A little life

A little life,
unfolding

See what may change as your baby grows through their first two years.

Learn what to look for and find simple ways to respond.

Your baby’s first two years

Enter a birthday to find todayweek by week

Start with what you may notice now and one simple thing to try. Open a chapter for development, crying and settling, sleep, feeding and growth.

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  1. Birth–W2

    Within Birth to week 2

    The first days with your newborn

    What you may notice now

    In the first days, most of your time may go into feeding, settling and recovering from birth. Your baby sleeps in short stretches and uses crying to ask for care. They can already notice close faces and familiar voices. A small early weight loss is common, and health professionals will check that weight begins to rise again.

    • Your newborn can see you up close
    • Crying asks for care

    Try this together

    Hold your baby close enough to see your face. Speak softly, then pause to see how they respond. If they look away or fuss, give them a break.

    See all five topics
  2. W3–4

    Within Weeks 3–4

    Days and nights are still mixed up

    What you may notice now

    At three or four weeks, your baby still sleeps and feeds around the clock. They see most clearly when your face is close and may briefly follow light or movement. Crying can be stronger at some times of day than others. Daylight and ordinary household sounds during the day can gently help your baby begin to tell day from night.

    • Your baby sees best up close
    • Sleep still happens around the clock

    Try this together

    Open curtains and use ordinary voices by day. During night feeds and changes, keep light and conversation lower and follow your baby’s cues.

    See all five topics
  3. W5–6

    Within Weeks 5–6

    Crying may be louder around six weeks

    What you may notice now

    Many babies cry more around this age, although the timing and amount vary. Your face is still easiest to see up close, and your voice may help your baby settle. Feeds can come close together and sleep is still scattered through the day and night. Keep play brief and pause when your baby looks away or becomes restless.

    • Your face is clearest up close
    • Crying often increases in the early weeks

    Try this together

    Choose a calm, awake moment and bring your face close, about 20 to 30 cm away. Speak softly and pause when your baby looks away.

    See all five topics
  4. W7–9

    Within Weeks 7–9

    Smiles may answer your voice

    What you may notice now

    By 2 months, most babies smile when you talk or smile to them. During a quiet, awake moment, give your baby time to watch your face and respond. Your voice or a cuddle may help them settle too. These responses will not happen every time. Looking away, yawning or fussing can mean they need a break.

    • Your baby may smile back
    • Your voice and touch may help

    Try this together

    Smile or speak once, then wait. A look, movement, sound or quiet pause can all be your baby’s response back to you.

    See all five topics
  5. W10–12

    Within Weeks 10–12

    More time awake to look and listen

    What you may notice now

    By ten to twelve weeks, your baby may stay awake for longer and follow a face or slowly moving object more steadily. Milk is still their only food and sleep remains spread across the full day. During play, pause after you speak or move something so your baby has time to look, move or make a sound in reply.

    • Looking and tracking may become steadier
    • It may be easier to see what helps

    Try this together

    Move one object slowly across a short distance, then pause. Give your baby time to look, move or make a sound before changing direction.

    See all five topics
  6. W13–17

    Within Weeks 13–17

    Head control is getting steadier

    What you may notice now

    By 4 months, most babies hold their head steady without head support while you hold them. Hands, faces and sounds may keep their attention for longer. Some babies start sleeping for longer stretches, while others wake often. Milk feeds continue, and short spells of supervised floor play give your baby space to move and look around.

    • Head control may feel steadier
    • Hunger, tiredness and stimulation can overlap

    Try this together

    Offer supervised floor time in short spells. Change position or pause when your baby looks away, fusses or shows they have had enough.

    See all five topics
  7. W18–25

    Within Weeks 18–25

    Reaching, turning and rolling

    What you may notice now

    By 6 months, most babies roll from tummy to back and reach for a toy they want. You may hear more sounds during play too. Give your baby supervised floor space, with a safe toy within easy reach. Milk feeds continue; solid food begins around 6 months when steady sitting and head control, bringing food to the mouth and swallowing appear together.

    • Rolling changes what your baby can reach
    • Familiar comfort still helps

    Try this together

    Give your baby supervised floor space with an interesting object just within comfortable reach. Let their own movement decide what happens next.

    See all five topics
  8. W26–30

    Within Weeks 26–30

    Sitting practice and first tastes

    What you may notice now

    At around 6 months, your baby may sit with support, reach for toys and take turns making sounds. Solid food can begin when they can sit steadily with good head control, bring food to their mouth and swallow it. Start with small tastes and textures while continuing their usual milk feeds.

    • Sitting takes practice
    • Your baby may react when you leave

    Try this together

    Sit together on the floor with a toy within easy reach. Stay close and support your baby as needed while they practise balancing.

    See all five topics
  9. W31–35

    Within Weeks 31–35

    More movement at meals and on the floor

    What you may notice now

    Your baby may sit for longer, reach farther and make a wider range of sounds. At meals, they can practise soft lumps, finger foods and drinking from an open cup with help. Milk feeds continue as meals become more regular. Give them time to explore, and stay beside them while they eat or practise sitting.

