Developmental Milestones by Month

2 months

• Social/Emotional

  • calms down when spoken to or picked up
  • looks at faces
  • seems happy when you walk up to them
  • smiles when talked to or smiled at

• Language

  • makes sounds other than crying
  • reacts to loud sounds

• Cognitive > learning, thinking, problem-solving

  • watches you move
  • looks at toys for several seconds

• Movement/Physical

  • holds head up when on tummy
  • moves both arms and legs
  • opens hands briefly

4 months

• Social/Emotional

  • smiles on their own to get your attention
  • chuckles when you try and make them laugh
  • looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get your attention

• Language

  • makes sounds like “ooo”, “aahh” (cooing)
  • makes sounds back when you talk to them
  • turns head towards the sound of your voice

• Cognitive > learning, thinking, problem-solving

  • if hungry, opens mouth when seeing a breast or bottle
  • looks at hands with interest

• Movement/Physical

  • holds head steady without support when you’re holding them
  • holds toy when put in their hand
  • uses their arm to swing at toys
  • brings hands to mouth
  • pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy

6 months

• Social/Emotional

  • knows familiar people
  • likes to look at self in a mirror
  • laughs

• Language

  • takes turns making sounds with you
  • blows “raspberries”
  • makes squealing noises

• Cognitive > learning, thinking, problem-solving

  • puts things in their mouth to explore
  • reaches to grab toys they want
  • closes lips to show they don’t want more food

• Movement/Physical

  • rolls from tummy to back
  • pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
  • leans on hands to support themself when sitting

9 months

• Social/Emotional

  • shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers
  • shows several facial expressions
  • looks when name is called
  • reacts when you leave
  • smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo

• Language

  • makes different sounds like “mamamamama” or “babababababa”
  • lifts arms to be picked up

• Cognitive > learning, thinking, problem-solving

  • looks for objects when dropped out of sight
  • bangs two things together

• Movement/Physical

  • gets to a sitting position by themself
  • moves things from one hand to the other
  • sits without support
  • uses finger to “rake” food towards themself

1 year

• Social/Emotional

  • play games like pat-a-cake

• Language

  • waves bye-bye
  • calls a parent “mama” or “dada”
  • understands “no”

• Cognitive > learning, thinking, problem-solving

  • puts something in a container
  • looks for things they see you hide

• Movement/Physical

  • pulls up to stand
  • walks, holding on to furniture
  • drinks from a cup without a lid as you hold it
  • picks up things between thumb and pointer finger

15 months

• Social/Emotional

  • copies other children when playing
  • shows you objects they like
  • claps when excited
  • hugs stuffed dolls/toys
  • shows affection

• Language

  • tries to say one or two words besides “mama” or “dada” like “ba” for ball or “da” for dog
  • looks at familiar objects when you name them
  • follows directions when given with both a gesture and words
  • points to ask for something or to get help

• Cognitive > learning, thinking, problem-solving

  • tries to use things the right way
  • stacks at least two objects

• Movement/Physical

  • takes a few steps on their own
  • uses fingers to feed themselves food

•  

18 months

• Social/Emotional

  • moves away from you but makes sure you are close by
  • points to show something interesting
  • puts hands out for you to wash them
  • looks at pages of a book with you
  • helps dress themself by pushing their arm through sleeve

• Language

  • tries to say three or more words
  • follows one-step directions without any gestures

• Cognitive > learning, thinking, problem-solving

  • copies you doing chores like sweeping
  • plays with toys in a simple way

• Movement/Physical

  • walks without holding on to anything
  • scribbles
  • drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes
  • feeds themself with fingers
  • tries to use a spoon
  • climbs on and off chairs without help

2 years

• Social/Emotional

  • notices when others are hurt or upset
  • looks at your face to see how to react in a new situation

• Language

  • points to things in a book when you say something like “where is the bear”
  • says at least two words together like “more milk”
  • points to at least two body parts when you ask them to show you
  • uses more gestures than just waving and pointing

• Cognitive > learning, thinking, problem-solving

  • holds something in one hand while using the other
  • tries to use switches, knobs, or buttons on a toy
  • plays with more than one toy at the same time

• Movement/Physical

  • kicks a ball
  • runs
  • walks up a few stairs with or without help
  • eats with a spoon

30 months

• Social/Emotional

  • plays next to other children, sometimes with them
  • shows what they can do by saying “look at me”
  • follows simple routines when told

• Language

  • says about fifty 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 > learning, thinking, problem-solving

  • uses things to pretend, like feeding a block to a doll as if it were food
  • shows simple critical thinking skills, like standing on a small stool to reach something
  • follows two-step instructions
  • shows they know at least one color

• Movement/Physical

  • uses hands to twist things
  • takes loose clothes off by themself
  • jumps off the ground with both feet
  • turns book pages, one at a time

3 years

• Social/Emotional

  • calms down within 10 minutes after you leave them
  • notices other children and joins them to play

• Language

  • talks with you in conversation using at least two back and forth exchanges
  • asks “who,” “what,” or “why” questions
  • says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked
  • says first name when asked
  • talks well enough for others to understand most of the time

• Cognitive > learning, thinking, problem-solving

  • draws a circle when shown how
  • avoids touching hot objects when warned

• Movement/Physical

  • strings items together
  • puts on loose clothes by themself
  • uses a fork

4 years

• Social/Emotional

  • pretends to be something else during play
  • asks to go play with other children if none are around
  • comforts others who are hurt or sad
  • avoids danger
  • likes to be a “helper”
  • changes behavior based on where they are

• Language

  • 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 their day
  • answers simple questions

• Cognitive > 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

  • catches a large ball most of the time
  • serves themself food or pours water with adult supervision
  • unbuttons some buttons
  • holds crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not in a fist)

5 years

• Social/Emotional

  • follows rules or takes turns when playing games with other children
  • sings, dances, or acts for you
  • does simple chores at home

• Language

  • tells a story they heard or made up with at least two events
  • answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it to them
  • keeps a conversation going with more than three back and forth exchanges
  • uses or recognizes simple rhymes

• Cognitive > learning, thinking, problem-solving

  • counts to ten
  • names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point at them
  • uses words about time like “yesterday,” “tomorrow,” “morning,” or “night”
  • pays attention for 5-10 min during activities
  • writes some letters in their name
  • names some letters when you point to them

• Movement/Physical

  • buttons some buttons
  • hops on one foot