HOW I GROW: DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES
Developmental Milestones Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the
first time, and waving "bye bye" are called developmental milestones. Children
reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, behave, and move (crawling,
walking, etc.). How your child plays, learns, speaks, and acts offers important
clues about your child’s development. Developmental milestones are things most
children can do by a certain age. Check the milestones your child has reached.
Take this with you and talk with your child’s doctor at every visit about the
milestones your child has reached and what to expect next.
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What Most Babies Do at 2 Months |
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Social and Emotional: |
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Movement/Physical Development: |
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Begins to smile at people |
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Can hold head up and begins to push up when lying on tummy |
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Can briefly calm himself (may bring
hands to mouth and suck on hand) |
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Makes smoother movements with arms and legs |
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Tries to look at parent |
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Language/Communication: |
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Contact Doctor if: |
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Coos, makes gurgling sounds
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Doesn’t respond to loud sounds |
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Turns head toward sounds |
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Doesn’t watch things as they move |
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Doesn’t smile at people |
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Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving): |
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Doesn’t bring hands to mouth |
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Pays attention to faces |
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Can’t hold head up when pushing up when on tummy
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Begins to follow things with eyes and recognize people at a distance |
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Begins to act bored (cries, fussy) if activity doesn’t change |
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What Most Babies Do at 4 Months |
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Social and Emotional: |
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Movement/Physical Development: |
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Smiles spontaneously, especially at people |
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Holds head steady, unsupported |
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Likes to play with people and might cry when playing stops |
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Pushes down on legs when feet are on a hard surface |
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Copies some movements and facial expressions, like smiling or frowning |
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May be able to roll over from tummy to back |
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Can hold a toy and shake it and swing at dangling toys |
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Language/Communication: |
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Brings hands to mouth |
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Begins to babble |
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When lying on stomach, pushes up to elbows |
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Babbles with expression and copies sounds he/she hears |
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Cries in different ways to show hunger, pain, or being tired |
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Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving): |
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Contact Doctor if: |
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Lets you know if she is happy or sad |
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Can’t hold head steady |
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Responds to affection |
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Doesn’t watch things as they move |
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Reaches for toy with one hand |
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Doesn’t smile at people |
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Uses hands and eyes together, such as seeing a toy and reaching for it |
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Doesn’t bring hands to mouth |
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Follows moving things with eyes from side to side |
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Doesn’t coo or make sounds |
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Watches faces closely |
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Doesn’t push down with legs when feet are placed on a hard surface |
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Recognizes familiar people and things at a distance |
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Has trouble
moving one or both eyes in all directions |
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What Most Babies Do at 6 Months |
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Social and Emotional: |
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Movement/Physical Development: |
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Knows familiar faces and begins to know if someone is a stranger |
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Rolls over in both directions (front to back, back to front) |
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Likes to play with others, especially parents |
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Begins to sit without support |
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Responds to other people’s emotions and often seems happy |