    • Sitting may become more stable
    • Leaving the room may bring a reaction

    Try this together

    Use a brief, familiar goodbye and return warmly. Peek-a-boo can make leaving and returning feel playful without testing your baby.

    See all five topics
  10. W36–40

    Within Weeks 36–40

    Your baby may respond to their name

    What you may notice now

    By 9 months, most babies sit without support and look when their name is called. You may also see your baby search for a dropped object or enjoy peek-a-boo. They may react when you leave or someone unfamiliar approaches. Share any concerns with your health visitor or doctor; everyday play is enough without repeatedly asking your baby to show a skill.

    • Your baby may turn, search and copy sounds
    • Separation may bring a stronger reaction

    Try this together

    Say your baby’s name once from nearby, then pause. Notice what has caught their attention instead of repeating their name to test them.

    See all five topics
  11. W41–45

    Within Weeks 41–45

    Babies find different ways to move

    What you may notice now

    Your baby may crawl, shuffle, roll or use another way to reach what interests them. Some babies move straight on to pulling up without spending long on hands and knees. Gestures and searching games continue to develop alongside movement. Familiar goodbyes and warm returns can help when separation feels difficult.

    • There is more than one way to get around
    • Goodbyes may be difficult

    Try this together

    Create a clear floor route to a familiar object and let your baby choose how to cross it. Rolling or shuffling counts too.

    See all five topics
  12. W46–48

    Within Weeks 46–48

    Gestures become easier to recognise

    What you may notice now

    Your baby may wave, point or connect a familiar word with a person or object. At meals, they can try a wider range of tastes and textures while milk feeds continue. Nights may still vary. Name something your baby is interested in, pause and see whether they answer with a look, gesture or sound.

    • Gestures and familiar words connect
    • Your return helps with separation

    Try this together

    Name the object your baby is looking at, then pause. A look, gesture or sound can keep the exchange going.

    See all five topics
  13. W49–52

    Within Weeks 49–52

    Around the first birthday

    What you may notice now

    By 12 months, most babies pull up to stand and move while holding furniture. Walking independently is a separate skill, and many babies are still practising. You may also notice waves and responses to familiar words. After the birthday, meals can become more like yours. Keep offering safe places to move, and share any concerns with your health visitor or doctor.

    • Pulling up and cruising may appear
    • Your baby may still need help with goodbyes

    Try this together

    Offer sturdy, stable furniture for your baby to hold while you stay close. Let them pull up, move along it or sit down when they want to.

    See all five topics
  14. M13–14

    Within Months 13–14

    Meals, play and movement after one

    What you may notice now

    After the first birthday, your toddler may cruise along furniture or try a few steps alone. The CDC includes a few independent steps at 15 months. Gestures and familiar words help your toddler ask for things, and they may come back to you often while exploring. Share suitable family foods and keep time for rest in the day.

    • Movement and gestures work together
    • Exploring still includes coming back

    Try this together

    Serve a small portion of an unsalted family food and eat together. Let your toddler ask for more or show when they are finished.

    See all five topics
  15. M15–17

    Within Months 15–17

    First steps and familiar words

    What you may notice now

    By 15 months, most children take a few steps on their own. If your toddler is not doing this yet, speak with your health visitor or doctor. They can help you understand what support may be useful. Your toddler may also point to ask for something, copy familiar actions and keep checking that you are nearby as they explore.

    • A few steps by 15 months
    • Pointing and copying

    Try this together

    Offer safe floor space and stable furniture. Let your toddler practise in their own way without repeatedly placing them on their feet.

    See all five topics
  16. M18–20

    Within Months 18–20

    More confident movement, with you nearby

    What you may notice now

    By 18 months, most children walk independently, point to share an interest and follow a simple request without a gesture. They may explore farther and look back to check you are nearby. Frustration can be more frequent too. Help your toddler calm before explaining, and ask your health visitor or doctor about any missing skills or other concerns.

    • Walking is common by 18 months
    • Exploring often includes checking back

    Try this together

    Make a short everyday route safe for practice and stay nearby. Let your toddler choose when to move between steady supports.

    See all five topics
  17. M21–23

    Within Months 21–23

    Big feelings and growing independence

    What you may notice now

    Your toddler may use words, gestures and pretend play to show what they want. By 2 years, most children put at least two words together. Strong feelings can still be hard to explain, so stay nearby and help them calm before giving a longer explanation. Books, shared meals and everyday conversations offer chances to spend time together.

    • Two words may start to join together
    • Frustration can become louder

    Try this together

    Use a few words to name the feeling and stay nearby. Wait until your toddler is calmer before explaining the limit.

    See all five topics
  18. M24

    Within Month 24

    More words and pretend play at two

    What you may notice now

    By 2 years, most children put at least two words together. They also use more gestures, notice when someone is upset and look at your face in unfamiliar situations. Play might involve taking a lid off a container or putting toy food on a plate. If a skill is missing or you have concerns, speak with your health visitor or doctor.

    • Two-word phrases may emerge
    • Your toddler may look to you in a new situation

    Try this together

    Follow your toddler’s interest and add one or two words to what they point at or say. They do not need to repeat you.

    See all five topics

Two years of change, from birth to toddlerhood.

Chapter details

These ages are a guide, not a prediction or test.

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