Developmental Milestones

DOES MY CHILD HAVE A DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY?

Guidelines for Checking Child Development

Before your child’s next visit to the physician, please take the time to see if your child has met his/her key milestones. These milestones should not be used in place of a screening, but should be used as discussion points between parents and physicians at each well visit. If a child does not have the skills listed—or if there is a loss of any skill at any age—be sure to let your physician know. Check to see if your child is achieving these typical milestones at each age level:

0-3 Months

Rolls to back from both right and left sides
Lifts head and shoulders when on stomach
Startles at loud sounds
Makes cooing sounds
Grasps rattle

3-6 Months

Follows moving toys or faces with their eyes
Brings both feet to mouth
Maintains balance while sitting
Reaches for toys
Moves eyes in the direction of sounds
Makes speech-like babbling sounds, like “pa, ba, mi”
Giggles and laughs

6-9 Months

Explores toys with hands and mouth
Rolls over
Turns when you call their name
Sits without help
Looks when you point
Babbles long strings of sounds, like “mimi, upup, babababa.”
Moves toys from one hand to the other

9-12 Months

Copies hand movements like “patty cake” or “bye-bye”
Crawls on hands and knees
Removes both socks
Understands words for common items and people, like “cup, truck, juice, daddy.”
Starts to respond to simple words and phrases, like “No, Come here,” and “Want more?”
Says 1 or 2 words, like “hi, dada, mama, uh oh.” *This will happen around their 1^st birthday and sounds may not be clear.*
Feeds themselves finger foods

12-15 Months

Pulls themselves up to a standing position
Walks unaided for 5 steps
Drinks from a cup with your help
Points to objects they want
Can find a toy hidden under a cloth
Holds a crayon in a fist
Opens book
Begins to use straw for drinking

15-18 Months

Hands toys to you when asked
Points to pictures or objects you name
Walks 10 feet with heel to toe pattern
Stacks 2-3 cubes
Brings spoon to mouth from plate with some spilling

18-21 Months

Likes to pull or push things while walking
Uses pointing and words together to tell what they want
Feeds themselves with their fingers
Can point to one body part when asked
Kicks a ball
Uses a lot of new words
Understands and answers “yes-no” questions

21-24 Months

Puts together a 2 or 3 piece picture puzzle
Likes to throw balls
Likes to play alone with toys for a short time
Says “No” a lot
Puts 2 words together, like “more apple, no bed, mommy look.”
Uses at least 50 words
Likes to copy what others do

24-30 Months

Understands new words quickly
Feeds themselves with a spoon
Shows affection
Runs short distances without falling
Jumps forward
200 to 300 word vocabulary

30-36 Months

Throws a ball overhand
Walk up 4 steps without assistance
Combines 2 ideas such as “I want an apple and a banana.”
Asks for help when needed
Comforts another child who is crying
Combines 2 toys such as using a stuffed bear as the driver of a toy car
People who know your child can understand them