Typical Milestones of Child Development
It is important to remember that each child develops differently and in his or her own way. This resource is to be used as a guideline for some typical developmental milestones.
1-3 Months | 4-7 Months | 8-12 Months | 12-24 Months | 24-36 Months
1-3 Months
Movement milestones
- Raises head and cheek when lying on stomach
- Supports upper body with arms when lying on stomach
- Stretches legs out when lying on stomach or back
- Opens and shuts hands
- Pushes down on his legs when his feet are placed on a firm surface
- Watches face intently
- Follows moving objects
- Recognizes familiar objects and people at a distance
- Starts using hands and eyes in coordination
- Smiles at the sound of voice
- Enjoys cooing noises and vocal play
- Attends to sound
- Startles to loud noise
- Begins to develop a social smile
- Enjoys playing with other people and may cry when play stops
- Becomes for communicative and expressive with face and body
- Imitates some movements and facial expressions
4-7 Months
Movement milestones
- Pushes up on extended arms
- Pulls to sitting with no head lag
- Sits with support of his hands
- Sits unsupported for short periods
- Supports whole weight on legs
- Grasps feet
- Transfers objects from hand to hand
- Uses raking grasp (not pincer)
- Looks for toy beyond tracking range
- Tracks moving objects with ease
- Grasps objects dangling in front of him
- Looks for fallen toys
- Distinguishes emotions by tone or voice
- Responds to sound by making noise
- Uses voice to express joy and displeasure
- Begins syllable repetition
- Finds partially hidden objects
- Explores with hands and mouth
- Struggles to get objects that are out of reach
- Enjoys social play
- Enjoys mirror images
- Responds to other people's expression of emotion
8-12 Months
Movement milestones
- Gets to sitting position without assistance
- Crawls forward on belly
- Assumes hand and knee position
- Creeps on hands and knees
- Gets from sitting to crawling or prone (lying on stomach) position
- Pulls self up to standing position
- Walks holding on to furniture
- Stands momentarily without support
- Takes two or three steps without support
- Uses pincer grasp
- Bangs two one-inch cubes together
- Puts objects into container and takes objects out of container
- Pokes with index finger
- Tries to imitate scribbling
- Responds to simple verbal requests
- Responds to "no"
- Makes simple gestures such as shaking head for no
- Babbles with inflection
- Babbles "dada" and "mama"
- Says "dada" and "mama" for specific person
- Uses exclamations such as "uh-oh"
- Explores objects in many different ways (shaking, banging, throwing and dropping)
- Finds hidden objects easily
- Looks at correct picture when image is named
- Imitates gestures
- Appears shy or anxious with strangers
- Cries when mother or father leaves
- Enjoys imitating people in his play
- Shows specific preferences for certain people and toys
- Prefers mother and/or regular care provider over all others
- Repeats sounds or gestures for attention
- Begins to finger-feed himself
- Extends arm or leg to help when being dressed
12-24 Months
Movement milestones
- Walks alone
- Pulls toys behind him while walking
- Carries large toy or several toys while walking
- Begins to run stiffly
- Walks into ball
- Climbs unto and down from furniture unsupported
- Walks up and down stairs holding on to support
- Scribbles spontaneously
- Turns over container to pour out contents
- Builds tower of four blocks or more
- Points to object or picture when it's named for her
- Recognizes names of familiar people, objects, and body parts
- Says several single words
- Uses two word sentences
- Follows simple, one-step instructions
- Repeats words overheard in conversations
- Finds objects even when hidden under 2 or 3 covers
- Begins to sort shapes and colors
- Begins make-believe play
- Imitates behavior of others, especially adults and older children
- Becomes increasingly enthusiastic about company or other children
- Demonstrates increasing independence
- Begins to show defiant behavior
- Episodes of separation anxiety increase toward midyear, then fade
24-36 Months
Movement milestones
- Climbs well
- Walks down stairs alone, place both feet on each step
- Walks up stairs alternating feet with support
- Swings leg to kick ball
- Runs easily
- Pedals tricycle
- Bends over easily without falling
- Makes vertical, horizontal, circular strokes with pencil or crayon
- Turns book pages one at a time
- Builds a tower of more than 6 blocks
- Holds a pencil in writing position
- Screws and unscrews jar ids
- Turns rotating handles
- Recognizes and identifies almost all common objects and pictures
- Understands most sentences
- Understands physical relationships (on, in, under)
- Says name, age, and sex
- Uses pronouns (I, you, me, we, they)
- Begins speaking clearly enough for strangers to understand most of words
- Makes mechanical toys work
- Matches an object in hand or room to a picture in a book
- Plays make-believe with dolls, animals and people
- Sorts objects by color
- Completes puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces
- Understands concept of "two"
- Separates easily from parents
- Expresses a wide range of emotions
- Objects to major changes in routine