Your baby at 1 month

Short, calm play when your baby is awake and alert is plenty. Watching faces, hearing voices and being held are the whole curriculum.

The CDC's first milestone checklist is at 2 months. By then, most babies (75% or more) do things like “Smiles when you talk to or smile at her” and “Makes sounds other than crying”. Before that there's no checklist, so this page has the 2-month list coming up, and play, talk and reading ideas for these first weeks.

Checked October 29, 2026.

Coming up, by 2 months

Social/Emotional Milestones

Calms down when spoken to or picked up
Looks at your face
Seems happy to see you when you walk up to her
Smiles when you talk to or smile at her

Language/Communication Milestones

Makes sounds other than crying
Reacts to loud sounds

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Watches you as you move
Looks at a toy for several seconds

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

Holds head up when on tummy
Moves both arms and both legs
Opens hands briefly

From the CDC's “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” checklist, Milestones by 2 months, word for word (CDC page dated May 15, 2026; checked October 29, 2026). These are things most children (75% or more) can do by 2 months. The CDC's page has a photo or video of each one.

Play today

Follow the face
Move your face slowly from one side to the other while your baby watches. Smile when they find you again.
Copy the sound
When your baby makes a little sound, make the same sound back, then wait. Turn-taking like this is the start of conversation.
Look at pictures
Hold up a picture with bright colors or a face, a little to one side, and talk about it while your baby looks.

Things to say

“Are you telling me something? Tell me more.”
“Here's your hand. Here's my hand.”
“Warm water on your toes.”

Say it, then wait. Give your baby time to answer with a look, a sound or a word, and answer back.

A rhyme to share

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Sing it slowly with your face close, and pause before "star".

The words are on Peabody's Nursery rhymes with lyrics list.

Questions parents ask about this age

When do babies smile?By 2 months: Smiles when you talk to or smile at her
When do babies hold their head up?By 2 months: Holds head up when on tummy
When do babies coo?By 4 months: Makes sounds like “oooo”, “aahh” (cooing)
When do babies recognize their parents?By 2 months: Seems happy to see you when you walk up to her

Talk to your pediatrician if…

You're worried about anything at all. There's no CDC checklist before 2 months, but the CDC's advice holds at any age.

You know your child best. Don't wait. If your child is not meeting one or more milestones, has lost skills he or she once had, or you have other concerns, act early. Talk with your child's doctor, share your concerns, and ask about developmental screening.
CDC, Learn the Signs. Act Early.

If you or the doctor are still concerned, the CDC says to ask for a referral to a specialist, and to call your state's early intervention program (find the number on the CDC's list). You do not need to wait for a doctor's referral or a medical diagnosis to make this call. If your child is younger than 3 years old, contact your local early intervention system.

More from the CDC: Concerned about your child's development? If your child seems unwell, call your pediatrician, or 911 in an emergency.

What the CDC suggests you share with the doctor

What are some things you and your baby do together?
What are some things your baby likes to do?
Is there anything your baby does or does not do that concerns you?
Has your baby lost any skills he/she once had?
Does your baby have any special healthcare needs or was he/she born prematurely?

From the CDC's Milestones by 2 months page. The CDC suggests filling in a milestone checklist and sharing it with your child's doctor; its Milestone Tracker app is free.

Peabody Parents