Written by

Tamatha Hazen

March 18, 2025

Edited by

Jennifer Carlson

Fact-checked by

Kristen Cramer

Developmental milestones

Baby milestones, or developmental milestones, are important skills that most children learn at certain ages. These include things like smiling, rolling over, walking, and talking. Parents and doctors use these milestones to check if a child is growing and developing as expected. Remember, every child is different and may reach milestones at slightly different times.

The developmental milestones focus on four main areas:

Baby milestones by month

Doctors use milestones to check how a child develops from birth through about age 5. They look for skills that most children (75% or more) can do by a certain age. By comparing a child’s development to other kids their age, doctors can help with any problems early on if needed.

The following chart highlights some developmental milestones doctors look for during routine checkups:

Newborns

In the first few weeks of life, newborn babies spend most of their time sleeping and eating. This period is filled with the basics of care—feeding, changing, and soothing. While it may seem simple, these early days are crucial for establishing routines and bonding with caregivers.

2 months

At two months, babies are becoming more alert and responsive. Their social skills emerge as they begin to interact more with their caregivers. Physically, they're gaining more control over their movements. Their communication skills are developing as they start to experiment with making sounds. You might see them:

• Become calm when spoken to

• Focus on your face

• Appear happy to see you approaching

• Smile back when you smile or talk to them

• Produce sounds other than cries

• Startle in response to loud sounds

• Hold their head steady for a moment

• Push up with their legs when feet are on a hard surface

4 months

By four months, babies are more engaged with their environment. Their cognitive abilities are expanding, allowing them to remember familiar faces and objects. Socially, they're more interactive and expressive. Their physical coordination is improving, especially hand-eye coordination. Language development progresses as they experiment with sounds. You may notice them:

• Smile, move, or make sounds to get your attention

• Seem happy when you try to make them laugh

• Turn their head in the direction of a voice

• Make cooing sounds

• Respond with sounds when you talk to them

• Look at their hands with interest

• Keep their head steady while upright

• Hold a toy when you hand it to them

• Bring their hands to their mouth

• Push up on their elbows when on tummy

6 months

At six months, babies are becoming independent explorers. Cognitively, they're developing object permanence and understanding of cause and effect. Their social and emotional range is expanding. Physically, they're gaining more body control. Their language skills progress as they associate sounds with meanings. Around this time, they typically will:

• Recognize familiar faces

• Like to look at themselves in a mirror

• Laugh or squeal

• Take turns making sounds with you

• Blow “raspberries” (sticking their tongue out and blowing)

• Explore items with their mouth

• Reach to grab a toy

• Close lips to show they don’t want more food

• Roll from tummy to back

• Push up to straight arms when on tummy

• Use their hands to support themselves when sitting

• Moves things from one hand to the other

9 months

By nine months, babies are active investigators. Their cognitive abilities allow for more complex problem-solving and memory. Emotionally, they develop self-awareness and express a wider range of feelings. Physically, they're becoming more mobile. Their communication skills advance as they understand and respond to simple words. You might observe that your child:

• Has favorite toys

• Uses several facial expressions to show their mood

• Looks when called by name

• Reacts when you leave the room

• Laughs when you play peek-a-boo games

• Is shy, clingy, or fearful around unknown people

• Looks at objects when you name them

• Looks down for objects that they drop

• Bangs two things together

• Gets to a sitting position on their own

• Uses fingers to rake food toward them

• Sits without support

12 months

At 12 months, babies are transitioning to toddlerhood. Cognitively, they're developing sophisticated problem-solving skills and using objects correctly. Their social skills expand through interactive play. Physically, many are close to walking independently. Their language comprehension grows rapidly, even if spoken vocabulary is limited. They are beginning to:

• Wave "bye-bye"

• Call a parent by "mama" or "dada" or another name

• Understand "no"

• Put something in a container

• Look for things they see you hide

• Pull up on furniture to stand

• Walk while holding on to furniture

• Drink from a cup without a lid if you hold it up to their lips

• Use their thumb and a finger to grab small things, like bits of food.

15 months

By 15 months, toddlers are becoming more independent and curious about their environment. Their mobility is increasing, and they're eager to explore. Language skills are developing rapidly, and they're beginning to understand and follow simple instructions. Social interactions become more complex. You may see them:

• Copy other children when playing

• Point to an object they like

• Clap when excited

• Show affection (hugs, kisses) to you and their stuffed toys or dolls

• Say one or two words other than "mama" and "dada."

• Look when you say the name of something they know

• Attempt to use things the right way like a cup or book

• Stack two or more small blocks

• Feed themselves with their fingers

• Take a few steps on their own

18 months

By 18 months, toddlers assert independence. Their cognitive abilities allow for complex thinking and problem-solving. Emotionally, they experience and express a wide range of feelings. Physically, they're more coordinated and adventurous. Their language skills expand rapidly, with many forming simple sentences. Often, you will see them:

• Move away from you but look back to see that you are still close by

• Point to show you things

• Put their hands out for you to wash them

• Look at pages in a book with you

• Help with getting dressed by lifting their arms or feet for you

• Say 3 or more words besides “mama” and “dada”

• Follow one-step directions

• Copy you doing chores, like using a broom

• Play with simple toys, like pushing a toy car

• Walk without assistance and rarely falls

• Scribble with crayons

• Drink from a cup with a lid

• Try to use a spoon

• Climb on and off furniture without help

2 year old developmental milestones

At two years, children are more self-aware and independent. Cognitively, they're developing imagination and memory skills. Socially, they're learning to interact with peers and understand norms. Their physical abilities allow for complex movements. Language skills advance rapidly, with many speaking in short phrases. Look for these milestones:

