10 Month Old Baby Development and Milestones

By Samrat Saxena|7 - 8 mins read| April 01, 2024

Your 10 month old baby is developing and learning every single day. They are getting curious, active, and expressive. In this way, they are acquiring new experiences and skills which will enable them to discover the world and communicate with you. This article covers some of the physical, social, emotional and cognitive milestones that a 10-month-old baby is expected to master.

Here are some of the growth and developmental milestones your 10-month-old may reach:

10 Month Old Baby Physical Development Milestones

The physical development of your baby is proceeding at rocket speed. They are getting more mobile and sophisticated. They are also developing their gross-motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Here are some of the physical milestones that you may notice in your 10-month-old baby.

Standing Strong

  • Balance being sustained over longer periods, few may even stand for a short time without support. They are able to balance alone for a few seconds. They can also attempt to squat and sit back down.
  • You can also help your baby get on their feet by placing them on a soft mat or blanket on the floor and putting some toys or books around them. You can also sit with them on the floor and chat or play with them.

Walking with assistance

  • Holding your hand or furniture, they walk confidently, getting ready for independent steps soon. They can move with your help by grabbing your hands or a walker. They may also attempt to release themselves and walk some steps themselves.
  • You can aid your baby in developing walking skills by supporting them under their armpits and raising them up and down gradually. You can also compliment them and applaud when they walk.

Stair Climbing Adventures

  • With assistance, they might try to ascend stairs, demonstrating their increasing motor abilities. You can help them go upstairs or downstairs by holding your hand or the railing. They may also attempt to climb the stairs in either direction or to scoot down.
  • You can help to develop your baby’s stair-climbing ability by allowing them to be in a safe environment where they may engage in supervised practice. You can also use a baby gate to ensure they do not access the stairs whenever you are away from them.

Fine motor finesse

  • Picking up small objects with their pincer grasp improves, allowing them to explore intricate details. They can use their thumbs and fingers to pick up things like cereal, crackers, or cheerios. They can also manipulate objects with more precision and dexterity.
  • You can stimulate your baby’s hand coordination by providing them with a variety of small and safe objects to pick up. You can also introduce them to some finger foods that they can feed themselves.

10 Month Old Baby Social and Emotional Development Milestones

Your baby’s social and emotional development is also progressing. They are becoming more expressive and interactive. They are also developing a sense of self and others. Here are some of the social and emotional milestones that you may observe in your 10-month-old baby:

Pretend Play Expands

  • . Imaginative play develops, utilizing objects and roles they see in their environment. They can also make people believe they are feeding a doll, using a phone, or driving a car. They, too, can derive props from objects that are around them for their make-believe games.
  • Your baby’s creativity and imagination can be sparked if you supply him or her with a wide range of safe, colorful, and intriguing toys and objects. You can also participate in their pretend play in order to act out different scenarios.

Emotional Rollercoaster

  • A larger variety of emotions, such as surprise, anger, and frustration, are displayed, which expresses their growing comprehension of the world. They can express emotions by means of facial expressions and vocalizations. They may grin when they are happy, grimace when they dislike, and pout when they are mad.
  • Your baby’s emotional expression can be supported by mirroring their emotions and validating their feelings. You can also console them when they are sad and congratulate them when they are happy. You can also calm them down through cuddling, rocking, or singing to them.

Stranger Wariness Might Lessen

  • However, some degree of caution towards the unknown faces may persist, but they begin to show more readiness in interacting with new individuals. They can be shy, anxious, or afraid when they are with unfamiliar people or in unfamiliar places. They may also reject being held or caressed by strangers.
  • Stranger anxiety in babies can be addressed by exposing them to new situations and people in a slow and calm way. You can also remain with them and tell them that everything is okay and that they are loved.

10 Month Old Baby Cognitive Development Milestones

Your baby’s learning capacity is also growing. They are getting more conscious and curious. They are also getting refined in their memory and analytic skills. Here are some of the cognitive milestones that you can expect from your 10-month-old baby:

First words emerge

  • “Mama,” “Dada,” and other simple words become part of their vocabulary, marking a significant communication milestone. They can say words that have meaning to them, such as the names of their parents, siblings, or pets. They can also say words that are related to their needs, such as “milk,” “water,” or “up.
  • You can encourage your baby’s language development by talking to them often and listening to their responses. You can also repeat their words and add new ones. You can also read books and sing songs together.

Following Two-Step Instructions

  • Knowing simple commands such as “come” and “fetch” enables interactive games and learning. As long as you provide them with straightforward and easy-to-understand commands, they will obey your instructions. They can all nod and shake their heads.
  • A consistent tone of voice helps your baby understand the meaning of the words and gestures. When they obey, you can also use positive reinforcement. Additionally, you could also play games such as Simon Says, Red Light, and Green Light.

Object Permanence Mastery

Hidden objects are easily found, showing their strong understanding of object permanence. They can come to know that an object is still present, even if they cannot see it. They will seek a toy that you hide underneath a blanket or behind a pillow. They may also drop an object and see how it falls.

You can also stimulate the memory and problem-solving skills of your baby by playing games such as peek-a-boo, hide-and-seek, or find-the-toy. You may also need to use pots, cups, or boxes to cover and reveal objects.

Tips and advice for your 10 Month Old Baby

Parents are very important in the growth of a baby. A safe, stimulating, and loving environment is what your baby needs to grow and learn. You can also have fun with them, talk to them, and read with them every day. These basic practices can really energize your baby’s growth and happiness. Here are some tips and advice on how to support your 10-month-old baby’s development.

Your baby is inquisitive and wants to discover the world. You can also stimulate their curiosity by providing many toys and objects that are safe, colorful, and fun. You may also rotate toys and objects every few days so that they do not become too familiar.

Your baby is also having an adventurous and mobile life. Their mobility can be supported by providing enough room and time for them to move. You can also childproof your house and eliminate any possible hazards or risks.

Your baby loves to play with you and with others. You can improve their social interaction and playtime by playing games, reading books, or singing with them. You can also commend them and applaud them when they do well.

Your baby is also getting more vocal and receptive. Their language development can be supported if you converse with them frequently and listen to their answers. In addition, you may echo their noises and create new ones. You can also listen to books and sing songs.

Your baby is also developing a sense of who they are compared to others. They can be helped to develop their emotions by reflecting on and confirming their feelings. You may also support them when they are down and commend them when they are happy. You can also soothe them by cuddling, rocking, or singing to them.

Discover what’s in store for your 11-month-old with our insights on 11 Month Old Baby development milestone.


TheParentZ provides Parenting Tips & Advice to parents.

Written by Samrat Saxena

Last Updated: Mon Apr 01 2024

This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the above blog/article text are the personal views of the author, and not necessarily reflect the views of The ParentZ. Any omission or errors are the author's and we do not assume any liability or responsibility for them.

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