10-12 Month Milestones
GROSS MOTOR MILESTONES
Key Developmental Milestones
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General Movements: purposeful movements
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Transfers: able to pull to stand on furniture or when hands are held | becomes more proficient at transitional movements (Eg. sit ⇋ crawl and high kneeling)
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Crawling: mature crawling (quick and proficient) | may attempt to crawl up stairs
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Sitting: able to sit independently | maintains balance when reaching outside base of support and throwing objects
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Walking: cruises along furniture | walking with hands held | stand independently for a moment | may take several independent steps | wide lower limb base of support | appears unsteady | upper limbs near shoulder level in high guard position
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Throwing: rolls ball | drops ball
The following links and videos explain and demonstrate expected gross motor milestones of infants at
10-12 months.
Further Diagnostic Testing / Referral
Proceed to examine the ‘tone’ and ‘reflexes and reactions’ component of the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) if the infant:
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Does not partake in any independent mobility (Eg. commando crawling, crawling, bottom shuffling)
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Poor head control in upright position
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Sits with weight to one side or requires use of hands to maintain sitting position
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Does not pull to stand independently
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Only uses arms to pull to stand
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Does not stand holding onto furniture
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Has difficulty standing due to stiff legs or pointed toes
Video 26-30. Gross Motor Milestones (Larsen & Stensaas, 2019c)
FINE MOTOR MILESTONES
Key Developmental Milestones
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Uses fine pincer grasp to pick up small objects with distal thumb and index finger
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Transfers objects from one hand to the other
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Release objects into a container with a large opening
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Uses hands to feed self and hold bottle
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Grasps spoon in palm, with poor aim of food to mouth
Video 31-32. Fine Motor Milestones
(Larsen & Stensaas, 2019c)
Further Diagnostic Testing / Referral
Refer to a Paediatrician and Occupational Therapist if the infant:
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Does not pick up small items using index finger and thumb
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Has asymmetric fine motor skills
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Demonstrates a distinct hand preference
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Does not finger feed self or hold own bottle
The following links and videos explain and demonstrate expected fine motor milestones of infants at
10-12 months.
COGNITIVE MILESTONES
Key Developmental Milestones
Further Diagnostic Testing / Referral
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Eyes smoothly track and follow objects near and far
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Alert to objects in peripheral vision
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Moves obstacles to reach desired object / toy
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Shows interest in picture books
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Drops toys to be received, handed back and then dropped again, and looks in direction of dropped toy
Refer to a Paediatrician if the infant:
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Does not visually track moving objects
Video 33. Cognitive Skills
(Larsen & Stensaas, 2019c)
COMMUNICATION MILESTONES
Key Developmental Milestones
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Meaningfully uses a one or two words (Eg. mama or dada)
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Vocalises loudly using vowels and consonants that sound like speech during social two-way communication
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Responds to simple instructions and gestures (Eg. come here or waves goodbye)
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Shows recognition of commonly used words (Eg. bye bye)
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Turns head in response to own name, family names and familiar objects
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Imitates speech sounds
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Makes hand gestures to communicate wants and needs (Eg. points to something they want)
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Shouts to attract attention
Further Diagnostic Testing / Referral
Refer to a Paediatrician and Speech Pathologist if the infant:
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Has not babbled phases that sound like talking
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Shows no recognition of familiar words (Eg. mama, dada and doggy)
Refer for a hearing test if the infant:
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Unresponsive to sounds, voices or name
Video 34. Communication Skills
(Larsen & Stensaas, 2019c)
SOCIAL / EMOTIONAL MILESTONES
Key Developmental Milestones
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Interested in interacting with others (Eg. peek a boo)
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Maintains eye contact during playful interactions
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Imitates actions and sounds during simple play (Eg. hand clapping)
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Points to objects / toys of interest
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Smiles at self in mirror
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Shows definite anxiety or wariness at appearance of strangers
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Actively seeks to be next to parent or principle caregiver
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Shows signs of stress or anxiety when the parent leaves
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Actively explores and plays when parent present, returning occasionally for reassurance and interaction
Further Diagnostic Testing / Referral
Refer to a Paediatrician if the infant:
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Does not respond to familiar faces / carers, or notice unfamiliar faces
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Does not play early turn taking games (Eg. peekaboo or rolling a ball)
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Does not share enjoyment with others using eye contact or facial expression
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Does not explore environment when placed on floor
The following links and video explain and demonstrate expected social / emotional milestones of infants at 10-12 months.
Video 35. Social / Emotional Skills
(Larsen & Stensaas, 2019c)
REFLEXES
Key Developmental Milestones
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Plantar Grasp Reflex: when the ball of an infant’s foot is touched, the infant’s toes may flex (more common) or extend. An abnormality of the plantar grasp reflex is most diagnostic if there is reproducible abnormality
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Parachute Reflex: when the infant is suspended in a prone position and turned face down toward the mat, the infant’s arms and wrists will extend as if the infant is trying to catch themselves. Asymmetry of the reflex is abnormal and may indicate paresis in the non-extended extremity
The following videos explain and demonstrate expected reflexes of infants at 10-12 months.
Video 36. Reflexes
(Larsen & Stensaas, 2019c)
The above information has been adapted from ACECQA (2015); Larsen & Stensaas (2019c); and Pathways (2019d).