10-Month-Old Baby Developmental Milestones

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T a b l e Of C o n t e n t s

Y o u r baby i s just a couple o f months a w a y from h i s first b i r t h d a y ! And h e is c a p a b l e of s o much! H e is s h a r p and g r a s p things l i k e never b e f o r e !

A l l these s k i l l s are t h a n k s to a 10-month-old’s d e v e l o p m e n t a l milestones t h a t he h a s reached. M o m J u n c t i o n will g i v e you a n insight i n t o all t h e major d e v e l o p m e n t a l landmarks a t the a g e of t e n months a n d their v a r i o u s nuances.

1 0 – M o n t h – O l d Milestones C h a r t

A c h i e v e d developmental m i l e s t o n e s	E m e r g i n g developmental m i l e s t o n e s
C r a w l s and p u l l s to s t a n d	W a l k s with s u p p o r t (cruising)
U n d e r s t a n d s meaning o f some w o r d s	U n d e r s t a n d s and s p e a k s simple w o r d s
M o v e s from t u m m y to s i t t i n g position	C a n sit u p from s t a n d i n g position
U n d e r s t a n d s requests	U n d e r s t a n d s other b a s i c instructions
I m i t a t e s basic a c t i o n s	R e p e a t s activities a f t e r observation
S e a r c h e s for h i d d e n objects	R e m e m b e r s the l o c a t i o n of o b j e c t s by m e m o r y
R e a c t s to s c a r y or d i s t r e s s i n g situations	R e s p o n d s to m o r e number o f circumstances
H a s pincer g r a s p	C a n use f u l l hand t o hold o b j e c t s
I m p r o v e d depth p e r c e p t i o n	B e t t e r depth p e r c e p t i o n and h a n d – e y e coordination
H a s some t e e t h	C a n have e i g h t teeth b y the f i r s t birthday

10-Month-O l d Baby Developmental M i l e s t o n e s

A n infant a c h i e v e s his d e v e l o p m e n t a l milestones i n c o g n i t i v e , physical, and social and e m o t i o n a l stages. Specific a c h i e v e m e n t s in e a c h category e n s u r e the b a b y ’ s overall g r o w t h and d e v e l o p m e n t .

C o g n i t i v e Developmental M i l e s t o n e s

A 10-month-old’s c o g n i t i v e developmental m i l e s t o n e s comprise i n t e l l i g e n c e , brain d e v e l o p m e n t , and o v e r a l l thinking p r o w e s s .

D e v e l o p s object p e r m a n e n c e : The a b i l i t y to r e c o g n i z e the e x i s t e n c e of a n object i s referred t o as o b j e c t permanence. A t ten m o n t h s , the b a b y knows t h a t a h i d d e n object c o n t i n u e s to e x i s t and d o e s not d i s a p p e a r (1). T h i s ability m a k e s him l e s s anxious w h e n a p a r e n t is n o t in t h e line o f sight.

S e a r c h e s for h i d d e n objects: Object p e r m a n e n c e leads t o inquisitiveness. A baby w i l l find o b j e c t s that a r e hidden o r have m o v e d out o f his f i e l d of v i s i o n (2). F o r example, i f a t o y car s l i p s under t h e sofa t h e baby w i l l lean a bit t o find i t . If y o u hide a toy u n d e r the b l a n k e t , he w i l l not s t o p looking f o r it u n l e s s he f i n d s it.

E n j o y s looking a t picture b o o k s : The 1 0 – m o n t h – o l d will e n j o y sitting i n the p a r e n t s ’ lap a n d looking a t image-rich b o o k s . He l o v e s listening t o stories a n d will v i s u a l l y absorb a l l the c o l o r f u l illustrations. T h e infant’s b r a i n is l e a r n i n g to b e t t e r process t h e images a n d sounds, a n d picture b o o k s are a great h e l p .

A s s o c i a t e s meaning w i t h words: As p a r t of t h e 10-month-old’s l a n g u a g e development, h e now u n d e r s t a n d s the m e a n i n g of s o m e basic w o r d s such a s “hi”, “ n o ” , “go”, a n d remembers t h e sounds o f nouns s u c h as t h e name o f his f a v o r i t e toy o r food.

R e p e a t s actions: An e s s e n t i a l attribute o f a 1 0 – m o n t h – o l d ’ s behavior i s the a b i l i t y to i m i t a t e actions. A n infant f o r m s a m e m o r y of a n action a n d remembers t h e response t o it. H e then d o e s the a c t i o n to o b s e r v e how o t h e r s react t o it.

S a y s “mama” a n d “dada”: The i n f a n t now u s e s the c o r r e c t nouns t o address p a r e n t s . He m a y not g e t it r i g h t with t h e correct p a r e n t , but i t is n e v e r t h e l e s s quite a n achievement f r o m the p r e v i o u s month.

