The brain grows very quickly during the first several years of life. During this time, your child is learning all sorts of new skills. The term “developmental milestones” refers to the timetable at which these skills appear in most children.
Keep in mind all children grow and develop at their own pace. Below are just some of the milestones for children birth to age three. If you are concerned that your child has not met a milestone, talk with your child’s doctor or contact Bright Beginnings at 216.698.7500.
BIRTH TO 3 MONTHS
recognizes faces, voices, and smells
responds to smiles and touches with pleasure
uses sounds, facial expressions, and body movements to communicate
can grip a finger or toy
communicates hunger by moving head towards mother’s breast or bottle
3 TO 6 MONTHS
can push up on my arms and roll
can sit with help and holds head up
may rock back and forth on hands and knees to get ready to crawl
reaches for and grasps objects and toys
puts things in mouth
responds to familiar sounds with pleasure; moves arms and legs when excited
makes different sounds in response to your sounds—babbles, coos, and gurgles
eating and sleeping may be on a more regular schedule now
6 TO 9 MONTHS
looks for objects that disappear from sight
copies what others do such as waving or shaking head for “no”
picks up small objects using thumb and other fingers
sits up without help
may crawl or scoot to get around or even pull up on furniture to stand
babbles on own and also in response to others
uses voice to express feelings like happiness and anger
likes, dislikes and personalities are starting to be more obvious now
9 TO 12 MONTHS
begins to understand what people are saying; may follow simple directions
may say a word or two, like mama
can creep and crawl on hands or knees, on stomach, “crab crawling” by moving backwards and sideways, or even scooting on their bottom
may walk while holding on to furniture or holding someone’s hand; may walk on own
knows when familiar people come and go and may respond with emotions
likes to repeat sounds, movements and activities
12 TO 15 MONTHS
may walk on own or by holding a hand
may crawl upstairs but cannot come down yet
can throw a ball and turn pages in books
talking and understanding more; may use some words like duhduh for dog
uses actions like banging, pointing, vocalizing to communicate wants and needs
can point to a body part or a picture in a book
wants to do more for themselves
starting to do more for themselves; may say no
copies others actions like talking on the phone, reading, etc.
15 TO 18 MONTHS
walking and may be run or climb
can scribble with crayons and build a block tower
can feed themselves
understands simple questions and directions like kick the ball to me
communicates by combining sounds and actions - pointing to a cup and saying wawa for water
says as many as 20 words by 18 months
may repeat sounds and actions that make someone laugh
may have tantrums and needs help calming down
continues to repeat enjoyable actions
uses many objects appropriately like pretending to drink from a play cup
imitates others actions
18 TO 24 MONTHS
says as many as 50-100 words by age 2
may put 2 words together like “more milk”
understands the world around them better but still cannot control feelings and actions and needs help calming down
can get frustrated when not able to do something
begins pretend play such as feeding a doll or putting a doll to bed
may make appropriate noises for animals or other objects
opens and closes things; loves to dump things
may sort like objects together, like all cars in one box
may try to be more independent like put shoes on
24 TO 30 MONTHS
can walk up stairs one foot at a time
can walk backwards
can balance on one foot and is better at climbing
can make longer sentences: Mama play truck?
favorite words may be no, me, and mine
may get overwhelmed by strong feelings and have trouble putting them into words and still needs help to calm down
can use one object to stand in for another such as a box for a bed for a doll
laughs at silly things and begins to understand simple humor like a dog saying “moo”
may scare easily
more social, making friends but still not good at sharing
copies other children
30 TO 36 MONTHS
can pedal a tricycle or big wheel
can dress self with help
can draw a line
can turn a knob or unscrew a cap
use as many as 900 words by age 3
understands sentences with two or more ideas like You can have a snack when we get home
asks many questions
knows first and last name
can remember what happened yesterday
can act out their own stories
is becoming a “logical thinker” like when pretending that it is bedtime for Teddy, puts a blanket on him and sings him a lullaby
likes playing with other children; may have one or two close friends
notices differences in people like skin color or size