What are typical developmental milestones?

The following are age appropriate milestones from birth – age 5.  Although no two children grow at the same rate, experts agree there are typical signs of development:

By 3 Months:

•    Lift head & chest while laying on stomach;
•    Follow a moving object or person with eyes;
•    Turn toward the sound of a human voice;
•    Smile when smiled at;
•    Grasp a rattle;
•    Cry in different ways to tell different needs.

By 6 Months:

•    Hold head up and look around;
•    Reach for & grasp objects;
•    Push up with hands & knees;
•    Coo, giggle & make lots of sounds;
•    Sit with support;
•    Roll over;
•    Know familiar faces.

By 9 Months:

•    Sit up without much help;
•    Begin to pull up and stand;
•    Crawl or scoot forward;
•    Put toys in container and dump out;
•    Make sounds like real words (e.g. mama, dada, nana);
•    Play simple games like “all gone” or “so big”.

By 12 Months:

•    Stand alone for a moment;
•    Crawl on hands & knees;
•    Walk with one hand held;
•    Respond to music with body motion;
•    Say first word;
•    Understand simple commands;
•    Feed self with finger foods.

By 18 Months:

•    Likes to pull, push, & takes things apart;
•    Walk without help;
•    Turn pages in a book;
•    Say 8-10 words you can understand;
•    Ask specifically for mother or father;
•    Cling to caretaker in new situations.

By 2 Years:

•    Walk, run and climb without help;
•    Sometimes get angry & have temper tantrums when tired, angry or upset;
•    Sing songs or say rhymes;
•    Use 2-3 word sentences;
•    Treat a doll or stuffed animal as though it were alive;
•    Verbalize desires and feelings.

By 3 Years:

•    Use the toilet with some help;
•    Kick a ball forward and pedal a tricycle;
•    Look through a book alone;
•    Remember what happened yesterday;
•    Count 2 to 3 objects;
•    Match circles and squares;
•    Know first & last name.

By 4 Years:

•    Hold a pencil & try to write name;
•    Buckle, button, & lace with help;
•    Identify situations that would lead to happiness, sadness, or anger;
•    Sort by shape or color;
•    Want explanations of “why” & “how”;
•    Catch a bouncing ball;
•    Use the toilet alone.

By 5 Years:

•    Draw simple figures of things;
•    Dress & undress him/her self (although you may need to supervise);
•    Know the sequence of reading a book, from left to right and top to bottom;
•    Invent make-believe games with simple rules;
•    Copy name in large irregular letters;
•    Protect younger children.

If you are concerned about your child’s development consider arranging a screening.