Developmental Milestones

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2 Months

Social/Emotional Milestones
  • Calms down when spoken to or picked up
  • Looks at your face
  • Seems happy to see you when you walk up to her
  • Smiles when you talk to or smile at her
Language/Communication Milestones
  • Makes sounds other than crying 
  • Reacts to loud sounds
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
  • Watches you as you move 
  • Looks at a toy for several seconds
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
  • Holds head up when on tummy
  • Moves both arms and both legs
  • Opens hands briefly

4 Months

Social/Emotional Milestones
  • Smiles on his own to get your attention
  • Chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make her laugh 
  • Looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention
Language/Communication Milestones
  • Makes sounds like “oooo”, “aahh” (cooing)
  • Makes sounds back when you talk to him
  • Turns head towards the sound of your voice
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
  • If hungry, opens mouth when she sees breast or bottle
  • Looks at his hands with interest
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
  • Holds head steady without support when you are holding her
  • Holds a toy when you put it in his hand
  • Uses her arm to swing at toys
  • Brings hands to mouth
  • Pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy

6 Months

Social/Emotional Milestones
  •  Knows familiar people 
  • Likes to look at himself in a mirror
  • Laughs
Language/Communication Milestones
  • Takes turns making sounds with you
  • Blows “raspberries” (sticks tongue out and blows)
  • Makes squealing noises
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
  • Puts things in her mouth to explore them 
  • Reaches to grab a toy he wants
  • Closes lips to show she doesn’t want more food
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
  • Rolls from tummy to back
  • Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
  • Leans on hands to support himself when sitting

9 Months

Social/Emotional Milestones
  • Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers
  • Shows several facial expressions, like happy, sad,   angry, and surprised
  • Looks when you call her name
  • Reacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you,  or cries)
  • Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo
Language/Communication Milestones
  • Makes different sounds like “mamamama” and   “babababa”
  • Lifts arms up to be picked up
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
  • Looks for objects when dropped out of sight  (like his spoon or toy)
  • Bangs two things together
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
  • Gets to a sitting position by herself
  • Moves things from one hand to her other hand
  • Uses fingers to “rake” food towards himself
  • Sits without support

15 Months

Social/Emotional Milestones
  • Copies other children while playing, like taking toys   out of a container when another child does
  • Shows you an object she likes
  • Claps when excited
  • Hugs stuffed doll or other toy
  • Shows you affection (hugs, cuddles, or kisses you)
Language/Communication Milestones
  • Tries to say one or two words besides “mama” or   “dada,” like “ba” for ball or “da” for dog
  • Looks at a familiar object when you name it
  • Follows directions given with both a gesture and   words. For example, he gives you a toy when you   hold out your hand and say, “Give me the toy.”
  • Points to ask for something or to get help
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
  • Tries to say one or two words besides “mama” or   “dada,” like “ba” for ball or “da” for dog
  • Looks at a familiar object when you name it
  • Follows directions given with both a gesture and   words. For example, he gives you a toy when you   hold out your hand and say, “Give me the toy.”
  • Points to ask for something or to get help
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
  • Takes a few steps on his own
  • Uses fingers to feed herself some food

18 Months

Social/Emotional Milestones
  •  Moves away from you, but looks to make sure you   are close by
  • Points to show you something interesting
  • Puts hands out for you to wash them
  • Looks at a few pages in a book with you
  • Helps you dress him by pushing arm through sleeve   or lifting up foot
Language/Communication Milestones
  • Tries to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada”
  • Follows one-step directions without any gestures,   like giving you the toy when you say, “Give it to me.”
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
  • Copies you doing chores, like sweeping with a broom
  • Plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
  • Walks without holding on to anyone or anything
  • Scribbles
  • Drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill   sometimes
  • Feeds herself with her fingers
  • Tries to use a spoon
  • Climbs on and off a couch or chair without help

