Baby Milestones

Baby milestones are the benchmarks for typical behavior at different stages in infancy. The initial years of a child’s life are crucial for the development of their brain, especially when it comes to their brains. During this stage, their cognitive capacity expands rapidly, impacting their long-term development.¹

What are developmental milestones?
Why milestones are important?
Types
Importance of tracking
Milestones
Table
How to promote a child’s growth
Factors affecting development

What are Baby Milestones?

Baby developmental milestones serve as benchmarks for typical behavior at different ages in childhood. These aid parents and caregivers in gaining a better understanding of their child’s developmental progress and recognizing any potential delays or disorders in the early stages.

Essential baby milestones cover five main areas of development: gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, receptive and expressive language, and social-emotional development.²

Development milestones are moments of celebration and growth in your child’s life, including starting to crawl, their first steps, smiling for the first time, and talking.

A lady holds her baby sitting across from a doctor.

Why is it important to Understand Developmental Milestones?

You can easily monitor your children’s natural progress by downloading or creating a milestone chart and recording their achievements week by week. This could even be a fun crafting activity for your baby shower!

Achieving milestones at expected ages and stages indicates typical development, while achieving them earlier may suggest advanced development compared to peers. On the other hand, if your child misses or is delayed in reaching certain milestones, it could be an early sign of a potential developmental delay.³

Not only does tracking milestones provide you with a comprehensive picture of your child’s development over time, but it also helps you identify any patterns or delays, prompting you to provide support and intervention if needed.⁴

Plus, this record can be a valuable tool for healthcare providers during check-ups, allowing them to make well-informed decisions about your child’s healthcare.

Different Types of Developmental Milestones

There are five domains of development.

Gross motor milestones involve large muscle group skills that lead to self-directed mobility, like your child’s first confident steps as they explore the world around them.
Fine motor development is all about those small muscles, especially in the hands, and how they help your child in daily activities like holding a spoon, drawing, or even buttoning up a shirt.
Receptive and Expressive Language development opens the doors to your child’s world of communication and includes both speech and nonverbal communication skills.
Cognitive development involves refining various skills, including problem-solving, memory, reasoning, and self-help capabilities. You can think of this as the mental gymnastics your child does as they refine these skills.
Socioemotional and behavioral development revolves around your child’s attachment to caregivers, their journey in learning regulatory strategies, and their budding social interactions with others.

The Importance of Tracking and Documenting Your Child’s Developmental Progress

During early childhood, your child’s brain is like a sponge, absorbing knowledge at an astonishing rate. About 90% of their brain development takes place within the first year of life, and full development is typically reached by around age 7.⁵

Synaptic Pruning

In pediatrics, during the transition from a child’s first year into toddlerhood, their synaptic network develops rapidly. In a process called myelination, specific neurons are activated due to various life experiences, resulting in the formation of new brain connections and fortifying existing ones.

To increase efficiency in neuronal transmissions, synaptic pruning occurs, where unused neurons and synapses are eliminated.⁶

This process continues from early childhood to puberty, meaning your child’s experiences during these crucial years can shape their brain. Your actions as a parent play a significant role in nurturing this growth, so remember, the love and attention you give have a profound impact.

Critical Periods and Plasticity

Throughout our lives, there are specific periods when different brain regions are more flexible, open to change, and primed for learning. These periods, known as “sensitive” or “critical” periods, create a neural blueprint of our world and influence our future decision-making and actions.⁷

During critical periods, synaptic connections in some parts of the brain are more flexible or ‘plastic.’ This means that new connections can be formed, or existing ones can be strengthened, enhancing their functionality. However, once this time window has elapsed, the connections become more stable and less prone to change as time progresses.⁸

Picture it like a house being built. During the critical periods, the structure is more malleable, allowing new rooms (connections) to be added or existing ones to be reinforced. However, as time passes, the structure solidifies, becoming less amenable to change.

Typical Developmental Milestones

Here are the developmental milestones by age.⁹

Newborn Milestones

Wandering eyes and able to focus attention on nearby objects (8-12 inches)
Recognizes certain sounds or familiar voices

1-Month-old Milestones

They can lift their chin while lying on their stomach
They turn their heads side to side when on their back
Sudden sounds or voices cause a startled response
Cries to express distress

2-Month-old Milestones

A social smile is developed
Vocalizes and coos in response to caregivers
They have the strength to lift their chest while lying on their stomach
They clasp their hands together

3-Month-old Milestones

They can now raise their head and chest when lying on their stomach, using their arms for upper body support
They stretch and kick their legs while lying on their stomach or back
Grasps and shakes objects and toys
Their facial features and gestures become more expressive
Focuses on and follows moving objects

