--- title: "Your Child's Growth: Developmental Milestones" slug: "developmental-milestones" updated: 2025-02-25T11:12:12Z published: 2025-02-25T11:12:12Z canonical: "healthhub.cpcmg.net/developmental-milestones" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://healthhub.cpcmg.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Your Child's Growth: Developmental Milestones [![Appointment Info](https://cdn.us.document360.io/a196e2c1-0707-4b9f-8164-e8201c779cd7/Images/Documentation/1650055438388-1650055438388.png)](/v1/docs/appointments-and-contact-information) [![Care Decision Info](https://cdn.us.document360.io/a196e2c1-0707-4b9f-8164-e8201c779cd7/Images/Documentation/1654467115781-1654467115781.png)](https://www.rchsd.org/wait-times/what-type-of-care-does-my-child-need/)

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 --- Although no 2 children develop at the same rate, they should be able to do certain things at certain ages. Learning to sit up, walk, and talk are some of the major developmental milestones your child will achieve. Here is information about how babies and young children typically develop. Examples of developmental milestones for ages 1 month to 6 years are listed. **NOTE:** If you see large differences between your child’s age and the milestones listed, talk with your child’s doctor. --- ## At 1 Month ### Social - Looks at parent; follows parent with eyes - Has self-comforting behaviors, such as bringing hands to mouth - Starts to become fussy when bored; calms when picked up or spoken to - Looks briefly at objects ### Language - Makes brief, short vowel sounds - Alerts to unexpected sound; quiets or turns to parent’s voice - Shows signs of sensitivity to environment (such as excessive crying, tremors, or excessive startles) or need for extra support to handle activities of daily living - Has different types of cries for hunger and tiredness ### Motor - Moves both arms and both legs together - Holds chin up when on tummy - Opens fingers slightly when at rest --- ## At 2 Months ### Social - Smiles responsively - Makes sounds that show happiness or upset ### Language - Makes short cooing sounds ### Motor - Opens and shuts hands - Briefly brings hands together - Lifts head and chest when lying on tummy - Keeps head steady when held in a sitting position --- ## At 4 Months ### Social - Laughs aloud - Looks for parent or another caregiver when upset ### Language - Turns to voices - Makes long cooing sounds ### Motor - Supports self on elbows and wrists when on tummy - Rolls over from tummy to back - Keeps hands unfisted - Plays with fingers near middle of body - Grasps objects --- ## At 6 Months ### Social - Pats or smiles at own reflection - Looks when name is called ### Language - Babbles with sounds such as “da,” “ga,” “ba,” or “ka” ### Motor - Sits briefly without support - Rolls over from back to tummy - Passes a toy from one hand to another - Rakes small objects with 4 fingers to pick them up - Bangs small objects on surface --- ## At 9 Months ### Social - Uses basic gestures (such as holding out arms to be picked up or waving bye-bye) - Looks for dropped objects - Turns consistently when name is called ### Language - Says “Dada” or “Mama” nonspecifically - Looks around when hearing things such as “Where’s your bottle?” or “Where’s your blanket?” - Copies sounds that parent or another caregiver makes ### Motor - Sits well without support - Pulls to stand - Moves easily between sitting and lying - Crawls on hands and knees - Picks up food to eat - Picks up small objects with 3 fingers and thumb - Lets go of objects on purpose - Bangs objects together --- ## At 12 Months (1 Year) ### Social - Looks for hidden objects - Imitates new gestures ### Language - Uses “Dada” or “Mama” specifically - Uses 1 word other than *Mama, Dada,* or a personal name - Follows directions with gestures, such as motioning and saying, “Give me (object)” ### Motor - Takes first steps - Stands without support - Drops an object into a cup - Picks up small object with 1 finger and thumb - Picks up food to eat --- ## At 15 Months ### Social - Imitates scribbling - Drinks from cup with little spilling - Points to ask something or get help - Looks around after hearing things such as “Where’s your ball?” or “Where’s your blanket?” ### Language - Uses 3 words other than names - Speaks in what sounds like an unknown language - Follows directions that do not include a gesture ### Motor - Squats to pick up object - Crawls up a few steps - Runs - Makes marks with crayon - Drops object into and takes it out of a cup --- ## At 18 Months ### Social - Engages with others for play - Helps dress and undress self - Points to pictures in book or to object of