Watching your newborn grow and develop is one of the most rewarding experiences for any parent. In the first year of life, babies go through rapid physical changes that lay the foundation for future movement, coordination, and strength. But what are some physical stages of a newborn that you should expect? 

From their first reflexive movements to rolling over, sitting up, and eventually taking those first wobbly steps, understanding these milestones can help you track your baby’s progress and provide the right support at each stage. Let’s walk through the exciting physical changes your baby will experience in their first 12 months—and how you can help them grow along the way.

What Are the Physical Developmental Milestones of Newborns

Your newborn is growing so fast, and every day brings something new! One moment, they’re tiny and curled up, and before you know it, they’re lifting their head and rolling over. If you’re wondering, when are growth spurts in newborns, the fact is that they can go through many in the first year, some big and others small.

Here’s a month-by-month breakdown of what to expect in the early months of your little one’s physical growth.

0–2 Months

In the first couple of months, your newborn’s movements are mostly reflexive. Their body is adjusting to the outside world, and their muscles are still developing.

But when do newborn growth spurts occur during this stage? Typically, these spurts happen around 7-10 days and again at 3-6 weeks.

Here are some key physical milestones during this stage:

l  Reflexive Movements: Your baby is born with automatic reflexes like the rooting reflex (turning their head when you touch their cheek) and the grasp reflex (grabbing onto your finger).

l  Limited Head Control: At first, they won’t have much control over their head, but by the end of this stage, they might start lifting it slightly when lying on their tummy.

l  Jerky Arm and Leg Movements: Their movements may seem uncoordinated at first, but that’s just their nervous system learning how to work!

l  Following Objects Slowly: Your newborn’s vision is still blurry, but they can focus on faces and follow objects slowly with eyes (within 8–12 inches).

l  Start of Tummy Time: Tummy time helps strengthen their neck and shoulder muscles, though sessions may be short (1–3 minutes).

2–4 Months

By now, your baby is getting stronger and more aware of their body. Their movements are becoming smoother, and they’re beginning to interact more with the world around them. Here’s what you might notice:

l   Better Head Control: Your baby can hold their head up for longer periods during tummy time.

l   More Purposeful Movements: They’ll start swatting at toys and may begin to discover their hands and feet.

l   Pushing Up on Arms: When placed on their tummy, they may start pushing up on their forearms, a big step toward rolling over.

l   Rolling Side to Side: By 4 months, some babies start to roll from their tummy to their back around this time.

l   Stronger Legs: You might notice them kicking more forcefully when lying on their back or pushing their legs against surfaces.

4–6 Months

At this stage, your baby is becoming more active, curious, and coordinated. Their muscles are getting stronger, and they’re starting to take bigger steps toward mobility. Here’s what you can expect:

l  Rolling Over: Many babies roll from tummy to back first, then from back to tummy a few weeks later.

l  Reaching and Grasping: They’ll start grabbing toys and bringing them to their mouth, exploring everything through touch.

l  Sitting with Support: Some babies can sit with support, holding their head steady for longer periods.

l  Pushing Up Fully: During tummy time, they can now push up on their hands, almost like doing a little baby push-up.

l  Early Signs of Crawling: While they’re not crawling yet, you might notice them trying to scoot or rock back and forth on their tummy.

6–9 Months

Your baby is getting stronger and more mobile by the day! Between 6 and 9 months, you’ll notice big changes in how they move, explore, and interact with the world around them. This stage is all about building core strength and preparing for even bigger milestones like crawling and standing.

Expect:

l  Sitting Without Support: Around 6 months, many babies can sit up with little or no support, using their hands for balance. By 9 months, most can sit steadily on their own.

l  Rolling Both Ways: If they haven’t already, your baby will likely master rolling from tummy to back and vice versa.

l  Scooting and Early Crawling: Some babies start to scoot on their belly or push themselves backward before figuring out how to crawl forward. Others may try the “army crawl,” dragging themselves with their arms.

l  Stronger Hands and Grip: Your baby is getting better at grabbing and holding objects, even passing toys between hands.

l  Pushing Up to Hands and Knees: Around 8-9 months, many babies start rocking back and forth on their hands and knees—a sign that crawling is just around the corner!

l  Pulling Up to Stand (for Some): Some babies may start pulling themselves up on furniture, getting ready for the next big step—standing!

9–12 Months

This is such an exciting stage—your baby is on the move! From standing with support to taking their first wobbly steps, the months leading up to their first birthday are full of major physical milestones.

You’ll notice:

l  Pulling Up to Stand: By 9-10 months, many babies start using furniture or your hands to pull themselves up to a standing position.

l  Cruising Along Furniture: Once standing, your baby might begin “cruising,” which means walking along furniture while holding on for support.

l  Stronger, More Precise Grip: They can now pick up small objects using the pincer grasp (thumb and forefinger), an important skill for feeding themselves.

l  Standing Without Support: By 11-12 months, some babies can stand alone for a few seconds, building balance and confidence.

l  First Steps: Some babies take their first steps around their first birthday, though others may take a few more months—both are completely normal!