4-Month-old Milestones

Persistently clutches and grasps at objects
Starts learning to roll over
Chuckles and laughs loudly
They can be pulled into a seated position without head lag

6-Month-old Milestones

They can sit with their hands in front of them to hold themselves up
They can hold more than one object at once
They actively listen and start to babble in response to caregivers, using consonants as opposed to only vowel sounds
They reach for and can feed themselves easy finger foods
‘Stranger anxiety’ forms, where children are more cautious around unfamiliar individuals while seeking comfort from familiar faces

7-Month-old Milestones

Sits steadily without support
They learn to extend their arms to the sides for balance
Turns to parents for assistance when feeling confused or frustrated
They display understanding by looking at specific objects when they are named
They will refuse food when they are full

9-Month-old Milestones

Standing using objects to pull and hold themselves up
They ‘bear walk’, using their hands and feet
Gaze monitoring develops, allowing them to follow an adult’s eyeline
Separation anxiety develops now as they are more aware of and attached to familiar people
Vocalize to gain attention

12-Month Milestones

Standing independently and walking either on their own or while holding a caregiver’s hand
They have a growing understanding of the word “no” and start to use words themselves
They share interests by showing objects to others, as well as pointing to things to express their desires
They can assist in dressing and finger-feeding themselves
Uses gestures to communicate

18-Month Milestones

At this stage, children become capable of running and seating themselves in a chair independently.
Pretend play becomes an everyday activity, often involving imitation of daily ‘adult’ activities such as cooking, driving, or talking on the telephone.
They understand the concept of possessiveness and the idea of ‘mine.’
Emotionally, they experience shame and guilt when they’ve done something wrong, which may influence their choices.
Their vocabulary continues to expand, and they start recognizing people, body parts, and specific objects with more precision

2-Year Milestones

At the two-year mark, children typically refer to themselves by their name and can construct small sentences of 2–3 words.
Physically, they can open doorknobs, walk carefully downstairs while holding a rail, kick a ball, and start to learn how to jump.
More independent in dressing now, they start to undress themselves without assistance.
Emotionally, they start to understand and express their feelings better and can mask their emotions when necessary.

3-4 Year Milestones

Children make a significant leap in language development here, starting to speak in paragraphs, tell stories, and engage in back-and-forth conversations
They begin to use pronouns correctly and can identify their gender, as well as that of their peers.
Physically, they are more agile, ascending and descending stairs alternating their feet and without the need to hold onto a rail
Their imaginative and creative play blossoms, and pretend play still blossoms
They become more proactive in sharing without requiring as much prompting

4-5 Year Milestones

Children at this stage can identify several colors, numbers, and signs, like their favorite brand or food logo.
They become independent in everyday tasks such as washing their hands, brushing their teeth, using the bathroom, and using a fork for eating.
Their physical coordination improves, and they can balance both feet and even hop on one a few times.
Socially, they learn to play in groups and develop preferences for certain friends
They become increasingly skilled at recognizing and understanding certain emotions within themselves