interest to draw parent’s attention to it - Turns to look at adult if something new happens - Begins to scoop with a spoon - Uses words to ask for help ### Language - Identifies at least 2 body parts - Names at least 5 familiar objects ### Motor - Walks up steps with 2 feet per step when hand is held - Sits in a small chair - Carries toy when walking - Scribbles spontaneously - Throws a small ball a few feet while standing --- ## At 2 Years ### Social - Plays alongside other children - Takes off some clothing - Scoops well with a spoon ### Language - Uses at least 50 words - Combines 2 words into short phrase or sentence - Follows 2-part instructions - Names at least 5 body parts - Speaks in words that are about 50% understandable by strangers ### Motor - Kicks a ball - Jumps off the ground with 2 feet - Runs with coordination - Climbs up a ladder at a playground - Stacks objects - Turns book pages - Uses hands to turn objects such as knobs, toys, or lids - Draws lines --- ## At 2½ Years ### Social - Urinates in a potty or toilet - Spears food with fork - Washes and dries hands - Increasingly engages in imaginary play - Tries to get parents to watch by saying, “Look at me!” ### Language - Uses pronouns correctly ### Motor - Walks up steps while alternating feet - Runs well without falling - Copies a vertical line - Grasps crayon with thumb and fingers instead of fist - Catches large balls --- ## At 3 Years ### Social - Enters bathroom and urinates by himself - Puts on coat, jacket, or shirt without help - Eats without help - Engages in imaginative play - Plays well with others and shares ### Language - Uses 3-word sentences - Speaks in words that are understandable to strangers 75% of the time - Tells you a story from a book or TV - Compares things by using words such as *bigger* or *shorter* - Understands prepositions such as *on* or *under* ### Motor - Pedals a tricycle - Climbs on and off couch or chair - Jumps forward - Draws a single circle - Draws a person with head and 1 other body part - Cuts with child scissors --- ## At 4 Years ### Social - Enters bathroom and has bowel movement by himself - Brushes teeth - Dresses and undresses without much help - Engages in well-developed imaginative play ### Language - Answers questions such as “What do you do when you are cold?” or “What do you do when you are you sleepy?” - Uses 4-word sentences - Speaks in words that are 100% understandable to strangers - Draws recognizable pictures - Follows simple rules when playing a board or card game - Tells parent a story from a book ### Motor - Hops on 1 foot - Climbs stairs while alternating feet without help - Draws a person with at least 3 body parts - Draws a simple cross - Unbuttons and buttons medium-sized buttons - Grasps pencil with thumb and fingers instead of fist --- ## At 5 and 6 Years ### Social - Follows simple directions - Dresses with little assistance ### Language - Has good language skills - Can count to 10 - Names 4 or more colors ### Motor - Balances on 1 foot - Hops and skips - Is able to tie a knot - Draws a person with at least 6 body parts - Prints some letters and numbers - Can copy a square and a triangle --- ## Well-Child Visits Remember to take your child to his recommended well-child (health supervision) visits. At each visit, your child’s doctor will check his progress and ask you about the ways you see your child growing. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends regular well-child visits at the following times: - Before your baby is born (for first-time parents) - Before your newborn leaves the hospital - Within 3 to 5 days after birth and within 48 to 72 hours after leaving the hospital - During the first year after birth: visit by 1 month of age and also at 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months of age - In early childhood: visit at 15 months, 18 months, 2 years, and 2½ years of age as well as yearly visits from 3 to 4 years of age - In middle childhood: yearly visits from 5 to 10 years of age - In adolescence and early adulthood: yearly visits from 11 to 21 years of age until care of your child changes to an adult-oriented physician Your pediatrician may recommend additional visits. If you have any questions or concerns about your child, talk with your child’s doctor. If there is a concern, early treatment is important. --- © 2020 American Academy of Pediatrics. All rights reserved. ## Related - [Fun in the Sun: Keep Your Family Safe](/fun-in-the-sun.md) - [Encourage Your Child to Be Physically Active](/encourage-your-child-to-be-physically-active.md) - [Growing Up Healthy: Fat, Cholesterol, and More](/growing-up-healthy-fat-cholesterol-and-more.md) - [Secondhand Smoke](/secondhand-smoke.md)