Developmental Milestones

2 Months

Social/Emotional Milestones

Calms down when spoken to or picked up
Looks at your face
Seems happy to see you when you walk up to her
Smiles when you talk to or smile at her

Language/Communication Milestones

Makes sounds other than crying
Reacts to loud sounds

Cognitive Milestones

Watches you as you move
Looks at a toy for several seconds

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

Holds head up when on tummy
Moves both arms and both legs
Opens hands briefly

Printable Checklist for Parents

4 Months

Social/Emotional Milestones

Smiles on his own to get your attention
Chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make him laugh
Looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention

Language/Communication Milestones

Makes sounds like “oooo”, “aahh” (cooing)
Makes sounds back when you talk to him
Turns head towards the sound of your voice

Cognitive Milestones

If hungry, opens mouth when he sees breast or bottle
Looks at her hands with interest

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

Holds head steady without support when you are holding him
Holds a toy when you put it in his hand
Uses his arm to swing at toys
Brings hands to mouth
Pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy

Printable Checklist for Parents

6 Months

Social/Emotional Milestones

Knows familiar people
Likes to look at self in a mirror
Laughs

Language/Communication Milestones

Takes turns making sounds with you
Blows “raspberries” (sticks tongue out and blows)
Makes squealing noises

Cognitive Milestones

Puts things in her mouth to explore them
Reaches to grab a toy she wants
Closes lips to show she doesn’t want more food

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

Rolls from tummy to back
Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
Leans on hands to support herself when sitting

Printable Checklist for Parents

9 Months

Social/Emotional Milestones

Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers
Shows several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry, and surprised
Looks when you call her name
Reacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you, or cries)
Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo

Language/Communication Milestones

Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa”
Lifts arms up to be picked up

Cognitive Milestones

Looks for objects when dropped out of sight (like his spoon or toy)
Bangs two things together

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

Gets to a sitting position by herself
Moves things from one hand to her other hand
Uses fingers to “rake” food towards himself
Sits without support

Printable Checklist for Parents

1 Year

Social/Emotional Milestones

Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake

Language/Communication Milestones

Waves “bye-bye”
Calls a parent “mama” or “dada” or another special name
Understands “no” (pauses briefly or stops when you say it)

Cognitive Milestones

Puts something in a container, like a block in a cup
Looks for things he sees you hide, like a toy under a blanket

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

Pulls up to stand
Walks, holding on to furniture
Drinks from a cup without a lid, as you hold it
Picks things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small bits of food

Printable Checklist for Parents

15 Months

Social/Emotional Milestones

Copies other children while playing, like taking toys out of a container when another child does
Shows you an object she likes
Claps when excited
Hugs stuffed doll or other toy
Shows you affection (hugs, cuddles, or kisses you)

Language/Communication Milestones

Tries to say one or two words besides “mama” or “dada,” like “ba” for ball or “da” for dog
Looks at a familiar object when you name it
Follows directions given with both a gesture and words. For example, he gives you a toy when you hold out your hand and say, “Give me the toy.”
Points to ask for something or to get help

Cognitive Milestones

Tries to use things the right way, like a phone, cup, or book
Stacks at least two small objects, like blocks

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

Takes a few steps on his own
Uses fingers to feed herself some food

Printable Checklist for Parents

18 Months

Social/Emotional Milestones

Moves away from you, but looks to make sure you are close by
Points to show you something interesting
Puts hands out for you to wash them
Looks at a few pages in a book with you
Helps you dress him by pushing arm through sleeve or lifting up foot

Language/Communication Milestones

Tries to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada”
Follows one-step directions without any gestures, like giving you the toy when you say, “Give it to me.”

