Development milestones

The first year of your child's life is a pivotal period for their future development. Although every child progresses at their own pace, developmental delays can be a source of worry and challenges. Our milestone guide below can help track the key milestones your child should be achieving in each stage of their first year. It's important to note that these milestones serve as building blocks for subsequent phases of development. For instance, skills reached at 6 months are foundational for the stages that follow.

Developmental Milestones by age

    • Brings hands within range of eyes and mouth

    • When on the stomach can lift head and turn

    • Kicks arms and legs alternately

    • Can visually track toy from side to midline

    • Can open and close hands though not purposeful

    • Coos or makes gurgling sounds

    • Can hold head steady, unsupported when being carried & when on tummy

    • Pushes up on elbows when laying on stomach

    • Brings hands to mouth

    • Holds and shakes rattle

    • Takes swipes at dangling objects with hand

    • Visually follows moving objects

    • Rolls from side to back

    • Smiles when seeing a familiar face

    • Cries differently for different needs

    • Makes pleasure sounds (cooing or babbling)

    • Reaches for toy

    • Reaches for and grasps toy

    • Helps to hold bottle during feeding

    • Mouths toys

    • Transfers objects from one hand to the other

    • Uses all fingers to grasp

    • Can be pulled to sit

    • Sits without support

    • Holds head at midline

    • Grabs for knees or feet with hands

    • Rolls from belly to and from back in both directions

    • Moves eyes in the direction of sounds

    • Vocalizes excitement and displeasure

    • Babbling sounds including p,b, and m

    • When assisted standing, supports weight on legs

    • Responds to own name

    • Starts to progress forwards/backwards on tummy/hands and knees

    • Sits independently

    • Moves in and out of sitting position

    • Can move into and play in a kneeling position

    • Pivots on belly

    • Crawls on hands & knees

    • Enjoys simple games such as peek-a-boo

    • Attends to another person with eye contact

    • Pulls self up to stand

    • Cruises/walks along furniture

    • Uses pincer grasp for small objects (index finger and thumb)

    • Imitates at least 5 one-step actions (waving, patty cake, putting an item in a basket, pounding with a hammer, rolling a ball)

    • Looks when shown an object and told, “name, look”

    • Reaches with one hand

    • Feeds self finger foods

    • Grasps objects using pad of thumb and pointer finger

    • Turns pages of a book

    • Pulls up to stand

    • Cruises along furniture

    • Raises up to a sitting position from floor

    • Raise to standing without support

    • Recognizes common words such as cup, shoe, juice

    • Says first word

    • Stands for 5-10 seconds without support

    • Utterances consist of 1-2 words

    • Says “Mama” “Dada” “uh-oh”

    • Identifies 2 or more objects or pictures from a group

    • Stands independently

    • Rolls a ball back and forth while sitting

    • Tries to imitate sounds/words

    • Says a few words

    • Walks independently

    • Walks up to 2-3 steps with support

    • Points to get the attention of others

    • Participates in pretend play (feeding doll/stuffed animals)

    • Lifts foot and attempts to kick a ball

    • Drinks through a straw

    • Gestures hi/bye

    • Imitate unfamiliar sounds and words

    • Jumps from low surfaces (like a street curb)

    • Runs 10 feet or more

    • Throws a ball

    • Builds block tower of 4 blocks or higher

    • Speaks sentences with 2-4 words

    • Uses about 15-50 recognizable words

    • Drinks from open mouth cup

    • Scribbles on paper, begins sorting by color and shape

    • Stacks 4 blocks

    • Runs

    • Points to simple body parts

    • Averages 2-word combinations

    • Uses many different consonant sounds at the beginning of words

    • Points to pictures in books when named

    • Ascends/Descends stairs by stepping

    • Jumps down from low surfaces

    • Walks with flat feet (not on toes) 90% of the time

    • Rides a push toy/bike (without pedals)

    • About 70-80% intelligible in speech

    • Uses about 200 intelligible words

    • Holds glass with one hand 

    • Stacks 8 blocks 

    • Gets up from the ground without using hands

    • Walks with flat feet (not on toes) 90% of the time

    • Copies vertical line, horizontal line, and circle when drawing

    • Cuts a piece of paper into two pieces

    • Can string ½ inch beads 

    • Walks up and down stairs without help

    • Jumps forward several inches

    • Has a word for almost everything 

    • Follows 3-step commands

    • Mastered consonants (b,d,k,g,f,y)

    • Plays with other kids in a cooperative way

    • Dresses and undresses self

    • Walks up and down steps with a foot per step

    • Walks with flat feet (not on toes) 90% of the time

    • Draws a circle

    • Tries to write name

    • Can do large buttons

    • Does 4-12 piece puzzles

    • Stacks 10 blocks

    • Cuts on a line

    • Copies a cross, x, and square

    • Feeds self with a little spilling

    • Puts shoes on correct feet

    • Answers simple who, what, where, why questions

    • Prefers to play with other children than by themself

    • Draws a person with 2-4 body parts

    • Gets up from ground without use of hands

    • Hops 5 times on each foot

    • Progresses a 2-wheeled bike with training wheels

    • Climbs well on playground

    • Cuts paper in half with scissors

    • Can cut large circle with scissors

    • Combines 5-8 words in sentences

    • Uses “me” and “you” correctly

    • Rides a trike, skips

    • Stands on one foot for 5-1O seconds

    • Prints first name

    • Colors within lines

    • Grasps pencil correctly with thumb, pointer, and middle finger

    • Copies rectangle and triangle shapes

    • Cuts out a circle

    • Dresses independently and ties shoes

    • Fully independent toileting

    • Names some letters and numbers

    • Speech is understood 85% of time by unfamiliar listeners and asks questions

    • Can draw a person with at least 6 body parts

    • Can swing independently by pumping legs

    • Walks with flat feets (not on toes) 90% of the time

    • Latches and zips coat

    • Consonants mastered (T, ing, R, L)

    • Names position of objects (First, second, third)

    • Uses pronouns correctly

    • Understands “opposite of”

    • Can hold attention for 10 to 15 minutes. (A reasonable attention span to expect a child to have is 2-3 minutes for each year of age.)

    • Skips

    • Completes jumping jacks

    • Throws a ball to hit a target

    • Can swing without being pushed

    • Rides a 2-wheeled bicycle without training wheels

    • Dresses/ undresses self

    • Reads/writes numbers 1-10

    • Writes first & last name

    • Ties shoes

    • Cuts well with scissors

    • Can print all letters of alphabet upper & lower case

    • Consonants mastered (th, sh, ch, j)

    • Can hold attention for 12 to 18 minutes. (A reasonable attention span to expect a child to have is 2-3 minutes for each year of age.)

    • Runs with coordination

    • Completes sit-ups

    • Able to complete jumping jacks

    • Able to complete push ups

    • Throws a ball to hit a target

    • Rides a 2 wheeled bike

    • Rarely loses balance when running

    • Dresses independently (including most fasteners)

    • Uses 1 hand consistently for fine motor tasks

    • Cuts & colors within the lines