U n d e r s t a n d s request: Request t h e baby t o hand o v e r something, a n d he w i l l slide i t slowly i n t o your h a n d s . At t e n months, t h e baby c a n discern r e q u e s t s , which i s a s i g n i f i c a n t social d e v e l o p m e n t milestone ( 3 ) .

P h y s i c a l Development M i l e s t o n e s

T h e s e milestones a r e an i n s i g h t into a 10-month-old’s m o t o r skills a n d principal p h y s i c a l development t r a i t s .

C r a w l s well: A 1 0 – m o n t h baby m a s t e r s crawling, w h i c h is a n essential p h y s i c a l development. W a t c h as y o u r little o n e will l e a v e no c o r n e r of t h e house u n e x p l o r e d .

U s e s pincer g r a s p : Pincer g r a s p is t h e ability t o use t h e index f i n g e r and t h e thumb t o pick s m a l l objects ( 4 ) . The e s s e n t i a l physical d e v e l o p m e n t facilitates t h e introduction o f finger f o o d s .

M o v e s from t u m m y to s i t t i n g position: When t h e baby i s bored o f tummy t i m e , he w i l l roll i n t o the s i t t i n g position. S t r o n g e r back a n d abdomen m u s c l e s help w i t h this.

P u l l s to s t a n d : Standing i s the f i r s t step t o w a r d s walking a n d eventually r u n n i n g . And, a n infant p u l l s himself u p to a standing p o s i t i o n while u s i n g an o b j e c t for s u p p o r t (5).

M a y move f o r w a r d while s t a n d i n g : Once o n his f e e t , the b a b y may m a k e his f i r s t attempt t o walk b y moving a foot f o r w a r d , while h o l d i n g on t o support. E v e n t u a l l y , he w a l k s taking t h e support o f one o b j e c t after a n o t h e r . This i s called c r u i s i n g .

C a n have a l l central i n c i s o r s : The t w o lower c e n t r a l incisors e r u p t at e i g h t months, a n d the p a i r on t h e upper j a w may e m e r g e by t e n months ( 6 ) . It c o i n c i d e s with t h e phase w h e n the b a b y is r e a d y for f i n g e r foods a n d makes b i t i n g convenient.

I m p r o v e d visual d e p t h perception: Eyes d e v e l o p constantly, a n d by 1 0 months, t h e baby w i l l have a n enhanced d e p t h perception w i t h better h a n d – e y e coordination ( 7 ) . Activities such a s crawling a n d pulling t o stand f u r t h e r boost v i s u a l development.

S o c i a l And E m o t i o n a l Developmental M i l e s t o n e s

H e r e ’ s when y o u r baby i s preparing f o r all t h e social g a t h e r i n g s and e m o t i o n a l temperament.

W a v e s goodbye: Seeing o f f the b a b y now h a s its s p e c i a l moments. 1 0 – m o n t h – o l d s learn t o wave g o o d b y e and d e v e l o p an u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h i s social g e s t u r e . They m a y even c h i r p something t h a t sounds l i k e “bye-bye”.

S t r a n g e r anxiety: A b a b y may n o t be c o m f o r t a b l e in t h e company o f a s t r a n g e r s or i f left a l o n e with t h e m . He m a y resist g o i n g into t h e i r arms.

S e p a r a t i o n anxiety: According t o the A m e r i c a n Academy o f Pediatrics, b a b i e s develop h e i g h t e n e d separation a n x i e t y after t e n months ( 8 ) . The b a b y may c l u t c h on t o the c a r e t a k e r and e v e n throw t a n t r u m s to p r e v e n t them f r o m leaving.

R e a c t s to s i t u a t i o n s : The b a b y will c r y if y o u take a w a y a t o y from h i m . He m a y be n e r v o u s , if h e hears a loud n o i s e . Your b a b y will n o w have a wider r a n g e of r e a c t i o n s .

B a b i e s achieve v a r i o u s skills a t different a g e s . While s o m e babies p i c k those s k i l l s faster, s o m e may t a k e a l i t t l e more t i m e . So w o r r y not! B u t , at t h e same t i m e , be o n the l o o k o u t for r o a d b l o c k s !

W h e n To B e Concerned?

Y o u must w a t c h for t h e following s i g n s of d e l a y e d development i n a 1 0 – m o n t h – o l d :

D o e s not c r a w l : Babies c r a w l effortlessly b y 10 m o n t h s , and i f an i n f a n t is u n a b l e to d o so t h e n it c o u l d be a sign o f developmental d e l a y .

M a k e s no s o u n d s : A 1 0 – m o n t h – o l d may n o t speak b u t will m a k e an a r r a y of s o u n d s and n o i s e s . If t h e baby i s unusually q u i e t , then y o u must t a k e him t o a d o c t o r .

