What to Expect at 7 Months: 35 Milestones That Matter
- kaylieestrada2405
- Jul 8
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 22
Discover what skills your 7-month old needs to build this month.
Your 7 month old is changing fast; they are on move, communicating and growing their personality. This is the month where curiosity meets action, and every noise, reach, or protest is part of their journey. From mimicking to exploring new movements, your baby is becoming more expressive and more mobile. With over 35 new milestones across six key developmental areas, your baby is growing quicker than ever.
Let’s learn what to expect at 7 months old.
Is your baby up to the challenge?
Babies are built for this rapid acquisition of skills in a short amount of time. In fact, this incredible power is unleashed while they are still in your belly. "To arrive at the more than 100 billion neurons that are the normal complement of a newborn baby, the brain must grow at the rate of about 250,000 nerve cells per minute, on average, throughout the course of pregnancy." [1] "From birth to age two your child will form 700 new connections per second! As these connections build your child will develop skills like holding a toy, crawling, taking a first step and saying their first words." [2]
This month is all about motion and expression. Your baby isn’t just reacting; they’re exploring, choosing, and experimenting.
Why this month matters?
At 7 months, your baby is no longer just observing, they’re actively experimenting with how their body, voice, and emotions interact with the world around them. This month, you’ll see the beginning of intentional action, as your baby begins testing, practicing new skills, and engaging more directly. According to researchers, this period marks a crucial leap in brain-body coordination and social awareness which sets the foundation for problem solving, mobility, and early language development. [1][2]
These changes might seem small at first, but they'll be sure to make a big impact.
What are this month's milestones?
When it comes to gross motor skills, your baby is gaining confidence and control. They should now able to hold their head steady through full ranges of motion, which is an important skill for movement and visual tracking. You may see them pushing onto their hands and knees from a flat position, or supporting their body weight with their forearms while on all fours. Some babies begin scooting backward while on their stomach, and some start to pull themselves into a standing position with some support.
As for fine motor skills, Your baby's actions are becoming more intentional and exploratory. Your baby may begin pointing at things with an open hand and reaching for nearby objects. They'll love to make noise. They might grab noisy toys, bang objects on things, or drop things in order to get a reaction. They'll still grab their feet and put their toes in their mouth, as well as other things for sensory inspection.
In terms of cognitive development, your baby is beginning to make many mental connections. They may mimic head nods or shakes, and they’ll start reacting to their own name. Games like peekaboo become more fun now that they’re able to look for partially hidden objects. These early signs of imitation and object recognition show that their memory and understanding of the world are growing quickly.
Social-emotional milestones this month bring a range of new expressions. You may notice the early signs of separation anxiety, even when you step away just for a moment. Your baby may protest, reach for you, or repeat a sound or motion to keep your attention. They’ll also open their mouth when they're near food and drinks, spit out food when they’re done or dislike what they're eating, laugh when they’re happy, and turn their head away to hide when scared. Their emotions are getting bigger, and much more noticeable.
When it comes to sensory processing, your baby will really love sounds an textures. They’ll respond to different voices and can now distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar ones. They’ll turn toward voices, bang on objects to make noise, and show interest in where sounds are coming from. Food will be all about sensory exploration. You should expect lots of smashing, squeezing, and throwing.
Communication skills are also developing fast. You might hear long strings of babbling as your baby experiments with new sounds. They might make “raspberries” with their tongue, or make other playful noises to get your attention. These vocal experiments help lay the foundation for real words, no matter what they might sound like now.
Work Cited:
“The Development and Shaping of the Brain.” Discovering the Brain,
“Understanding why your child’s brain is so amazing!” Parenting. Give it Time, Llywodraeth Cymru Welsh Government,
Gopnik, A., Meltzoff, A. N., & Kuhl, P. K. The Scientist in the Crib: What Early Learning Tells Us About the Mind.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Developmental Milestones
How many of this month's milestones has your baby mastered?
Tracking your baby’s 7-month milestones helps you stay tuned into their progress. From exploring with making silly sounds, to refining their movements, each new skill is just as important as the last. With a Basic Membership for just $2 per month, you can track all 812 milestones your child is expected to reach by age 4. Stay on top of your baby’s progress and celebrate every exciting new skill along the way!
Create a free account with Fledglings' Flight and get access to 4820 screen-free, play-based exercises. That is 100-200 exercises each month that you can start doing with your baby from the day that they are born to help them to develop into the best version of themselves. In addition, your free account gives you access to 1200+ articles on child development to keep you informed while you help to navigate your child's developmental journey.
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