2 Years

Social/Emotional Milestones
  • Notices when others are hurt or upset, like pausing   or looking sad when someone is crying
  • Looks at your face to see how to react in a new situation
Language/Communication Milestones
  •  Points to things in a book when you ask, like   “Where is the bear?”
  • Says at least two words together, like “More milk.”
  • Points to at least two body parts when you ask him   to show you
  • Uses more gestures than just waving and pointing,   like blowing a kiss or nodding yes
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
  • Holds something in one hand while using the other hand;  for example, holding a container and taking the lid off
  • Tries to use switches, knobs, or   buttons on a toy
  • Plays with more than one toy at the same time,   like putting toy food on a toy plate
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
  • Kicks a ball
  • Runs
  • Walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or   without help
  • Eats with a spoon

2.5 Years (30 months)

Social/Emotional Milestones
  • Plays next to other children and sometimes plays  with them
  • Shows you what she can do by saying, “Look at me!”
  • Follows simple routines when told, like helping to pick  up toys when you say, “It’s clean-up time.”
Language/Communication Milestones
  • Says about 50 words
  • Says two or more words together, with one action              word, like “Doggie run”
  • Names things in a book when you point and ask,  “What is this?”
  • Says words like “I,” “me,” or “we”
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
  • Uses things to pretend, like feeding a block to a doll as if it were food
  • Shows simple problem-solving skills, like  standing on a small stool to reach something
  • Follows two-step instructions like “Put the toy down  and close the door.”
  • Shows he knows at least one color, like pointing to a red crayon when you ask, “Which one is red?”
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
  •  Uses hands to twist things, like turning doorknobs  or unscrewing lids
  • Takes some clothes off by himself, like loose pants or an open jacket
  • Jumps off the ground with both feet
  • Turns book pages, one at a time, when you read to her

3 Years

Social/Emotional Milestones
  • Calms down within 10 minutes after you leave her, like at a childcare drop off
  • Notices other children and joins them to play
Language/Communication Milestones
  •  Talks with you in conversation using at least two   back-and-forth exchanges
  • Asks “who,” “what,” “where,” or “why” questions, like “Where is mommy/daddy?”
  • Says what action is happening in a picture or book   when asked, like “running,” “eating,” or “playing”
  • Says first name, when asked
  • Talks well enough for others to understand, most   of the time
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
  •  Draws a circle, when you show him how
  • Avoids touching hot objects, like a stove, when you warn her
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
  • Strings items together, like large beads or macaroni
  • Puts on some clothes by himself, like loose pants or   a jacket
  • Uses a fork

4 Years

Social/Emotional Milestones
  • Pretends to be something else during play (teacher,  superhero, dog)
  • Asks to go play with children if none are around, like   “Can I play with Alex?”
  • Comforts others who are hurt or sad, like hugging a   crying friend
  • Avoids danger, like not jumping from tall heights at   the playground
  • Likes to be a “helper”
  • Changes behavior based on where she is (place of  worship, library, playground)
Language/Communication Milestones
  • Says sentences with four or more words
  • Says some words from a song, story, or nursery rhyme
  • Talks about at least one thing that happened during   his day, like “I played soccer.”
  • Answers simple questions like “What is a coat for?”   or “What is a crayon for?”
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
  • Names a few colors of items
  • Tells what comes next in a well-known story
  • Draws a person with three or more body parts
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
  • Catches a large ball most of the time
  • Serves himself food or pours water, with adult   supervision
  • Unbuttons some buttons
  • Holds crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not a fist)

5 Years

Social/Emotional Milestones
  •  Follows rules or takes turns when playing games   with other children
  • Sings, dances, or acts for you
  • Does simple chores at home, like matching socks   or clearing the table after eating
Language/Communication Milestones
  • Tells a story she heard or made up with at least two   events. For example, a cat was stuck in a tree and  a firefighter saved it
  • Answers simple questions about a book or story   after you read or tell it to him
  • Keeps a conversation going with more than three   back-and-forth exchanges
  • Uses or recognizes simple rhymes  (bat-cat, ball-tall)
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
  • Counts to 10
  • Names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you   point to them
  • Uses words about time, like “yesterday,” “tomorrow,”   “morning,” or “night”
  • Pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities.   For example, during story time or making arts and  crafts (screen time does not count)
  • Writes some letters in her name
  • Names some letters when you point to them
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
  • Buttons some buttons
  • Hops on one foot

source: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html