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When standing, supports weight on legs and might bounce |
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Likes to look at self in a mirror |
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Rocks back and forth, sometimes crawling backward before moving forward |
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Language/Communication: |
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Contact Doctor if: |
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Responds to sounds by making sounds |
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Doesn’t try to get things that are in reach |
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Strings vowels together when babbling (“ah,” “eh,” “oh”) and likes taking turns
with parent while making sounds |
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Shows no affection for caregivers |
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Responds to own name Makes sounds to show joy and displeasure |
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Doesn’t respond to sounds around him |
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Begins to say consonant sounds (jabbering with “m,” “b”) |
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Has difficulty getting things to mouth |
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Doesn’t make vowel sounds (“ah”, “eh”, “oh”) |
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Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving): |
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Doesn’t roll over in either direction |
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Looks around at things nearby |
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Doesn’t laugh or make squealing sounds |
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Brings things to mouth |
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Seems very stiff, with tight muscles |
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Shows curiosity about things and tries to get things that are out of reach |
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Seems very floppy, like a rag doll |
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Begins to pass things from one hand to the other |
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9 Months
What most babies do at 9 months: Social and Emotional May be afraid of strangers
May be clingy with familiar adults Has favorite toys Language/Communication
Understands “no” Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and
“bababababa” Copies sounds and gestures of others Uses fingers to point at
things Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving) Watches the path of
something as it falls Looks for things he sees you hide Plays peek-a-boo Puts
things in her mouth Moves things smoothly from one hand to the other Picks up
things like cereal o’s between thumb and index finger Movement/Physical
Development Stands, holding on Can get into sitting position Sits without
support Pulls to stand Crawls Contact your doctor if: Doesn’t bear weight on
legs with support Doesn’t sit with help Doesn’t babble (“mama”, “baba”, “dada”)
Doesn’t play any games involving back-and-forth play Doesn’t respond to own name
Doesn’t seem to recognize familiar people Doesn’t look where you point Doesn’t
transfer toys from one hand to the other
1 Year
What most children do at 1 Year: Social and Emotional Is shy or nervous with
strangers Cries when mom or dad leaves Has favorite things and people Shows fear
in some situations Hands you a book when he wants to hear a story Repeats sounds
or actions to get attention Puts out arm or leg to help with dressing Plays
games such as “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake” Language/Communication Responds to
simple spoken requests Uses simple gestures, like shaking head “no” or waving
“bye-bye” Makes sounds with changes in tone (sounds more like speech) Says
“mama” and “dada” and exclamations like “uh-oh!” Tries to say words you say
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving) Explores things in different
ways, like shaking, banging, throwing Finds hidden things easily Looks at the
right picture or thing when it’s named Copies gestures Starts to use things
correctly; for example, drinks from a cup, brushes hair Bangs two things
together Puts things in a container, takes things out of a container Lets things
go without help Pokes with index (pointer) finger Follows simple directions like
“pick up the toy” Movement/Physical Development Gets to a sitting position
without help Pulls up to stand, walks holding on to furniture (“cruising”) May
take a few steps without holding on May stand alone Contact your doctor if:
Doesn’t crawl Can’t stand when supported Doesn’t search for things that she sees
you hide Doesn’t say single words like “mama” or “dada” Doesn’t learn gestures
like waving or shaking head Doesn’t point to things Loses skills he once had
18 Months
What most children do at 18 Months: Social and Emotional Likes to hand things to
others as play May have temper tantrums May be afraid of strangers Shows
affection to familiar people Plays simple pretend, such as feeding a doll May
cling to caregivers in new situations Points to show others something
interesting Explores alone but with parent close by Language/Communication Says
several single words Says and shakes head “no” Points to show someone what he
wants Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving) Knows what ordinary things
are for; for example, telephone, brush, spoon Points to get the attention of
others Shows interest in a doll or stuffed animal by pretending to feed Points
to one body part Scribbles on his own Can follow 1-step verbal commands without
any gestures; for example, sits when you say “sit down” Movement/Physical
Development Walks alone May walk up steps and run Pulls toys while walking Can
help undress herself Drinks from a cup Contact your doctor if: Doesn’t point to
show things to others Can’t walk Doesn’t know what familiar things are for
Doesn’t copy others Doesn’t gain new words Doesn’t have at least 6 words Doesn’t
notice or mind when a caregiver leaves or returns Loses skills he once had
2 Years
What most children do at 2 Years: Social and Emotional Copies others, especially
