Reaching Developmental Milestones

Keep your camera ready! Babies grow fast and you will want to enjoy and capture every moment. Although all children develop at their own pace, you can watch for your child to learn these new skills.

Milestones: Birth to 1 1⁄2 months

• Different cries express different needs
• Turns head in the direction of your voice
• Makes simple sounds when awake, like “eh”
• Focuses on high contrast objects
• Observes surroundings briefly
• Gazes at faces
• Makes brief eye contact
• Prefers faces over all other visual stimulation
• Lifts head briefly when lying on tummy
• Sucks effectively

Milestones: 1 1⁄2 to 3 1⁄2 months

• Turns head in general direction of sound
• Looks at caregivers when they talk
• Begins cooing, using vowel sounds like “aah,” “eee” and “ooo”
• Looks at own hands
• Combines two actions [e.g., sucking and looking around]
• Smiles purposefully
• Uses crying to alert parent of needs
• Shows excitement when seeing or hearing caregiver
• Exhibits some voluntary movements [e.g., squirming, stretching] • Pushes with legs against a firm surface

Milestones: 3 1⁄2 to 5 1⁄2 months

• Turns head to locate sound
• Practices sounds when alone
• Gurgles and coos to show pleasure
• Investigates small objects with hands, fingers, and eyes
• Brings objects to mouth to explore
• Responds to attention and affection
• Laughs
• Anticipates eating upon seeing bottle or breast
• Rolls onto either side
• Sits with support
• Reaches and grasps items of interest

Milestones: 5 1⁄2 to 8 months

• Squeals, shrieks or makes other loud noises
• Babbles using repeated syllables such as “ma ma ma”
• Briefly looks at pictures in books
• Tries to explore everything with mouth
• Experiments with throwing, dropping, shaking and banging
• Shows concern when parent leaves the room
• Enjoys simple games such as “peek-a-boo”
• Enjoys affectionate play-hugs, cuddling, and tickling
• Transfers objects from one hand to the other
• Rolls, scoots, or pulls body up with arms
• Lifts legs to look at or grab feet

Milestones: 8 to 14 months

• Responds to simple requests sometimes
• Responds to “no” sometimes
• Responds to own name when called
• Examines small objects and details
• Places a round shape into a shape sorter
• Knows the difference between familiar people and strangers
• Shows affection, annoyance, anger, or surprise
• Observes and imitates actions of people
• Tests caregivers reaction
• Pulls self up to stand; cruises
• Turns pages in a stiff book
• Stacks 2-3 blocks or similar objects

Milestones: 14 to 24 months

• Follows one-step directions
• Brings objects from another room on request
• Has 50 word vocabulary
• Uses trial and error to solve problems
• Places round, square, and triangular piece into shape sorter
• Says “no” often
• Imitates adult behaviors and activities [e.g., fixes things, sweeps floor]
• Walks backward
• Throws small ball forward
• Kicks large ball forward

Milestones: 24 to 36 months

• Follows two-step directions
• Says name
• Names eight pictures and three body parts
• Engages in make-believe play
• Names one color
• Points to big or little object upon request
• Uses the word “mine” or “me”
• Interacts with other children
• Expresses emotions in words
• Catches large ball
• Jumps with both feet off the floor
• Snips with scissors

Milestones: 3 to 4 years

• Listens responsively to books and stories
• Carries out three simple related directions [e.g., Take off your shoes, hang up your coat, and come sit with me]
• Answers simple questions
• Uses four to six words in a sentence
• Asks questions using is, what, where, and why
• Tells the story when looking at a favorite picture book
• Experiments with a variety of writing tools and materials
• Knows first and last name
• Demonstrates sense of humor
• Climbs on playground equipment

Milestones: 4 to 5 years

• Learns a song and does actions that go with the words
• Uses six to eight words in a sentence
• Uses future and past tenses
• Identifies own name when printed
• Uses scribbles, shapes, and letter-like symbols to write
• Locates, out of five objects or pictures, what does not belong in the same category
• Shows right hand/foot, left hand/foot upon request
• Counts ten items out loud
• Verbalizes own feelings
• Follows rules most of the time
• Hops on one foot