Is My Baby Normal? (And Other Things We All Google at 2am)

Spoiler: probably yes.

Let’s just be honest—normal baby development is a minefield. One minute your baby is a motionless burrito and the next, they’re rolling across the floor like an Olympic gymnast with no sense of self-preservation. And in between? A lot of weird stuff.

Like:
🌀 Crawling backwards only
🧦 Trying to eat their own socks
🚫 Crying every time you sneeze
💩 Laughing during nappy explosions

Normal?
Google says yes.
But also: “Maybe a sign of something.”
So back to Google we go, 27 tabs deep at 2:11am.

Normal Baby Development

Let’s all take a breath. Baby development is WILD—but it’s mostly on track.

Every baby develops at their own pace, and trust us, we’ve seen the full spectrum. At Adventure Babies, we have babies who sit up like mini yogis at 5 months… and others who are still happily rolling around at 11 months with zero interest in crawling. One baby this week got so excited by the sensory tray he flapped like a pigeon and managed to reverse himself into the storybook basket. If there was a medal for creative mobility—we’d have handed it over.

And the thing is? They’re all doing brilliantly.

What’s actually “normal” baby development?

There is a rough roadmap. Here are a few general guidelines for ages 0-2 (deep breath, no panic):

  • 0–6 months: Smiles, coos, grasps, tracks objects, loves faces (especially yours)

  • 6–12 months: Sits, rolls, possibly crawls, pulls to stand, babbles, responds to name

  • 12–18 months: Cruises, walks (maybe), starts using real words, mimics actions

  • 18–24 months: Runs, climbs, says simple phrases, develops opinions (lots)

But please hear this loud and clear: If your baby doesn’t tick these boxes in order or on schedule, it doesn’t mean they’re “behind.” It usually means they’re busy working on something else.

You might have a babbler before a crawler. A climber before a walker. A baby who’s laser-focused on chewing board books and ignoring all else. It’s all normal.

Normal Baby Development

What if you are worried?

If your gut says something feels off, always speak to your health visitor or GP. You know your baby best.

Here’s a helpful link with official NHS guidance on baby development milestones (no doom-scrolling required).

The truth? Comparison is the thief of joy (and sleep).

It’s tough not to compare—especially when everyone on Instagram has a baby reading flashcards in a hand-knitted Scandi onesie. But those babies also throw food, cry in car seats, and headbutt their parents during nappy changes. Just like yours. They’re just not on Stories.

At Adventure Babies, our classes are a constant reminder that development looks different on every baby, every week. One baby is mesmerised by our fibre optic lights, another only wants to crawl through the tunnel, and a third is quietly mouthing the same board book like it’s gourmet sushi. All of it is meaningful. All of it is growth.

Normal Baby Development

Need some ideas to support your baby’s development (without pressure)?

Here are a few things babies love that support healthy development in fun, low-stress ways:

🧼 Messy play – textures boost sensory exploration and fine motor skills
📚 Storytime – listening builds attention, language, and bonding
🖐️ Action songs – music + movement = physical coordination and memory
💡 Sensory lights – stimulate curiosity and visual development
👩‍👧‍👦 Interaction with other babies – helps build early social awareness

You’ll find all of this in our Adventure Babies sessions—along with a warm welcome and zero pressure. Whether your baby is sitting, crawling, cruising, or just chilling on a mat eating a maraca, they’ll find something magical here.

And so will you.

Normal Baby Development

Bottom line: Your baby is doing better than you think. And so are you.

No two babies develop in the same way or at the same speed. But with a bit of play, a lot of love, and some community along the way, they’ll get there. And so will you—even if you’re still Googling things like “how many raisins is too many for a toddler” or “why does my baby growl like a dinosaur.”

(Again: Normal.)

Join an Adventure Babies class near you to support your little one’s development through sensory play, storytelling, and joyful chaos. You’ll meet other parents, feel reassured, and maybe even drink a hot coffee.
👉 Book your space here!