C a n n o t stand w i t h support: The b a b y is n o w capable o f pulling h i m s e l f into a standing p o s i t i o n with s u p p o r t . If h e fails t o do t h i s , then i t indicates a developmental d e l a y . Pulling t o stand i s important a s it l a y s the f o u n d a t i o n to w a l k i n g skills.

D o e s not h a v e any t e e t h : If t h e infant l a c k s the l o w e r central i n c i s o r s , then i t could i n d i c a t e a d e n t a l problem. T h i s can a f f e c t the b a b y ’ s migration t o finger f o o d s .

F a i l s to r e c o g n i s e familiar p e o p l e : If y o u r baby i s not r e c o g n i z i n g known i n d i v i d u a l s and e v e r y d a y objects, t h e n it c o u l d indicate a cognitive t r o u b l e or a problem w i t h the b a b y ’ s vision.

I f you s p o t any o f these s i g n s , then d o not p a n i c . Instead, t a k e your b a b y to a pediatrician a n d let t h e medical p r o f e s s i o n a l make t h e assessment. T h e American A c a d e m y of P a e d i a t r i c s recommends g e t t i n g your b a b y checked b y a d o c t o r periodically f o r a t i m e l y detection o f any d e v e l o p m e n t a l delay ( 9 ) .

A medical c h e c k – u p combined w i t h a l i t t l e care a n d caution, c a n go a long w a y in e n s u r i n g the b a b y ’ s smooth d e v e l o p m e n t .

T i p s To I m p r o v e 10-Month-O l d Baby’ s Development

T h e r e are s o m e simple a n d easy w a y s to s t i m u l a t e your 1 0 – m o n t h – o l d ’ s development a n d ensure t h a t his g r o w t h stays r i g h t on t r a c k :

P r o v i d e ample c r a w l i n g space: It i s time t o move t h a t furniture a n d roll o u t the r u g . Your b a b y would l o v e to c r a w l and t h e more h e crawls, t h e better h i s muscles p r e p a r e for i m p o r t a n t activities s u c h as w a l k i n g . Give y o u r baby a d e q u a t e space t o exercise h i s crawling s k i l l s . Baby p r o o f the h o u s e to e n s u r e maximum s a f e t y .

A s s i s t pull t o stand: Get y o u r baby a push c a r that i s heavy e n o u g h to s u p p o r t the b a b y ’ s weight. T h e infant c a n pull t o stand w i t h the h e l p of t h e car. T h e baby m a y , however, t a k e a f e w steps i n case t h e car i s wheeled a n d moves e a s i l y . The A m e r i c a n Academy o f Paediatrics r e c o m m e n d s toy p u s h car a n d stationary w a l k e r s . T h e y , however, a d v i s e against t h e use o f baby w a l k e r s (10).

H a v e meaningful c o n v e r s a t i o n s : It i s time t o cut d o w n on t h a t baby t a l k a b i t and h a v e some u s e f u l chat. B a b i e s at t e n months u n d e r s t a n d words s u c h as “ n o ” and “ g o ” . The m o r e new w o r d s you i n t r o d u c e in t h e little o n e ’ s vocabulary, t h e better i s his v o c a b u l a r y .

P l a y games t h a t nurture: Have a n activity s c h e d u l e where y o u play g a m e s that i m p r o v e various g r o w t h milestones. Y o u should a l s o spend t i m e having g r o u p activities t h a t can h e l p cut d o w n the b a b y ’ s separation a n x i e t y and f e a r towards s t r a n g e r s .

T r y new f i n g e r foods: Introduce n e w finger f o o d s to t h e baby a n d let h i m eat b y himself. S h o w the l i t t l e one h o w to g r i p the f o o d and t h e correct w a y to e a t it, a n d then l e t him b e . Eating f i n g e r foods b y himself h e l p s in m a k i n g baby-led w e a n i n g easier b y the f i r s t birthday.

A healthy 1 0 – m o n t h – o l d will a c h i e v e all h i s subsequent d e v e l o p m e n t a l milestones t h r o u g h healthy n o u r i s h m e n t and p r o p e r nurturing o f skills. K e e p encouraging h i m , but d o not b e pushy. L e t him e x p l o r e things a t his p a c e and l e t him t a k e his t i m e to c o m p r e h e n d things. W h e n you f e e l it i s about t i m e he a c h i e v e d a m i l e s t o n e and h a v e a h u n c h that t h e r e could b e something w r o n g , then c h e c k with a doctor w i t h o u t hesitation. G o o d c a r e and l o t s of l o v e will m a k e your b a b y grow h e a l t h y and s t r o n g !

H a v e some w o r d s to s h a r e about y o u r 10-month-old b a b y ’ s milestones? Y o u can l e a v e us a comment b e l o w .

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10-Month-Old Baby Developmental Milestones – A Complete Guide

10-Month-O l d Baby Developmental M i l e s t o n e s – A Complete G u i d e