Developmental Milestones From Birth to Age 5: What to Watch For

From the first social smile to the first wobbly steps and the first full sentence, watching your child grow is one of the great joys of parenting. These skills are called developmental milestones: things most children can do by a certain age in how they play, learn, speak, act and move. Tracking milestones helps you celebrate your child's progress and helps you and your pediatrician notice early if a child might need extra support.

Every child develops at their own pace, and missing one milestone by a little is often not a concern. But a pattern of delays, or losing skills a child once had, deserves attention. Early help can make a big difference.

How to Use This Guide

The milestones below are based on the checklists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Learn the Signs. Act Early. program, which list skills that most children (about 3 out of 4) have reached by each age. If your baby was born prematurely, use their adjusted age (age from their due date) until about age 2. These lists are a guide, not a test. Bring your observations and questions to your child's well-child visits.

Milestones by Age

By 2 months

• Calms down when spoken to or picked up, and looks at your face
• Smiles when you talk to or smile at them
• Makes sounds other than crying and reacts to loud sounds
• Holds head up when on tummy and moves both arms and legs

By 4 months

• Smiles on their own to get your attention and chuckles
• Makes cooing sounds like "oooo" and "aahh," and makes sounds back when you talk
• Holds head steady without support when held, and brings hands to mouth
• Pushes up onto elbows or forearms during tummy time

By 6 months

• Knows familiar people and laughs
• Takes turns making sounds with you, blows "raspberries" and squeals
• Reaches to grab a toy and puts things in mouth to explore
• Rolls from tummy to back and leans on hands to support themselves when sitting

By 9 months

• May be shy, clingy or fearful around strangers, and reacts when you leave
• Looks when you call their name and makes sounds like "mamamama" and "babababa"
• Looks for objects dropped out of sight and bangs two things together
• Sits without support and moves things from one hand to the other

By 12 months

• Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake
• Waves "bye-bye," calls a parent "mama," "dada" or another special name, and understands "no"
• Pulls up to stand and walks while holding on to furniture
• Picks up small things between thumb and pointer finger

By 15 months

• Shows you an object they like and claps when excited
• Tries to say one or two words besides "mama" or "dada"
• Points to ask for something and follows directions given with a gesture and words
• Takes a few steps on their own and uses fingers to feed themselves

By 18 months

• Moves away from you but looks back to make sure you're close
• Points to show you something interesting
• Tries to say three or more words besides "mama" or "dada"
• Follows one-step directions without gestures, like "Give it to me"
• Walks without holding on, scribbles, and tries to use a spoon

By 2 years

• Notices when others are hurt or upset
• Says at least two words together, like "more milk"
• Points to things in a book when asked and to at least two body parts
• Kicks a ball, runs and eats with a spoon

By 3 years

• Notices other children and joins them to play
• Talks with you in a conversation with at least two back-and-forth exchanges
• Asks "who," "what," "where" or "why" questions and says their first name when asked
• Talks well enough for others to understand most of the time
• Draws a circle when shown how and uses a fork

By 4 years

• Pretends to be something else during play and comforts others who are hurt or sad
• Says sentences with four or more words and talks about something that happened during the day
• Names a few colors and draws a person with three or more body parts
• Catches a large ball most of the time and unbuttons some buttons

By 5 years

• Follows rules or takes turns when playing games with other children
• Tells a story with at least two events and keeps a conversation going
• Counts to 10, names some letters and writes some letters in their name
• Hops on one foot and buttons some buttons

How Pediatricians Check Development

At every well-child visit, your pediatrician watches your child's development, asks about milestones and listens to your concerns. This is called developmental surveillance. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends developmental screening with a standardized questionnaire at the 9-, 18- and 30-month visits, and autism screening at the 18- and 24-month visits. Screening questionnaires are quick for parents to complete and help identify children who might benefit from a closer look. Learn more about signs of autism.

What Happens If There Is a Concern?

If a delay is suspected, your pediatrician may recommend a hearing or vision test, a more detailed developmental evaluation, or a referral to specialists such as speech, occupational or physical therapists or a developmental pediatrician. You do not need to wait for a diagnosis to get help.

• Children younger than 3: every state has a free early intervention program. In Maryland, this is the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program, which can evaluate your child and provide services such as speech or physical therapy.
• Children 3 and older: contact your local public school system and ask for a developmental evaluation through its special education (Child Find) program, even if your child is not in school yet.

Everyday Ways to Support Development

• Talk, read and sing with your child every day, starting from birth.
• Follow your child's lead in play, and narrate what you are doing together.
• Give plenty of tummy time for babies and active, outdoor play for older children.
• Limit screens and prioritize face-to-face interaction. See our article on screen time for kids.
• Keep routines predictable and make sure your child gets enough sleep.
• Praise effort and let your child try things on their own.

The Bottom Line

Milestones are a helpful roadmap, not a race. Most children reach them within a range of time, and many differences are normal. Keep track of your child's progress, celebrate new skills, and share your observations at every well visit. If you ever have a concern, act early. For more, read about types of learning and developmental disabilities and signs of ADHD.