building strength through their hands, shoulders, and core while learning how to coordinate their entire body in a smooth, alternating pattern. This is one of the first true “full body” movements, and it plays a key role in preparing them for future skills like walking, balance, and even fine motor tasks like handwriting.

Ten and Eleven Months

At this stage curiosity is in full swing, and your little one is eager to explore everything around. They’ll love toys that allow them to put objects in and take them out, and you may notice that they are starting to gesture to communicate with you. In standing, they’re becoming more confident and may begin holding toys with her hands—sometimes leading to those “accidental” movements where they let go of support for a second or two. This is a big step! You’ll also likely see them getting better with lowering themselves back down to sitting with more control, which is an improvement (and often overlooked) skill. Playtime becomes even more interactive during this stage. Simple games like peek-a-boo, handing toys back and forth, or clapping together aren’t just fun—they're helping build coordination, social connection, and early communication skills.

Twelve Months 

Your baby is becoming more independent by the day, and you will notice how much more confident and capable their movements have become. They may be pulling up to stand, starting to let go, or even taking a few wobbly steps on their own. Don’t be surprised if their growing curiosity leads to little adventures—like climbing into a laundry basket when you least expect it! All this is a wonderful sign of just how mobile and determined your little one is becoming.

The big takeaway is not that your baby needs to check off every milestone on a specific timeline, but that they are exploring movement in their own way. Every child develops a little differently, and what matters most is that they are curious and engaged in their environment. As mentioned in the previous post, it’s always okay to reach out to your pediatrician. They can guide you and, if needed connect you with aphysical therapist to support your baby’s gross motor development.