Watching your baby grow is one of the most rewarding experiences for mothers. It’s exciting to see them master new skills they couldn’t do before. It’s also reassuring to see them progress as expected. For example, seeing your baby reach important 10-month-old developmental milestones on time gives you peace of mind.
So, what are these milestones? What skills should your baby have developed by this age? Discover these below.
Your 10-Month-Old Baby's Developmental Milestones
By 10 months old, your baby is likely doing much more than just eating, crying, and sleeping. This is a time of significant growth across various areas, including motor skills, speech, and emotional development. In this section, we have listed the things that you should expect.
Physical and Motor Skills
At 10 months old, your baby should be able to explore. They still can't walk, but they can crawl to go from one place to another. They can also travel by "cruising," or walking around while holding onto furniture. They can also stand up from a sitting position and squat or sit down from a standing position.
Since they still can't do real walking, your baby can't cover significant distances without getting tired. Thus, you still need to use a stroller to help them preserve energy when you need to move to a different room or go outside. The Momcozy Clickgo Lightweight Stroller is a great choice. As the name implies, it is lightweight, so you can carry it easily. Also, you can unfold it easily with one hand, which is convenient because your other hand is likely holding your baby.
Your baby's interest in exploring does not stop at traveling. They can also spot things, pick them up, and observe them. That said, you should make your home "baby proof" by ensuring they can't reach small objects. Your baby may try to eat them and choke on them.
Speech
At 10 months old, your baby will be very interested in conversations. Just like with walking, their skills are still not fully developed. So, instead of talking, they will still be babbling. They may be able to say simple words like mama, papa, or dada. Yes, that means it is at this stage that babies typically say their first word.
Even if they can't say actual words yet, your baby will be able to communicate through body language. They will wave or point when they want to tell you something. Furthermore, they will be able to respond to instructions. For example, they will stop what they are doing when you say "no," and they will come to you when you say "come," especially if you use visual cues.
Social Skills
Ten-month-old babies start mimicking adult behaviors and gestures. They will also want to socialize, and they will love being the center of attention. They will love playing games, singing songs with you, and making you laugh.
However, they will also start to develop autonomy at the same time. For example, they might refuse your help when undressing during bath time because they want to do it themselves. That is a sign that they are starting to understand that they are a separate individual. Still, they don't want to be away from you, and they will experience separation anxiety when they are.
These are the social developmental milestones that you should expect when your baby is 2 months away from being one year old.
Emotional Skills
Babies exhibit improvements in their emotional intelligence at this stage. They can express anger, discomfort, fear, and joy. They can also recognize when others express these emotions by watching their facial expressions. Also, they are attentive to your emotions and your reactions can influence theirs.
Affection also becomes a big factor at this age. Your baby will show it through cuddles, kisses, and smiles. When they are upset, they will seek affection. For example, they will raise their arms to signal to you that they want to be carried.
Cognitive Skills
Your baby's cognitive skills will also improve. As mentioned above, they will respond to simple requests, especially when you use a combination of gestures and familiar words.
Your baby's problem-solving skills will also start to develop. They can figure out simple things like how to get to an object they want to grab. Their brain will tell them to crawl or cruise to get there. If you are with your baby, their brain may tell them to point at the object instead.
10-Month-Old Milestones Checklist
Based on the information above, here is a checklist of what your baby should be able to do at 10 months old.
- Crawl
- Cruise
- Pull up to a standing position
- Sit back down from a standing position
- Recognize objects
- Point at objects that interest them
- Pick things up
- Say simple words
- Communicate through body language
- Express different emotions
- Show affection
- Respond to simple requests
- Do simple problem-solving
Your 10-Month-Old Baby's Growth
First of all, remember that physical growth is different for each baby. Some gain weight or become taller faster than others. Nevertheless, we can figure out the average through data and analysis. According to experts, 10-month-old baby boys usually weigh 20.2 pounds (9.16 kg), while girls weigh 18.7 pounds (8.48 kg). For the average length, it is 28.1 inches for girls and 28.9 inches for boys.
