Your baby is going to learn so much during the first year of his life that it’s just going to knock your socks off. To be sure, some of the reason that babies often will wake up in the middle of the night is because they’re experiencing their environment or they’re on the cusp of a new stage of motor skill development, and they really want to master that new skill. Understanding the different stages your baby is going to go through can help you to watch for them and to encourage your baby’s motor skill development in the first year.

Here are the various stages of motor skill development in the first year:

• Newborn. A newborn’s movements are mostly reflexive. Sucking and rooting reflexes, for example, help your baby to breastfeed. During this time, your baby may start a grasping reflex, in which she grabs at an object placed in her hand. The startle reflex is evident at the newborn stage. Your baby will also probably experience the “tonic neck” reflex – where your baby turns her head one direction, and the arm on that side straightens while the arm on the other side of her body bends.
• One to three months. This stage of motor skill development in the first year is characterized by your baby getting some control of her motor skills. She will probably roll over, lift her head up when lying on her belly, and maybe even prop herself up on her arms. She’ll kick her legs in preparation for crawling, too.
• Four to seven months. During this stage, your baby will begin to roll over. He’ll reach out for objects and grab them. He may begin the skill of passing an object from one hand to the other. Many babies will crawl during this stage. He’ll likely be able to stand, as well.
• Eight to twelve months. This is the end stage of motor skill development in the first year. During this time, your baby will be able to get up onto all fours. He will probably sit up, stand, bounce and crawl. Many babies will also walk at this stage.

Of course, every baby’s stages of motor skill development in the first year will vary. Talk to your health care provider if you’re concerned that your baby is not developing at the pace you think she should.

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