Ten Month Old Milestones: What to Expect

At ten months, your baby is on the brink of toddlerhood, and you can see it in everything they do. They're likely cruising around furniture, understanding more of what you say every day, and developing a personality that's uniquely their own. This is an age of exploration, experimentation, and growing independence—balanced by a deep need for your love and security.

Physical Development at Ten Months AAP

Your baby's body is becoming increasingly capable, supporting their relentless drive to explore.

Cruising is often confident: Most ten-month-olds are skilled at pulling up and cruising along furniture. They can often move from one piece of furniture to another if they're close enough, and some babies are beginning to let go briefly. The transition from cruising to walking usually takes weeks to months of practice.

Standing practice intensifies: Your baby may spend much of their day pulling up, standing, and sitting back down. Some ten-month-olds can stand independently for a few seconds before losing balance. This constant practice is building the strength and balance needed for walking.

Crawling is fast and purposeful: If your baby crawls, they're probably quite speedy now and can navigate obstacles, change direction, and get where they want to go quickly. Some babies prefer to cruise or scoot rather than crawl, and that's normal too.

Pincer grasp is refining: Your baby can likely pick up small objects between their thumb and forefinger with precision. This skill allows for more sophisticated manipulation of toys and self-feeding of small pieces of food. Watch for choking hazards, as your baby will want to pick up and taste everything!

Climbing may begin: Some ten-month-olds start attempting to climb—onto low furniture, up stairs, or out of things like high chairs and strollers. Close supervision is essential, as judgment and spatial awareness are still developing.

Cognitive Development CDC

Your baby is showing sophisticated thinking in their play and problem-solving.

Understanding of objects deepens: Your baby knows that objects exist even when hidden and can find toys under blankets or in simple hiding spots. They understand that objects have specific functions—phones are for talking, cups are for drinking, brushes are for hair.

Imitation becomes more complex: Your baby watches and copies more sophisticated actions—pretending to talk on the phone, stirring a pot, brushing hair. This imitation shows that they're observing, remembering, and reproducing actions—a complex cognitive process.

Problem-solving is visible: You'll see your baby figure out how to get around obstacles, how to open containers, and how to make toys work. They experiment with different approaches when something doesn't work the first time.

Purposeful exploration: Your baby's play is more deliberate now. They might examine an object carefully, try different things with it, and then move on to something else. This systematic exploration is how babies learn about the world.

Language and Communication AAP

Communication becomes increasingly sophisticated in the lead-up to first words.

First words may emerge: Many babies say their first recognizable words around 10-12 months. "Mama," "dada," "ball," "bye-bye," and "uh-oh" are common first words. However, some babies don't say their first words until 15-18 months, and this is still within the normal range.

Understanding far exceeds speech: Your baby likely understands many more words than they can say. They may follow simple instructions like "give it to Mommy" or "where's your nose?" and understand names of common objects, people, and pets.

Babbling sounds increasingly like speech: Your baby's babbling now has the complex rhythms and intonations of your language. Even without real words, their "sentences" have the cadence of conversation.

Gestures are meaningful communication: Your baby uses gestures intentionally—pointing at things they want or find interesting, waving bye-bye, shaking their head "no," reaching up to be held. These gestures are language and should be responded to as such.

Social and Emotional Development CDC

Ten-month-olds are social beings with complex emotional lives.

Separation anxiety may ease slightly: While still present, separation anxiety often becomes somewhat less intense around ten months as babies develop more trust that caregivers return. However, it varies widely—some babies are still very distressed by separations.

Personality shines through: By ten months, your baby's unique personality is clearly visible. You know their preferences, their temperament, what makes them laugh, and what frustrates them. This individuality is beautiful and should be celebrated.

Testing limits begins: Your ten-month-old may start testing boundaries—reaching for something while watching your reaction, or repeating an action after you've said no. This isn't defiance; it's learning about cause and effect and how social interactions work.

Affection is demonstrable: Your baby may hug, kiss, or pat people they love. They might show a favorite stuffed animal or blanket special affection. These demonstrations of love are heartwarming signs of emotional development.

Play with others is appealing: While parallel play (playing near but not with other children) is still the norm, your baby may show more interest in other babies and children. They might imitate other children's actions or want to be near them.

Feeding and Nutrition at Ten Months AAP

Your baby is becoming a capable self-feeder with expanding food preferences.

Self-feeding skills are growing: Your baby can likely feed themselves finger foods competently and may be learning to use a spoon. Allow messy self-feeding—it builds independence, fine motor skills, and a healthy relationship with food.

Menu variety should expand: By ten months, your baby can eat most family foods in appropriate textures. Continue introducing new foods and flavors. Offer a variety of proteins, grains, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats at each meal.

Milk needs continue: Breast milk or formula remains an important part of your baby's diet, typically 20-24 ounces per day. Solid foods are becoming a larger portion of nutrition, but milk is still essential.

Picky eating may appear: Some ten-month-olds who previously ate everything start refusing certain foods. This is normal and usually temporary. Continue offering rejected foods without pressure—it can take many exposures before a food is accepted.

Sleep at Ten Months NSF

Sleep patterns are usually fairly stable at this age, though changes happen.

Night sleep is typically long: Most ten-month-olds sleep 10-12 hours at night. Many are sleeping through the night without feeds, though some still have one early morning feed.

Two naps continue: Most babies this age take two naps—a morning nap and an afternoon nap—totaling about 2.5-3 hours. Nap times and durations are often predictable.

Developmental disruptions happen: As babies work on walking, sleep can be disrupted. Some babies practice standing in the crib or are too stimulated by new skills to settle easily. This phase is temporary.

Warning Signs to Discuss with Your Pediatrician CDC

Talk to your doctor if your baby:

• Doesn't bear weight on legs when supported
• Doesn't sit with help
• Doesn't babble
• Doesn't respond to their name
• Doesn't recognize familiar people
• Doesn't look where you point
• Doesn't gesture (wave, point, reach)
• Has lost skills they once had

Raising concerns is never wrong—early evaluation and intervention, if needed, make a difference.

How to Support Your Ten-Month-Old's Development

Follow their lead in play: Watch what your baby is interested in and expand on it. If they're fascinated by putting things into containers, provide lots of opportunities for that activity.

Name everything: Constant narration builds vocabulary. Name objects, describe actions, point out interesting things in your environment.

Encourage safe exploration: Create "yes" spaces where your baby can explore freely. This builds confidence and supports learning.

Respond to communication attempts: Whether your baby uses words, gestures, or sounds, respond as if they're communicating meaningfully—because they are.

Read together: Board books with simple pictures and words support language development and create beautiful bonding moments.

The Bottom Line

Ten months is a dynamic time when your baby is on the cusp of walking, talking, and becoming a toddler. Their personality is shining through, their communication is becoming more sophisticated, and their exploration is relentless. Continue providing a safe, stimulating environment with plenty of responsive interaction.

Clara is here to answer questions about your ten-month-old's development!