The milestones listed below are typical for young children. Please remember that every child is unique—growing and developing at different rates. Most of the time differences between children of the same age are nothing to worry about. But for some children, the difference can be related to a developmental delay.
Below, we provide a checklist of milestones from birth to age 3. However, we also note that milestones may look different for children who were born premature. For milestones for premature babies, see https://pathways.org/preemie-nicu/preemie/
If you have concerns about your child’s development, simply contact your local Child & Family Connections (CFC) office or call 1-800-323-4769
At age 2 months, most children can …
- Calm down when spoken to or picked up
- Make sounds other than crying
- Watch you as you move
- Hold their head up when on their tummy
You may be concerned if your child …
- Does not respond to loud noises
- Does not smile at the sound of your voice
- Does not follow moving objects with their eyes
At age 4 months, most children can …
- Smile on their own to get attention
- Make sounds like “oooo” and “aahh” (cooing)
- Look at their hands with interest
- Bring hands to their mouth
You may be concerned if your child …
- Does not bring objects to mouth
- Does not reach and grasp for toys
- Does not push down their legs when feet are placed on a firm surface
At age 6 months, most children can …
- Know familiar people
- Take turns making sounds with you
- Put things in their mouth to explore them
- Roll from tummy to back
You may be concerned if your child …
- Has very stiff, tight muscles
- Is very floppy
- Does not respond to sounds
- Does not roll over (stomach to back)
At age 9 months, most children can …
- Show several facial expressions (e.g., happy, sad, angry, surprised)
- Make a lot of different sounds, such as “mamamamama” and “bababababa”
- Bang two things together
- Get to a sitting position by themselves
You may be concerned if your child …
- Does not show interest in peek-a-boo or patty-cake
- Does not babble
At age 12 months, most children can …
- Play games such as patty-cake with you
- Understand “no” (pauses briefly or stops when you say it)
- Put something in a container, such as a block in a cup
- Pull up to stand
You may be concerned if your child …
- Does not search for hidden objects
- Has difficulty getting into a standing position
- Does not seek out a familiar adult when upset
At age 15 months, most children can …
- Copy other children while playing (e.g., taking toys out of a container when another child does)
- Look at a familiar object when you name it
- Try to use things the right way, such as a phone, cup, or book
- Take a few steps on their own
You may be concerned if your child …
- Does not seem to know the function of common household objects (e.g., brush, phone, fork, spoon)
- Does not try to take steps independently
At age 18 months, most children can …
- Move away from you but look to make sure you are close by
- Try to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada”
- Copy you doing chores (e.g., sweeping a broom)
- Walk without holding on to anyone or anything
You may be concerned if your child …
- Cannot walk
- Does not speak at least 15 words
- Avoids a parent when distressed
At age 2, most children can …
- Notice when others are hurt or upset
- Kick a ball
- Point to things in a book when asked, like “Where is the bear?”
- Point to at least two body parts when asked
- Play with more than one toy at a time, such as putting toy food on a toy plate
- Say at least two words together, such as “more milk”
You may be concerned if your child …
- Does not use two-word sentences
- Does not imitate actions or words
- Does not follow simple one-step instructions
At age 30 months, most children can …
- Play next to other children and sometimes play with them
- Say about 50 words
- Follow two-step directions such “Put the toy down and close the door”
- Jump off the ground with both feet
You may be concerned if your child …
- Does not say many words
- Does not follow one-step directions
At age 3, most children can …
- Notice other children and join them to play
- Say their first name, when asked
- Draw a circle when you show them how
- Use a fork
You may be concerned if your child …
- Has unclear speech
- Is unable to help dress and undress themself
- Has trouble with stairs and balance
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html