• Expresses empathy by pausing or looking sad when someone is crying

• Looks at your face to see how to react to a new situation

• Points at things in a book when you ask them to find something on the page

• Says two-word sentences

• Points at 2 or more body parts when asked (e.g., “Show me your nose”)

• Uses multiple gestures like blowing a kiss, nodding “yes,” or shaking head “no”

• Holds items in one hand while using the other

• Plays with buttons, knobs, or switches on a toy

• Plays with more than one item at a time

• Kicks a ball

• Walks up a few stairs with or without help

• Eats with a spoon

3 year old developmental milestones

By three years, children are more socially aware and imaginative. Their cognitive abilities allow for complex reasoning and problem-solving. Emotionally, they're developing empathy and humor. Physically, they're gaining refined motor skills. Their language skills become more sophisticated, enabling simple conversations. During this period, they begin to:

• Express affection openly

• Separate easily from parents

• Say their first name when asked

• Follow instructions with 2 or 3 steps

• Understand the concept of "mine" and "his" or "hers"

• Express a wide range of emotions

• Climb and run

• Sort objects by shape and color

• Draws a circle when shown how

• Listens to warnings about touching hot objects

4 year old developmental milestones

At four years, children are more independent and creative. Cognitively, they're developing advanced reasoning skills and understanding abstract concepts. Socially, they're forming friendships and cooperating. Their physical coordination improves, allowing for complex activities. You'll begin to see them express themselves more clearly through language and imaginative play.

As children reach this age, they may:

• Engage in more creative make-believe play, pretending to be something else like a dog or parent

• Enjoy playing the “helper”

• Ask to play with others

• Comfort others who are sad or hurt

• Behave differently depending on where they are (church, playground)

• Avoid danger, like not jumping from tall heights

• Name some colors and numbers

• Describe what happens next in a story they know

• Draw a person with three or more body parts

• Understand counting concepts

• Catching a bounced ball most of the time

• Start to hold a crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb, rather than with a fist

5 year old developmental milestones

By five years, children prepare for structured learning. Cognitively, they're developing sophisticated problem-solving skills and understanding cause-effect relationships. Socially, they're forming stronger friendships and grasping right and wrong.

Physically, they're refining coordination and attempting complex feats. They might be able to communicate their thoughts and feelings more effectively through language and storytelling. By this age, most children can:

• Follow rules and take turns when playing games with others

• Sing, dance, or perform for you

• Do simple chores at home like putting trash in the can or picking up their toys

• Speak very clearly

• Tell their own simple stories using full sentences

• Answer questions about a book after you’ve read a story

• Respond back and forth in conversation

• Use or recognize simple rhyming words

• Count to 10

• Use words about time (yesterday, today, morning, night)

• Draw a person with at least 6 body parts

• Write the letters in their name

• Name several letters when you point to them

• Hop or balance on one foot

• Button most buttons

Baby checkup schedule

Babies and kids need regular doctor visits to check how they're growing and developing. Newborns have their first visit soon after birth. During the first year, they have 6 more visits. After age 1, visits become less frequent but are still important. From ages 3 to 5, yearly checkups are generally recommended.

The common schedule for pediatric well-visits from birth to age 5 looks like this:

• 3 to 5 days after birth

• 1 month

• 2 months

• 4 months

• 6 months

• 9 months

• 12 months (1 year)

• 15 months

• 18 months (1.5 years)

• 24 months (2 years)

• 30 months (2.5 years)

• 3 years

• 4 years

• 5 years

Remember that this schedule is a general guide, but your pediatrician knows your child best and can give you personalized advice about checkup timing. Always talk to your healthcare provider about what's right for your baby.

Baby milestone FAQs

Is crawling a developmental milestone?

Many experts consider crawling an important developmental milestone, as it helps build core strength, coordination, and motor skills. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics and CDC no longer officially classify crawling as a milestone because its timing varies widely among babies.

Do autistic babies hit milestones?

Autistic children often exhibit delays or differences in reaching developmental milestones compared to their peers. These delays may occur in areas such as communication, social interaction, or motor skills. While some children may reach milestones later or differently, early intervention and support can help address these developmental challenges.

How can I help my baby reach milestones?

To help your baby grow and develop:

• Encourage regular tummy time to strengthen the muscles necessary for crawling and sitting.

• Engage your baby in interactive play with toys to stimulate their desire to reach, grasp, or crawl toward objects of interest.

• Incorporate daily activities such as singing songs, giving your baby gentle massages, and exploring sensory play (like food exploration) to enhance overall development.

• Support your baby to pull up to a standing position or help them cruise along furniture to build strength and coordination for walking.

What if my baby is behind on milestones?

If your baby is not meeting milestones, consult with your healthcare provider early to assess for developmental delays. Keep track of your baby's progress using milestone checklists and document any concerns. You may also explore state-funded early intervention programs for additional support.

Questions to ask your healthcare provider

Each baby develops at their own pace, so take time to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider during regular check-ups. Ask these important questions:

• Is my baby growing and developing as expected for their age?

• What new skills should my baby learn in the next few months?

• How has my baby's height and weight changed since the last visit?

• Is there anything worrying about how my baby is growing?

• What activities can I do to help my baby learn and grow?

• Should I worry if my baby hasn't reached a milestone on time?

• What new physical, social, and thinking skills should I look for at this age?

• How can I help my baby learn to crawl, walk, or talk?

• When should I start making my home safe for a moving baby?

• Are there any warning signs of slow development I should watch for?

• How are my baby's hearing and vision developing?

• Is my baby's sleep pattern normal for their age?

• What foods should I introduce to my baby at this stage?

• How can I encourage good eating habits?

• How can I help my baby bond with family members?

• What's the best way to handle my baby's changing emotions?

• How often should I be reading to my baby?

• Are there any safety concerns I should be aware of at this age?

• When should I schedule the next checkup?