How Do You Support Your Baby’s Physical Development

As your baby grows and learns every day, you play a huge role in helping them develop their strength, coordination, and confidence. While every baby reaches milestones at their own pace, there are plenty of simple ways to encourage their physical development through play, movement, and interaction.

Here are some major ways to support your little one’s growth during their first year.

Encourage Tummy Time from Day One

Tummy time is one of the best ways to help your baby build the muscles they need for crawling, sitting, and eventually walking.

²  Start with just a few minutes a day and gradually increase the time as your baby gets stronger.

²  Place a soft mat or blanket on the floor and lay your baby on their tummy while they’re awake.

²  Use rattles, mirrors, or your own face to keep them engaged and encourage them to lift their head.

²  If your baby doesn’t like tummy time, try laying them on your chest while you recline—it still helps them build strength!

Give Them Plenty of Floor Time

Babies need space to move and explore, so let them spend time on the floor instead of always being in a swing or bouncer.

²  Place safe toys around them to encourage reaching and rolling.

²  Let them practice kicking and stretching their legs freely.

²  As they get older, place objects just out of reach to motivate movement.

²  Avoid using walkers too early—they can interfere with natural muscle development and coordination.

Help Them Strengthen Their Grip and Coordination

From grasping to reaching and passing objects between hands, fine motor skills play a big role in physical development.

²  Offer different textures and shapes for them to grab and explore.

²  Let them hold small, safe objects like rattles, soft toys or teething rings.

²  Encourage them to pick up small snacks (like puffs) to practice their pincer grasp.

²  Simple activities like clapping, waving, and playing with stacking cups also help strengthen hand-eye coordination.

Make It Fun and Interactive!

The best way to support your baby’s physical development is through play. Babies learn through movement, so keep things engaging and interactive.

²  Dance, sing, and play movement-based games like "pat-a-cake" or "peek-a-boo."

²  Get down on the floor with them and make eye contact to keep them motivated.

²  Use age-appropriate, interactive toys that stimulate your baby’s senses while encouraging motor skills and movement, like rattles, rolling balls, soft blocks, or activity centers.

If you’re looking for the perfect tummy-time toy for your newborn, the Alilo Smarty Bunny baby rattle is a standout choice! This adorable bunny-shaped rattle is designed with little hands in mind, featuring an easy-to-grasp handle that makes shaking and holding a breeze. As your baby plays, they can enjoy 66 different natural sounds, which help develop auditory and motor skills and provide endless entertainment.

But the fun doesn’t stop there! The Alilo baby rattle also doubles as a music player, offering nursery rhymes, stories, and lullabies to soothe your baby during fussy moments or bedtime. These engaging sounds not only provide comfort but also support early language development. Plus, the bunny’s soft silicone ears are RoHS-certified, making them safe for mouthing.

To encourage visual tracking and sensory exploration, the bunny’s ears light up in seven different colors, capturing your baby’s attention and helping them develop their ability to follow movement with their eyes.

And for an extra learning boost, the rattle even includes a color recognition feature—when placed on the included color cards, it names the colors aloud, making it a fun and interactive way to introduce basic color concepts.

Encourage Sitting, Rolling, and Crawling

As your baby grows, they’ll start moving more on their own. You can help by giving them safe opportunities to practice.

²  Support their back when they start sitting, then gradually let go as they get stronger.

²  Place toys slightly out of reach to encourage rolling and crawling.

²  Let them explore different surfaces, like a carpet or a play mat, to improve balance and coordination.

Support Standing and Walking Skills

When your baby starts pulling up to stand, they’re getting ready for their first steps! You can help by giving them safe opportunities to practice.

²  Let them hold onto your fingers while they practice standing.

²  Provide sturdy furniture or a push toy for support.

²  Encourage cruising along furniture and taking tiny steps toward you.

²  Don’t rush walking! Some babies take their first steps at 9 months, while others wait until 14-15 months. It’s all normal!

Conclusion

Every baby develops at their own pace, but knowing what are some physical stages of a newborn can help you anticipate and celebrate their progress. From the earliest reflexes to mastering crawling and standing, each stage brings exciting new abilities and a deeper connection with your little one.

While these milestones serve as general guidelines, the best way to support your baby’s development is through patience, encouragement, and plenty of interaction. By engaging in tummy time, offering age-appropriate toys like rattles, and creating a safe space for movement, you can help your baby build the strength and coordination they need to thrive. Enjoy every moment—because before you know it, they’ll be taking their first steps into toddlerhood!

FAQs

What are the physical developments of a newborn?

Newborns progress through stages like gaining head control, rolling over, sitting, crawling, and eventually walking. These developments often align with their growth spurts.

What are 4 examples of physical growth in infants?

Four examples of physical growth in infants include lifting their head during tummy time, rolling over from tummy to back, sitting without support, and crawling or pulling up to stand.

What are some physical changes as an infant?

Infants go through many physical changes, including growing in height and weight, developing stronger muscles, gaining better head control, and learning to roll, sit, crawl, and eventually walk. Their senses also improve, and they start teething around 4-7 months.