adults and older children Gets excited when with other children Shows more and
more independence Shows defiant behavior (doing what he has been told not to)
Plays mainly beside other children, but is beginning to include other children,
such as in chase games Language/Communication Points to things or pictures when
they are named Knows names of familiar people and body parts Says sentences with
2 to 4 words Follows simple instructions Repeats words overheard in conversation
Points to things in a book Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving) Finds
things even when hidden under two or three covers Begins to sort shapes and
colors Completes sentences and rhymes in familiar books Plays simple
make-believe games Builds towers of 4 or more blocks Might use one hand more
than the other Follows two-step instructions such as “Pick up your shoes and put
them in the closet.” Names items in a picture book such as a cat, bird, or dog
Movement/Physical Development Stands on tiptoe Kicks a ball Begins to run Climbs
onto and down from furniture without help Walks up and down stairs holding on
Throws ball overhand Makes or copies straight lines and circles Contact your
doctor if: Doesn’t use 2-word phrases (for example, “drink milk”) Doesn’t know
what to do with common things, like a brush, phone, fork, spoon Doesn’t copy
actions and words Doesn’t follow simple instructions Doesn’t walk steadily Loses
skills she once had
3 Years
What most children do at 3 Years: Social and Emotional Copies adults and friends
Shows affection for friends without prompting Takes turns in games Shows concern
for crying friend Understands the idea of “mine” and “his” or “hers” Shows a
wide range of emotions Separates easily from mom and dad May get upset with
major changes in routine Dresses and undresses self Language/Communication
Follows instructions with 2 or 3 steps Can name most familiar things Understands
words like “in,” “on,” and “under” Says first name, age, and sex Names a friend
Says words like “I,” “me,” “we,” and “you” and some plurals (cars, dogs, cats)
Talks well enough for strangers to understand most of the time Carries on a
conversation using 2 to 3 sentences Cognitive (learning, thinking,
problem-solving) Can work toys with buttons, levers, and moving parts Plays
make-believe with dolls, animals, and people Does puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces
Understands what “two” means Copies a circle with pencil or crayon Turns book
pages one at a time Builds towers of more than 6 blocks Screws and unscrews jar
lids or turns door handle Movement/Physical Development Climbs well Runs easily
Pedals a tricycle (3-wheel bike) Walks up and down stairs, one foot on each step
Contact your doctor if: Falls down a lot or has trouble with stairs Drools or
has very unclear speech Can’t work simple toys (such as peg boards, simple
puzzles, turning handle) Doesn’t speak in sentences Doesn’t understand simple
instructions Doesn’t play pretend or make-believe Doesn’t want to play with
other children or with toys Doesn’t make eye contact Loses skills he once had
4 Years
What most children do at 4 years: Social and Emotional Enjoys doing new things
Plays “Mom” and “Dad” Is more and more creative with make-believe play Would
rather play with other children than by himself Cooperates with other children
Often can’t tell what’s real and what’s make-believe Talks about what she likes
and what she is interested in Language/Communication Knows some basic rules of
grammar, such as correctly using “he” and “she” Sings a song or says a poem from
memory such as the “Itsy Bitsy Spider” or the “Wheels on the Bus” Tells stories
Can say first and last name Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Names some colors and some numbers Understands the idea of counting Starts to
understand time Remembers parts of a story Understands the idea of “same” and
“different” Draws a person with 2 to 4 body parts Uses scissors Starts to copy
some capital letters Plays board or card games Tells you what he thinks is going
to happen next in a book Movement/Physical Development Hops and stands on one
foot up to 2 seconds Catches a bounced ball most of the time Pours, cuts with
supervision, and mashes own food Contact your doctor if: Can’t jump in place Has
trouble scribbling Shows no interest in interactive games or make-believe
Ignores other children or doesn’t respond to people outside the family Resists
dressing, sleeping, and using the toilet Can’t retell a favorite story Doesn’t
follow 3-part commands Doesn’t understand “same” and “different” Doesn’t use
“me” and “you” correctly Speaks unclearly Loses skills he once had
5 Years
What most children do at 5 years: Social and Emotional Wants to please friends
Wants to be like friends More likely to agree with rules Likes to sing, dance,
and act Shows concern and sympathy for others Is aware of gender Can tell what’s
real and what’s make-believe Shows more independence (for example, may visit a
next-door neighbor by himself [adult supervision is still needed]) Is sometimes
demanding and sometimes very cooperative Language/Communication Speaks very
clearly Tells a simple story using full sentences Uses future tense; for
example, “Grandma will be here.” Says name and address Cognitive (learning,
thinking, problem-solving) Counts 10 or more things Can draw a person with at
least 6 body parts Can print some letters or numbers Copies a triangle and other
geometric shapes Knows about things used every day, like money and food
Movement/Physical Development Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer Hops;
may be able to skip Can do a somersault Uses a fork and spoon and sometimes a
table knife Can use the toilet on her own Swings and climbs Contact your doctor
if: Doesn’t show a wide range of emotions Shows extreme behavior (unusually
fearful, aggressive, shy or sad) Unusually withdrawn and not active Is easily
distracted, has trouble focusing on one activity for more than 5 minutes Doesn’t
respond to people, or responds only superficially Can’t tell what’s real and
what’s make-believe Doesn’t play a variety of games and activities Can’t give
first and last name Doesn’t use plurals or past tense properly Doesn’t talk
about daily activities or experiences Doesn’t draw pictures Can’t brush teeth,
wash and dry hands, or get undressed without help Loses skills he once had