Your 10-Month-Old Baby's Feeding Milestones
In the fourth quarter of their first year, your baby should already be eating solid foods. At this stage, they will also be able to feed themselves and they should be able to drink using sippy or straw cups. Give them some finger foods as snacks and transition to using the said cups to support this development.
Your baby's feeding schedule will also look a lot like yours. You should give them three main meals and two snacks between those meals. Target about 750 to 900 calories each day. Half will come from breast milk, while the other half will come from solid foods.
For each meal, you should give your baby two to four ounces of breastmilk. That said, you should have a baby milk bottle warmer with you because that is going to be useful when traveling. The Momcozy Portable Baby Bottle Warmer is an excellent choice because it can keep not only the milk and bottle warm but also your baby's supplementary foods.
Your 10-Month-Old Baby's Sleeping Milestones
Ten-month-old babies need about 14 hours of sleep every day. That would be 11 - 12 hours at night and 2 - 3 hours of sleep during daytime naps. There should be 3 - 3.75 hours of awake time between the sleep periods. Please remember that this is just a rough estimate and not a strict rule that you should follow. Decide based on your baby's mood and energy levels.
Several products help you monitor how comfortable your baby is when they are sleeping. The Momcozy Newborn Sleepers are pajamas that let you know your baby's temperature. They are also soft, breathable, and skin-friendly. Meanwhile, the Momcozy 5.5'' Full HD Video Baby Monitor allows you to monitor your baby even if they sleep in a different room. Its clear night vision allows you to see clearly even at night.
Signs of a Development Problem of a 10-Month-Old Baby
As a mom, you want and have to make sure your baby is growing into a healthy kid. Recognizing problems and seeking help when needed is part of your responsibility. If your 10-month-old infant has not unlocked the milestones listed above, you should talk to your child's pediatrician.
To recap, you should seek medical advice if:
- Your baby is not crawling.
- Your baby can't stand up from a sitting position or raise them up to a sitting position.
- Your baby is not babbling or making any sound.
- Your baby is not eating solid foods.
- Your baby is not interested in holding objects and swapping them between their hands.
- Your baby is not interested in throwing small objects.
How Can I Help My 10-Month-Old Baby’s Development?
You need to be attentive and provide for what they need for their growth and development. For example, as mentioned above, you should give your baby finger foods to help them while they are learning to feed themselves.
Besides that, you should play with them, which gives plenty of learning opportunities. They can pick up and observe things, socialize, and express emotions. When they want to reach an object, help them cruise. They will be able to "walk" while holding your hand.
Buying products like safe-for-kid toys, straw cups, bottle warmers, and comfortable pajamas also helps.
FAQs About Your 10-Month-Old Infant Milestones
Here are the frequently asked questions regarding a baby's growth.
Is It Normal for a 10-Month-Old to Not Be Crawling?
No. Babies at this stage should already be cruising and know how to stand up by themselves. Crawling is an ability that comes before that. So, if your baby is 10 months old and is not crawling, we recommend talking to a doctor.
Should a 10-Month-Old Be Babbling?
Yes, a 10-month-old baby should be babbling. As we mentioned in the speech developmental milestones section, they love engaging in conversations. However, they still can't say words, so they just babble instead.
What Noises Should a 10-Month-Old Make?
Your baby will babble, babble, and babble. They will also be able to say their first word. On top of that, they can make other sounds, like grunting and squealing. Also, they will sing with you, even if they don't know the words.
Conclusion
Many developments occur in the fourth quarter of your baby's first year. At ten months, they will learn to crawl, cruise, and pick and throw objects. They will also understand socialization more and will converse with you through babbling and showing affection. They will also understand affection more and will show it through hugs and kisses.
Cherish these moments as your 10-month-old explores the world around them and strengthens their connection with you.
While babies grow at different paces, if they don't unlock the key milestones by 10 months, it would be best to consult a doctor.
