Your baby drops a spoon, watches it fall and looks at you, then does it again. And again. It may test your patience, but it is a little experiment in how the world works. Cognitive milestones show how your baby learns to think, remember and solve problems. Here is what to expect in the first year and simple ways to encourage curiosity.
Quick answer: cognitive milestones from 0 to 12 months
- 0 to 3 months: watching faces, following moving objects, recognising familiar people.
- 4 to 6 months: reaching for toys, exploring with the mouth, noticing cause and effect.
- 7 to 9 months: object permanence: looking for hidden toys.
- 10 to 12 months: copying actions, using objects correctly, simple problem solving.
What to expect by age
- By 2 months: pays attention to faces and watches you as you move.
- By 4 months: looks at hands with interest, reacts to toys and responds to affection.
- By 6 months: brings things to the mouth, reaches for wanted toys, closes lips to show they do not want more food.
- By 9 months: looks for objects dropped out of sight, bangs two things together.
- By 12 months: puts things in a container, looks for things they see you hide, copies gestures.
Key concepts
- Cause and effect: shaking a rattle makes a sound.
- Object permanence: things still exist when hidden, which is also why peekaboo is so fun.
- Imitation: learning by copying. See learning by copying.
- Problem solving: working out how to reach a toy or open a box.
Play ideas to support thinking
- Peekaboo and hiding toys under a cloth.
- Cause-and-effect toys like rattles, push buttons and pop-ups.
- Stacking cups and nesting boxes.
- Fill and empty games with containers.
- Reading together and naming pictures. See reading to your baby.
- Talk about what you are doing throughout the day.
More ideas: age-appropriate play from 0 to 12 months and baby developmental milestones.
When to talk to your doctor
- little interest in faces or toys by 3 to 4 months
- no reaching for or exploring toys by 6 months
- not looking for hidden objects or not copying simple actions by 12 months
- losing skills your baby had
Frequently asked questions
Do educational toys make babies smarter?
No special toys are needed. Everyday objects and interaction with you are what matter.
Why does my baby keep dropping things?
They are learning about cause and effect, and about you coming back.
Are screens useful for learning?
Babies learn far better from real-world play and people. Avoid screens other than video calls before 18 months.
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Sources
- CDC: Learn the Signs. Act Early. Milestone checklists
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: Cognitive Development in the First Year
- Harvard Center on the Developing Child: Brain architecture
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you have concerns about your baby’s development, talk to your doctor or health visitor.