6 to 12 months

Most babies start babbling, repeating sounds like "ba-ba" or "da-da", somewhere between about 5 and 10 months, often around 6 to 7 months. Babies learning very different languages start at similar ages.

Babies recognise the sound of their own name surprisingly early: lab studies have found this at about 4 to 5 months. By 8 months, more than 9 in 10 US parents say their baby responds when called, and nearly all by 9 months.

Babies understand some words well before they say any. Many understand common words like "no" and their parents' names by about 6 to 8 months, and nearly all understand at least 10 words by their first birthday.

Most babies start waving bye-bye somewhere around 9 to 11 months, and nearly all by 16 months. Babies in very different countries start at similar ages.

Most babies say their first word somewhere around their first birthday. About half say one by 10 months, and nearly all by 16 months.

Most babies start pointing at things somewhere between about 9 and 16 months, often around their first birthday. Babies in very different communities around the world start at similar ages.

Most babies sit on their own at around 6 months. Nearly all healthy children sit without support somewhere between about 4 and 9 months.

Most babies can stand holding on to furniture at around 7 to 8 months. Nearly all healthy children do so somewhere between about 5 and 11½ months.

Most babies who crawl on hands and knees start at around 8 months. Nearly all of them start between about 5 and 13½ months, and some healthy babies never crawl at all.

Most babies can pick up small things between just their thumb and first finger at around 9 months. A rougher version, using the other fingers too, comes earlier, at about 6½ months.

Most babies start walking while holding on to furniture or hands at around 9 to 10 months. Nearly all healthy children do so somewhere between about 6 and 14 months.

Most babies can stand on their own for a moment at around 10 to 11 months. Nearly all healthy children do so somewhere between about 7 and 17 months.

Most babies start looking for a toy they have just seen you hide at around 6 to 8 months. In a small study that followed babies closely, all of them started between about 6½ and 8½ months.

Babies start pulling a cloth or mat on purpose to bring a toy within reach at around 7 months. Small studies agree, but none has yet measured how late healthy babies can start.

Babies can remember a new action and copy it later. In a lab study, half of 9-month-olds copied actions they had seen the day before, and a newer study found signs of this from 6 months. Copying straight away, like clapping back, is common by about 8 months.

Babies start following where you look, to find the thing you're looking at, at around 10 months. Before that, many turn the same way as your head without following your eyes.

Many babies start showing caution or shyness with strangers at around 6 months, and this usually grows until about their first birthday. Children vary a lot.

Most babies start reaching out to share fun and affection, like cuddles, kisses or starting a game of peek-a-boo, at around 8½ months.

Most babies start feeding themselves with their fingers at around 8½ to 9 months. A large study in four countries and a smaller US study found similar ages.