Baby milestones table

AGE	GROSS MOTOR	FINE MOTOR	COGNITIVE	SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL	LANGUAGE
1 month	Lifts chin on belly Turns head on back	Clenches fists near to face Focuses on and follows objects	Follows faces Sucks well Stimulated by high-contrast black and white patterns	Cries to express distress Distinguishes their mother’s face from others	Gurgling and throaty noises Startle response to sudden noises (receptive)
2 months	Lifts chest from their stomach	Holds hands clasped together Grasps rattle	Opens mouth upon seeing breast or bottle Follows large, highly contrasting objects with their gaze Recognizes mother	Smiles reciprocally to adult voices and expressions	Social skills like smile (expressive) Cooing and vowel sounds
3 months	Uses forearms to hold themselves up from stomach Rolls onto side	Hands are unclenched half of the time Examine their fingers curiously	Move hands to mouth and face Tracks objects in a circular motion while lying on their back Shows interest in toys	Displays displeasure to sour taste or loud sounds Tracks movements across a room with their gaze	Focuses on person talking Giggles and chuckles Responds vocally to communication
4 months	Prop themselves up on their wrists. Sits with some trunk support Rolls over from tummy to back No head lag when pulled to sitting position	Primarily keeps hands openGrips onto clothing Reaches persistently	Temporarily grasps a breast or bottleExplores objects with their mouth Gazes longer at unfamiliar faces compared to familiar ones	Smiles at pleasurable sights or sounds Calms down upon hearing their parent’s voice Engages in back-and-forth vocal exchanges	Laughs loudly Vocalizes even when by themselves Turns head towards sound Stops crying when comforted by a soothing voice
6 months	Sits briefly supported by hands Turns over while lying on their tummy, and shifts weight onto one hand	Reaches for and grasps at objects with one hand Transfers objects from one hand to another Uses a raking motion to pick up small items	Self-feeds small foods Explores their own reflection and makes sounds doing so Bangs and shakes toys	Displays social anxiety	Stops briefly in response to the word “no”, anduses gestures to indicate they want to be held Pays attention to talking and responds with vocal sounds Vocalizes by repeating sounds with consonants
7 months	Sits confidently without support Extend their arms to the sides for balance and protect themselves from falling	Holds objects using their fingers and palm (radial-palmar grasp)	Chooses not to eat more than needed Explores various features of a toy Discovers partially hidden objects	Alternates gaze between an object and parent when seeking assistance	Turn their gaze toward a familiar object when named Pays attention to music Expands the range of syllables they use
9 months	Balances on hands and feet, resembling a standing posture Starts crawling and pulls themselves up to stand	Pokes with index finger Grasps for fallen objects or toys	Self-feeds better, biting and chewing Shows curiosity and developed hand-eye coordination using toys like bells to produce sounds, or pulling on a string to retrieve something	Displays separation anxiety Visually recognizes familiar people Responds to gestures or phrases following indicators	Responds well to their name Engages in babbling with a variety of sounds and syllables Imitates and mimics sounds
1 year	Stands steadily with arms raised and legs apart Takes first independent steps	Picks up small objects using their thumb and forefinger (pincer grasp) Holds crayons and attempts scribbling after observing	Use their fingers to feed themselves during part of a meal Will lift the lid of a box to discover a toy Cooperates and helps with dressing	Safely navigates downstairs by crawling Runs with good coordination Sits independently in a small chair	Protoimperative pointing Understands and follows one-step commands Uses several gestures like waving and reaching while vocalizing
18 months	Walks downstairs holding the handrail and taking one step at a time with both feet. Kicks a ball without needing a demonstration	Throws a ball while standing Starts to attempt vertical strokes when scribbling	Explores the house without constant adult supervision Able to match pairs of objects together Can dresses and undress independently	Actively engages in pretend play with others Displays shame when they do something wrong Shows possessiveness	Recognizes themselves, pointing to their own body Understands the concept of ownership and recognizes what belongs to them Uses 10 to 25 words Mimics sounds from their surroundings, including animal noises
2 years	Opens a door using a doorknob Drinks using a straw Categories or arranges objects based on common characteristics Matches real objects with corresponding images or pictures Demonstrates proper use of objects they are familiar with	Throws objects using an overhand motion. Able to copy the shape of a circle and horizontal line when given an example	Uses toilet alone, wiping after bowel movement Washes face and hands and brushes teeth alone Uses fork well Recognizes five to six colors Draws a four- to six-part person	Engages in parallel play Begins to mask emotions for social etiquette	Refers to themself by name Follows two-step commands Understands me/you, distinguishing between themselves and others Forms two-word sentences using a noun and a verb to express themselves Uses 50+ words
3 years	Balances on one foot for 3 seconds Ascends stairs without assistance, alternating their feet, and without holding onto a railing Pedals tricycle Walks heel to toe	Catches ball with stiff arms Reproduces a circle shape by drawing or tracing Awkwardly cuts side-to-side with scissors Strings small beads well onto a string or cord Replicates the construction of a bridge with cube-shaped objects	Eats independently Pours liquid from one container to another Puts on shoes that do not have laces without help. Unbuttons clothing on their own Draws a person with two to three distinct body parts Understands concepts like long and short, big and small, and more and less Knows own gender and age	Shares toys and items with others, independently or with encouragement Develops imaginary fears Engages in imaginative and pretend play Uses own words to describe what someone else is thinking	Identifies specific parts in pictures Names body parts with their function Understands negatives Groups objects based on similarities, such as different foods or toys Uses 200+ words Uses pronouns and plurals correctly Constructs three-words sentences
4 years	Maintains balance on one foot for several seconds Hops on one foot two to three times Makes standing broad jumps, covering 1 to 2 feet Gallops	Throws a ball overhand 10 feet Catches a bounced ball Replicates the shape of a square Ties a single knot Cuts out a circle Writes part of their first name	Walks downstairs with a rail, alternating feet Balances on one foot for more than 8 seconds Skips and hops on one foot 15 times Makes running broad jumps, covering 2 to 3 feet Walks backward heel-toe Jumps backward	Becomes interested in deception, and shows concern about being tricked by others Develops a specific friendship or preference for a particular friend Identifies and labels their own emotions, including happiness, sadness, fear, and anger Engages in and enjoys group play activities	Follows three-step commands Points to things that are the same versus different Understands and uses adjectives Uses 300 to 1,000 words Narrates and tells stories Speech is clear and understood by others Uses “feeling” words
5 years	Walks down stairs with a rail, alternating feet Balances on one foot for more than 8 seconds Skips and hops on one foot 15 times Makes running broad jumps, covering 2 to 3 feet Walks backward heel-toe Jumps backward	Copies drawing a triangle Can place a paper clip onto a sheet of paper Uses clothespins to transfer small objects Cuts with scissors Writes their first name	Spreads with a knife Bathes independently Draws an 8- to 10-part person Correctly state quantities less than 10 Names letters/numerals, even when presented out of their typical sequence Identifies and names ten different colorsKnows sounds of consonants and short vowels Reads and understands 25 words	Has a group of friends Develops the understanding and willingness to apologize when they make errors Responds verbally to others’ good fortune	Distinguishes between their right and left sides Enjoys and produces rhyming words and alliterations Accurately identifies and points to different spatial locations Echoes back sentences of six to eight words Provides straightforward explanations for basic words Uses 2,000 words Knows telephone number Responds to “why” questions Narrates stories with a clear beginning, middle, and end

