10 Month Baby Milestones: Cruising, Babbling, and Getting Into Everything

10 Month Baby Milestones: Cruising, Babbling, and Getting Into Everything

Your baby has discovered that cabinets open, drawers pull out, and everything—EVERYTHING—goes in the mouth. Welcome to month 10.

Ten months is when babies shift from "cute little lump" to "tiny person with opinions and mobility." They're pulling up, cruising, possibly saying first words, and definitely keeping you on your toes 24/7.

Motor Skills: On the Move

What Most 10-Month-Olds Can Do:

• Pulling to stand on furniture, people, pets, anything grabbable
• Cruising (walking while holding onto furniture)
• Sitting independently with good balance
• Crawling efficiently (if crawling—some scoot or skip this)
• Pincer grasp picking up small objects with thumb and finger
• Banging toys together (loudly, repeatedly)

What Some 10-Month-Olds Are Doing:

• Standing alone briefly (without holding anything)
• Taking first steps (less common—12 months is average for walking)
• Climbing stairs (terrifying but normal)
• Opening cabinets and drawers

Communication: First Words Emerging

Language Development:

• Babbling with variety: "ba-ba," "da-da," "ma-ma" and more
• First words may appear: Typically "mama," "dada," "no," "ball"
• Understands simple words: "No," "bye-bye," their name, familiar objects
• Responds to questions: "Where's the ball?" (looks for it)
• Follows simple instructions: "Wave bye-bye" (sometimes)

Non-Verbal Communication:

• Pointing at things they want or find interesting
• Waving hello and goodbye
• Shaking head "no" (often before understanding the word)
• Clapping when excited or copying you
• Reaching to be picked up

Cognitive Development: Little Scientist

Problem-Solving Skills:

• Object permanence: Knows things exist when hidden, searches for them
• Cause and effect: Drops things to watch them fall (on purpose, repeatedly)
• Tool use: May use one object to get another
• Memory: Remembers where favorite toys are hidden

Play Skills:

• Putting objects in containers and dumping them out
• Stacking (and knocking down) blocks
• Simple shape sorters (with help)
• Playing peek-a-boo independently
• Imitating actions (phone to ear, brush to hair)

Social & Emotional: Opinions Emerge

Attachment Behaviors:

• Separation anxiety may still be strong
• Stranger wariness continuing
• Clear preferences for certain people, toys, activities
• Sharing emotions: Looks to you to share excitement

Personality Traits Showing:

• Temperament becoming clearer (cautious vs. bold, calm vs. intense)
• Sense of humor emerging (laughs at funny faces, surprising sounds)
• Testing boundaries (doing something, watching your reaction)
• Frustration when things don't work (completely normal)

Sleep at 10 Months

Common Sleep Disruptions:

• Developmental milestones: Brain practicing new skills at night
• Separation anxiety: Waking and wanting you
• Standing in crib: Pulling up but can't get back down
• Teething: More teeth coming in

Feeding at 10 Months

What's Normal:

• 3 meals of solid food plus snacks
• Breast milk or formula still primary nutrition (20-30 oz/day)
• Finger foods and self-feeding increasing
• Cup practice (sippy or open cup)
• More textures tolerated (mashed, soft chunks, finger foods)

Foods to Offer:

• Soft fruits and vegetables in small pieces
• Proteins: soft meat, eggs, beans, tofu
• Whole grains: pasta, rice, bread
• Dairy: yogurt, cheese
• Practice foods: puffs, teething crackers

When to Talk to Your Pediatrician

Most variation is normal, but mention if your baby:

• Doesn't bear weight on legs when held standing
• Doesn't sit independently
• Doesn't babble at all
• Doesn't respond to their name
• Doesn't look where you point
• Lost skills they previously had
• Shows no emotion or response to you

The Bottom Line