Developmental Milestones

Birth to 3 months

• Follows moving toys or faces with their eyes
• Able to lift or raise head from surface when lying on tummy
• Responds to loud noises
• Makes sounds like cooing, gurgling, sighing, and grunting
• Cries differently for different needs
• Reaches or grasps toys, rattles, or hair

3 Months to 6 Months

• Turns head and moves eyes to voices or sounds
• Rolls over front-to-back and back-to-front
• Babbles, squeals, and makes speech like sounds such as “p”, “b”, and “m”
• Pays attention to music, notices toys that make sounds
• Holds toys, puts toys in mouth, and can help hold the bottle during feedings

6 Months to 9 Months

• Moves toys from one hand to the other hand
• Can sit unassisted for five minutes
• Copies sounds or gestures
• Responds to name
• Likes to play peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake
• Starts to crawl by pulling self up and kicking legs

9 Months to 12 Months

• Recognizes common words (cup, juice, shoe)
• Can say one or two words (bye-bye, mama, dada)Grabs small objects with thumb and index finger
• Removes socks and cooperates with dressing activities
• Able to crawl, pull up on furniture, and take some steps without assistance
• Responds to simple requests (come here)
• Can drink from a cup with help

12 Months to 24 Months

• Uses some 2-word questions (Where kitty?, Go bye-bye?, What’s that?)
• Can point to some body parts when asked, points to pictures in a book when named
• Follows simple commands (roll the ball, kiss the baby, where’s your shoe?)
• Walks alone without assistance, can keep balance when stepping off objects
• Says “no” often
• Likes to pretend play
• Can throw a small ball, scribbles on paper, and uses spoon with some success

2 Years to 3 Years

• Walking, jumping with both feet, and better at running
• Able to kick and throw a ball
• Able to walk up and down steps with alternate feet while holding someone’s hand
• Uses 2-3 word sentences to talk about or ask for things
• Speech is understood by familiar listeners most of the time
• Can follow 2 step direction (Get the book and put it on the table)
• Answers simple questions
• Repeats simple rhymes and songs
• Puts their clothes on by themselves (3 yrs.)

3 Years to 5 Years

• Hears you when you call from another room
• Understands simple questions (who, what, where, why)
• Talks about activities at school or at friends’ homes
• Uses sentences that have 4 or more words
• Talks easily without repeating sounds and outside people understand
• Able to cut paper into 2 pieces, traces lines, can unbutton buttons
• Can pedal and steer tricycle
• Bathes self (4-5 yrs.)

5 Years and Up

• Can pay attention to short story and answer question about it
  
• Hears and understands most of what is said at home and at school
  
• Uses sentences that give more detail (I like to read my books)
  
• Tells stories and sticks to topic
  
• Communicates easily with other children and adults
  
• Learning to ride a two-wheeled bicycle
  
• Able to skip, run, gallop, and stop
  
• Able to engage in tumbling, swimming, swinging, and ball games
  
• Has friends and a social group at school, neighborhood, outside activities
  
• Chooses own clothing, can make a sandwich, can assist with household chores