Infant Milestones: the first year

The following information is to be used as a guide to and at the discretion of the end-user and should not replace a doctor’s opinion.

Milestones: 1-3 months

Milestones for months 1 to 3 include:

• Ability to raise head and chest when laying on stomach
• Stretches arms out and kicks when laying on back
• Smiles purposefully
• Enjoys playing with other people
• Can follow a moving object with eyes
• Ability to open and shut hands and bring hands to mouth
• Ability to grasp and shake a toy
• Communication includes facial expressions and body movement, coo’s and babbles
• Begins to imitate some sounds and expressions
• Begins to recognize toys and people from a distance
• Hand-eye coordination improving

Milestones: 4-7 months

Milestones for months 4 to 7 include:

• Uses hands and mouth to explore
• Can find a partially hidden object
• Attempts to get objects that are out of their reach
• Can roll from back to tummy and tummy to back
• Can sit by self for a short time, with or without hands and sit in a highchair
• Ability to transfer toys between hands, point and reach for objects
• Communication includes using more variety of sounds and pitches; uses sound to reflect moods, babbles to get attention and can imitate sounds better
• Play becomes more intentional

Milestones: 8-12 months

Milestones for months 8 to 12 include:

• Can move to a sitting position and crawling position on his/her own
• Crawling
• Sitting independently
• Pull up, stand and walk while holding onto furniture; may even take a few steps independently
• Grasp objects with thumb and first finger; can finger feed themselves
• Place toys into containers and take them out; find toys that are hidden
• Communication includes saying mama and dada, oh-oh, shaking head yes or no and imitating other sounds; may even say their first word
• Uncomfortable around strangers and cries when mom or dad leaves

• Author
• Recent Posts

Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care

Bonitas has been in the medical aid industry for over 40 years and has a solid understanding of the private healthcare industry in South Africa. Our team is always looking at innovative ways to ensure our members get affordable, quality healthcare … throughout their life stages. As the Medical Aid for South Africa, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all, so our wide range of plans – that are simple and easy to understand – ensure that you and your family will find a snug fit for your particular needs.

For 2025 we have a renewed Female Health Programme:In collaboration with CareWorks, it’s accessible to all female members aged 18 and above, with an emphasis on preventative care and early detection of female-specific health issues. In addition, we have an enhanced Maternity Programme to support expecting mothers. This includes early identification of and weekly engagement for high-risk pregnancies, post-childbirth care and associated mental health follow-up calls for new mums, given the prevalence of pre and postnatal depression. Also, milestone reminders for children under 3 and cover for antenatal vitamins through savings, day-to-day benefits or the Benefit Booster


Bonitas Medical Fund
0860 002 108
View Website: www.bonitas.co.za

Latest posts by Bonitas – innovation, life stages and quality care (see all)

• Working and Pregnancy – When to Stop and How Much Is Enough - August 8, 2025
• Staying healthy during your pregnancy - August 1, 2025
• Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD) and to deal with it - July 21, 2025