Cognitive Milestones

Copies you doing chores, like sweeping with a broom
Plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

Walks without holding on to anyone or anything
Scribbles
Drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes
Feeds himself with his fingers
Tries to use a spoon
Climbs on and off a couch or chair without help

Printable Checklist for Parents

2 Years

Social/Emotional Milestones

Notices when others are hurt or upset, like pausing or looking sad when someone is crying
Looks at your face to see how to react in a new situation

Language/Communication Milestones

Points to things in a book when you ask, like “Where is the bear?”
Says at least two words together, like “More milk.”
Points to at least two body parts when you ask him to show you
Uses more gestures than just waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes

Cognitive Milestones

Holds something in one hand while using the other hand; for example, holding a container and taking the lid off
Tries to use switches, knobs, or buttons on a toy
Plays with more than one toy at the same time, like putting toy food on a toy plate

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

Kicks a ball
Runs
Walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help
Eats with a spoon

Printable Checklist for Parents

30 Months

Social/Emotional Milestones

Plays next to other children and sometimes plays with them
Shows you what she can do by saying, “Look at me!”
Follows simple routines when told, like helping to pick up toys when you say, “It’s clean-up time.”

Language/Communication Milestones

Says about 50 words
Says two or more words together, with one action word, like “Doggie run”
Names things in a book when you point and ask, “What is this?”
Says words like “I,” “me,” or “we”

Cognitive Milestones

Uses things to pretend, like feeding a block to a doll as if it were food
Shows simple problem-solving skills, like standing on a small stool to reach something
Follows two-step instructions like “Put the toy down and close the door.”
Shows he knows at least one color, like pointing to a red crayon when you ask, “Which one is red?”

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

Uses hands to twist things, like turning doorknobs or unscrewing lids
Takes some clothes off by himself, like loose pants or an open jacket
Jumps off the ground with both feet
Turns book pages, one at a time, when you read to her

Printable Checklist for Parents

3 Years

Social/Emotional Milestones

Calms down within 10 minutes after you leave her, like at a childcare drop off
Notices other children and joins them to play

Language/Communication Milestones

Talks with you in conversation using at least two back-and-forth exchanges
Asks “who,” “what,” “where,” or “why” questions, like “Where is mommy/daddy?”
Says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like “running,” “eating,” or “playing”
Says first name, when asked
Talks well enough for others to understand, most of the time

Cognitive Milestones

Draws a circle, when you show him how
Avoids touching hot objects, like a stove, when you warn her

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

Strings items together, like large beads or macaroni
Puts on some clothes by himself, like loose pants or a jacket
Uses a fork

Printable Checklist for Parents

4 Years

Social/Emotional Milestones

Pretends to be something else during play (teacher, superhero, dog)
Asks to go play with children if none are around, like “Can I play with Alex?”
Comforts others who are hurt or sad, like hugging a crying friend
Avoids danger, like not jumping from tall heights at the playground
Likes to be a “helper”
Changes behavior based on where she is (place of worship, library, playground)

Language/Communication Milestones

Says sentences with four or more words
Says some words from a song, story, or nursery rhyme
Talks about at least one thing that happened during her day, like “I played soccer.”
Answers simple questions like “What is a coat for?” or “What is a crayon for?”

Cognitive Milestones

Names a few colors of items
Tells what comes next in a well-known story
Draws a person with three or more body parts

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

Catches a large ball most of the time
Serves herself food or pours water, with adult supervision
Unbuttons some buttons
Holds crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not a fist)

Printable Checklist for Parents

5 Years

Social/Emotional Milestones

Follows rules or takes turns when playing games with other children
Sings, dances, or acts for you
Does simple chores at home, like matching socks or clearing the table after eating

Language/Communication Milestones

Tells a story she heard or made up with at least two events. For example, a cat was stuck in a tree and a firefighter saved it
Answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it to him
Keeps a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchanges
Uses or recognizes simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall)

Cognitive Milestones

Counts to 10
Names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to them
Uses words about time, like “yesterday,” “tomorrow,” “morning,” or “night”
Pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities. For example, during story time or making arts and crafts (screen time does not count)
Writes some letters in her name
Names some letters when you point to them

Movement/Physical Development Milestones