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Developmental Milestones

All babies are special and individual, and babies grow and develop at different times in different ways. The following Developmental Milestones guide is for general developmental milestones. Babies may do some but not all during any given time period, or may do others earlier or later than the time period shown. All will be normal for that individual baby.

SPEECH DEVELOPMENT

Birth to 5 Months

• Reacts to loud sounds.
• Turns head toward a sound source.
• Watches your face when you speak.
• Vocalizes pleasure/displeasure sounds. (Laughs, giggles, cries, fusses, etc)

6 Months to 11 Months

• Understands "no-no".
• Babbles (says ba-ba-ba or ma-ma-ma).
• Tries to communicate by actions/gestures.
• Tries to repeat your sounds.

12 Months to 17 Months

• Attends to a book or toy for about 2 minutes.
• Follows simple directions accompanied by gestures.
• Answers simple questions nonverbally.
• Points to objects, pictures, and family members.
• Says 2 to 3 words to label a person or object.
• Tries to imitate simple words.

18 Months to 23 Months

• Follows simple commands without gestures.
• Points to simple body parts such as "nose".
• Understands simple verbs such as "eat", "sleep".
• Correctly pronounces most vowels and n, m, p, h, especially in the beginning of syllables and short words. Also begins to use other speech sounds.
• Says 8 to 10 words.
• Asks for common foods by name.
• Begins to use pronouns such as "mine".
• Makes animal sounds such as "moo".
• Starting to combine words such as "more milk".

2 to 3 Years

• Understands about 50 words at 24 months.
• Understands some basic concepts such as "in", "on".
• Understands pronouns such as "you", "me", "her".
• Understands descriptives such as "big", "happy".

MOTOR SKILLS

Newborn

• Closes finger around objects/finger in tight grasp.
• Alert and interested in sights and sounds.
• Turns head toward sounds.
• Lifts and turns head part way while on belly.
• Brings hand to mouth.

3 Months to 5 Months

• Reaches for objects in view.
• Brings both feet to mouth.
• Maintains balance while sitting.
• Begins to transfer items hand to hand.
• Hands come together in play.
• Uses mouth to explore objects in environment.
• Strong gag response, rooting reflex.
• Visually tracks objects from side to side.

6 Months to 8 Months

• Rolls from back to stomach.
• Looks for objects when they disappear from sight.
• Sits alone without support.
• Plays peek-a-boo.
• Picks up 2 small objects with one hand.
• Uses forefinger to poke, push, pull small objects.
• Independently bottle feeds self without mess.
• Drinks out of a cup with help.
• Feeds self cracker or cookie.
• Eye movements independent from head movements.

9 Months to 11 Months

• Attends to a book or toy for about 2 minutes.
• Raises to hands and knees.
• "Cruises" furniture and walls.
• From stomach, raises to sitting position to reach toy.
• Pulls self to stand and lowers self down.
• Imitates a scribble.
• Pick up spoon by handle.
• Removes socks and unties shoes.
• Imitates adult's use of tools, such as combing hair.
• Attempts spoon feeding.
• Picks up small objects using thumb and finger grasp.

12 Months to 14 Months

• Builds tower of 2 or more blocks.
• Marks with Pencil or crayon.
• Put small objects in cup or other container.
• Plays with other children, side by side.
• Climbs up on chair or other furniture.
• Walks without help.
• Insists on feeding self.
• Drinks from a copy without help.
• Creeks up 2 steps on hands and knees.
• Kneels/stands by self with steady balance.
• Throws small ball.
• Opens book and turns a few pages at a time.
• Stirs spoon in cup.
• Helps a little when being dressed.

15 Months to 24 Months

• Walks backwards several steps.
• Stacks a tower of 4 or more blocks.
• Kicks a ball forward with good balance.
• Jumps forward 4 inches without falling.
• Stoops to pick up toy without falling.
• Grasps marker with thumb and 1st finger; wraps remaining finger around marker.
• Turns three pages in book.
• Feeds self with a spoon and eats with fork.
• Points to two of own body parts.

2 Years to 2-1/2 Years

• Placing one foot on each step, walks up 4 steps.
• Draws vertical line.
• Runs, walks sideways and backwards.
• Initiates overhand throw/underhand throw.
• Removes screw-on lid from bottle.
• Stacks 8 to 10 blocks.
• Strings 2 to 4 large beads on shoelace.
• Identifies 2 body parts from picture.

2-1/2 Years to 3 Years

• Washes and dries hands independently.
• Cuts with small scissors.
• Plays pretend games.
• Catches soft objects with both hands.
• Can jump down from 1 foot heights.

3 Years to 3-1/2 Years

• Understands concepts such as "behind" and "next to".
• Runs with arms moving back and forth.
• Cuts paper into 2 pieces.
• Traces horizontal line.
• Unbuttons (only) using large buttons.
• Undresses self with some help.
• Toilet trained.
• Rides a tricycle using pedals.
• Draws or copies a complete circle.

3-1/2 Years to 4 Years

• Hops forward on one foot, then the other foot.
• Dresses/undresses with some help.
• Buttons and unbuttons large buttons.
• Carries out a series of 3 directions.
• Paints with a crayon/brush covering a whole page.
• Learning to take turns in games.
• Plays make-believe games with other children.
• Cuts across and down paper with scissors.

4 Years to 5-1/2 Years

• Completes forward roll accurately.
• Touches each finger to thumb.
• Draws a man with head and legs.
• Compares different textures like: soft, smooth.
• Names heavier of two objects in hands.
• Hops on one foot.
• Able to walk the full length of a balance beam.
• Participates and enjoys group interaction.
• Copies a "+" (plus), and a "V".
• Dresses/undresses except or laces, back buttons, some zippers and snaps.
• Eats with fork and spoon.

5-1/2 to 6 Years

• With hands on hips, jumps back and forth across line.
• Accurately imitates arm positions/copies Simon Says postures
• Draws six part unmistakable man with body.
• Points front, back, near, up down, with eyes closed.
• Aware of but confuses right and left.
• In pictures identifies object that is beside, between, in middle, in front of.
• Bounces and catches small ball.
• Folds paper in half twice with edges parallel.
• Draws triangle from copy.
• Runs and skips.