How to Support and Promote Your Child’s Growth

Luckily, it’s super easy to monitor your child’s development from birth! There are assessments that can accurately measure your child’s progress and are often simple enough for parents to complete and review with a doctor. Two standard tools are the Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) and the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ).

Additionally, the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile Infant-Toddler Checklist (CSBS-DP IT-Checklist) is designed for kids aged six to 24 months. It’s a valuable resource that can identify language delays, autism, and other developmental issues, often before parents even notice.

Parents can use these assessments as a personal milestone chart, checking off developmental milestones as their child achieves them. This can also serve as a helpful reference for parents to identify possible concerns and determine when it might be necessary to consult a healthcare professional.

Factors Contributing to Atypical Development

Missing significant developmental milestones can indicate potential long-term developmental issues.

Identifying and addressing these issues early on can significantly boost a child’s chances of healthy development. However, pediatricians are often the first to identify these red flags. It is equally crucial for parents to be well-informed about the factors that can impact their child’s growth.

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) create child trauma like growing up with a mentally ill or substance-abusing parent, enduring abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual), emotional neglect, witnessing domestic violence, or suffering parental loss.

Prolonged ACEs create toxic stress, with child maltreatment being the leading cause. Such chronic stress can negatively impact brain development, causing issues like impaired cognition, memory, and mental health.¹⁰

Toxic stress can arise from various sources, including dysfunctional families, substance abuse, socioeconomic troubles, domestic conflict, and bullying. Even less severe but persistent, daily stressors in family relationships can be toxic to children. These stressors trigger the stress response system, laying the foundation for long-term physical and mental health challenges.¹¹

Socioeconomic Status

Poverty has a unique impact on child development and can lead to adverse childhood experiences (as discussed above), although ACEs do occur at all socioeconomic levels.

Low socioeconomic status (SES) raises the likelihood of stressors within the home and neighborhood, including exposure to toxic substances like lead and air pollution, which can affect children’s emotional regulation and increase obesity risks.

Children in low SES households may also face challenges in language skills, self-regulation, and certain types of memory, reflecting potential developmental issues in language centers, prefrontal cortical systems, and memory systems.¹²

Parental Role

If a parent or caregiver is insensitive to their baby’s cues, displays frequent anger, or is neglectful, attachment formation may be affected, and family intervention is necessary.

Additionally, parents dealing with mental health or substance abuse issues may need assistance in promoting their child’s growth and development.

When to Seek Professional Help

If you have concerns about your child’s development or notice a significant development delay, seek professional help.

Your baby’s pediatrician can assist or refer you to a specialist. For instance, children showing potential red flags in social communication might be evaluated for autism spectrum disorders. Kids with receptive or expressive language delays may be referred for treatment by a speech/language pathologist or an audiologist.

Final Thoughts on Baby Developmental Milestones

While developmental processes typically follow a set pattern, it is critical to recognize that a child’s unique developmental journey is shaped by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, which can also cause hindrance or growth. Intrinsic factors include the child’s genetic attributes and overall health, while parental and sibling roles, socioeconomic status, and the cultural environment influence external factors.

Remember this when it comes to your approach to parenting and tracking your child’s developmental progress.

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