Your baby at 10 months

Between the CDC's 9-month and 1-year checklists. Coming up by 1 year: pulling up to stand, waving “bye-bye” and putting something in a container.

There's no CDC checklist for 10 months; the CDC's checklists come at 9 months and 1 year. By 9 months, most babies (75% or more) do things like “Gets to a sitting position by herself”. Coming up by 1 year: “Puts something in a container, like a block in a cup”. Both lists are below, with this month's play, talk and reading ideas.

Checked October 29, 2026.

Already, by 9 months

Social/Emotional Milestones

Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers
Shows several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry, and surprised
Looks when you call her name
Reacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you, or cries)
Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo

Language/Communication Milestones

Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa”
Lifts arms up to be picked up

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Looks for objects when dropped out of sight (like his spoon or toy)
Bangs two things together

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

Gets to a sitting position by herself
Moves things from one hand to her other hand
Uses fingers to “rake” food towards himself
Sits without support

From the CDC's “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” checklist, Milestones by 9 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 9 months. The CDC's page has a photo or video of each one.

Coming up, by 1 year

Social/Emotional Milestones

Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake

Language/Communication Milestones

Waves “bye-bye”
Calls a parent “mama” or “dada” or another special name
Understands “no” (pauses briefly or stops when you say it)

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Puts something in a container, like a block in a cup
Looks for things he sees you hide, like a toy under a blanket

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

Pulls up to stand
Walks, holding on to furniture
Drinks from a cup without a lid, as you hold it
Picks things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small bits of food

From the CDC's “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” checklist, Milestones by 1 year, word for word (CDC page dated May 15, 2026; checked October 29, 2026). These are things most children (75% or more) can do by 1 year. The CDC's page has a photo or video of each one.

Play today

In the bowl
Give your baby a big plastic bowl and a few large blocks or balls to drop in, then tip out and start again.
Safety: Use things too big to fit in your baby's mouth.
Wave bye-bye
Wave and say "Bye-bye!" every time someone leaves the room, and help your baby's hand wave too.
Cushion hill
Make a low hill of sofa cushions on the floor for your baby to crawl or climb over.
Safety: Stay right beside them the whole time.

Things to say

“In it goes! Plop!”
“Bye-bye! See you soon!”
“Over the hill you go.”

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

A song to sing

The Wheels on the Bus. Do the actions: wipers swishing, wheels going round and round, the horn going beep beep.

The words are on Peabody's Songs with actions list.

Questions parents ask about this age

When do babies sit up?By 9 months: Sits without support
When do babies crawl?By 1 year: Pulls up to stand
When do babies babble?By 9 months: Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa”
When do babies respond to their name?By 9 months: Looks when you call her name
When do babies play peekaboo?By 9 months: Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo
When do babies get shy with strangers?By 9 months: Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers
When do babies pull up to stand?By 1 year: Pulls up to stand
When do babies wave?By 1 year: Waves “bye-bye”
When do babies say mama or dada?By 1 year: Calls a parent “mama” or “dada” or another special name
When do babies clap?By 1 year: Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake
When do babies cruise along furniture?By 1 year: Walks, holding on to furniture
When do babies walk?By 15 months: Takes a few steps on his own
When do babies understand no?By 1 year: Understands “no” (pauses briefly or stops when you say it)
When do babies look for hidden toys?By 9 months: Looks for objects when dropped out of sight (like his spoon or toy)

Talk to your pediatrician if…

Your baby isn't doing the things on the CDC's 9-month list, has lost a skill they once had, or you're worried for any reason. Things on the 1-year list are still coming.

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 1 year 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