What are Milestones?
A milestone can be any behavior or activity that shows signs of development in childhood, such as learning walk, talk, or play. By understanding these milestones and the age they occur, you can keep note of your child's development. If you have concerns that your child might not be meeting these milestones at the usual age, you can schedule an Early Intervention evaluation to check for causes of developmental delays.
Milestones by Age
Below is a list of milestone behaviors from 2 months to 3 years, as well as ways you can help their development and potential delays to look out for. Early Intervention services are designed to support childhood development from birth to age 3.
2 Months
What your baby may do at this age:
- Calms themselves (sucking on thumb, bringing hands to face, etc).
- Starts smiling at people.
- Follows sounds and objects with eyes.
- Coos, makes gurgling sounds.
- Acts bored when activities don't change.
How to help your child's development:
- Cuddle, talk, and play with your baby during feeding, dressing, or bathing.
- Develop a routine or regular schedule for your baby (eating schedule, sleep schedule, etc).
- Play peek-a-boo. Help your baby play peek-a-boo as well.
- Use a baby safe mirror in their crib so they can see themselves.
Contact Early Intervention services if you notice the following delays at this age:
- No response to loud sounds.
- Not watching people or objects as they move.
- Isn't smiling at people.
- Can't hold head up when laying on stomach.
4 Months
What your baby may do at this age:
- Copies movements and facial expressions.
- Begins babbling, especially with expression and copying other sounds.
- Cries in different ways when hungry, in pain, or tired.
- Plays with people, may cry when playtime ends.
- Responds to affection.
- Follows moving objects with eyes.
How to help your child's development:
- Hold and talk to your baby while smiling and cheerful.
- Act excited, smile, and copy your baby's sounds when they make them.
- Read or sing to your baby.
- Use age-appropriate toys for your child to play with.
- Hold your baby upright with feet on the floor while talking or singing to them. This helps them "stand" while you support them.
Contact Early Intervention services if you notice the following delays at this age:
- Can't hold head steady.
- Makes no sounds.
- Doesn't push down with legs when feet are placed on a hard surface.
- Doesn't bring objects to their mouth.
6 Months
What your baby may do at this age:
- Knows familiar faces, can tell when someone is a stranger.
- Likes to play often.
- Babbles vowels ("ah" or "eh") and consonant sounds.
- Responds to hearing their name.
- Takes turns with parent making noises.
- Can pass things from one hand to the other.
- When standing, they may bounce on legs and support their weight.
- Sits without support.
How to help your child's development:
- Play on the floor with your baby every day.
- Learn to read your child's moods (keep doing what makes them happy, take breaks from what makes them unhappy and then comfort them).
- Read books with colorful pictures to your baby every day, praise them when they babble trying to "read" too.
- Play "reciprocally" - this means when they smile, you smile; when they make sounds, copy them
- Repeat your child's sounds and say simple words with those sounds (example: when they say "Da" say "Dad" or "Dog".
- When they drop a toy, pick it up and give it back. This game teaches cause and effect.
Contact Early Intervention services if you notice the following delays at this age:
- Won't try to reach for things that are nearby.
- Doesn't show affection to caregivers.
- Has difficulty putting things in mouth.
- Doesn't laugh or squeal.
- Seems "floppy" like a rag doll, or too stiff with tight muscles.
- Irresponsive to noise.
- Can't or won't roll over in any direction.
9 Months
What your baby may do at this age:
- May be afraid of strangers and attached to familiar adults.
- May have favorite toys.
- Understands what "no" means.
- Makes a wide range of different sounds.
- Will point at objects and people.
- Copies sounds, movements, and gestures from others.
- Can stand while holding on.
- Starts crawling.
- Can pick up small objects with thumb and index finger.
- Looks for things that they see you hide from them.
How to help your child's development:
- Pay attention to the way they react to new people and events; keep doing things to make your child happy and comfortable.
- Stay near them as they move around more.
- Play games that take turns.
- Describe objects that your baby is focused on (ex: "yellow banana, red truck").
- Continue with routines and schedules, as they are very important now.
- Ask for behaviors that you want (ex: say "time to be done" instead of "stop that").
- Provide room for them to move around freely and explore safely.
Contact Early Intervention services if you notice the following delays at this age:
- Won't put weight on their legs.
- Can't sit while you help them.
- Irresponsive to their name.
- Won't play back-and-forth games.
- Doesn't recognize familiar people.
- Makes no noises.
- Doesn't look at things you point at.
1 Year
What your baby may do at this age:
- Can say "mama," "dada," "uh-oh."
- Uses gestures like shaking head to say "no" or waving hello and goodbye.
- Responds to simple spoken requests.
- Speaks with pitch, more like natural speech.
- Is shy with strangers, may cry when mom/dad leaves.
- Shows fear in certain situations.
- Repeats sounds and actions to get attention.
- Can take first few steps without help.
- Might stand on their own.
- Can get in a sitting position without help.
- Looks at objects as that object's name is called.
- Bangs things together.
- Uses objects correctly (drinking from a bottle).
How to help your child's development:
- Help your child get comfortable around new people (bringing fav toy/blanket/stuffed animal).
- Saying "no" to unwanted behavior (no yelling, spanking, or giving long explanations).
- Praise good behavior and show signs of love for your child (hugging, kissing, etc.).
- Spend more time encouraging good behaviors than punishing bad behavior (about 4 times as much encouragement than punishment for bad behavior).
- Read to your child everyday, letting them turn the pages.
- Let your child draw freely with crayons and paper.
- Play with blocks or games that sort shapes.
- Hide small toys and encourage your child to find them.
- Encourage your child to make noise with pots or pans to make music.
- Give push toys like a wagon or "kiddie push car."
Contact Early Intervention services if you notice the following delays at this age:
- Won't/can't crawl.
- Can't stand with support.
- Doesn't speak single words.
- Loses any skills they once had.
- Doesn't learn any gestures.
- Won't search for objects that are hidden in front of them.
18 Months
What your baby may do at this age:
- Plays by handing objects to people.
- Explores alone but with a parent close by.
- Plays pretend.
- Might throw temper tantrums.
- Can say several single word.
- Points at objects to show they want it.
- Like to play with dolls and stuffed animals.
- Able to walk on their own.
- Can eat with a spoon.
- Knows the name of ordinary things (phone, cup, crayon).
- Will pull toys behind them while walking.
How to help your child's development:
- Provide a safe, loving environment that is consistent and predictable.
- Praise good behavior more than you punish bad behaviors (use small timeouts as punishment).
- Describe their emotions (example: "You're excited when we play").
- Encourage pretend play.
- Encourage empathy (example: if they see another child who is sad, encourage them to go and cheer them up).
- Say and ask simple phrases and questions.
- Name pictures in books and body parts.
- Play with toys that teach cause and effect.
- Provide toys that encourage pretend play.
- Encourage them to drink from a cup and use a spoon to eat food (no matter how messy).
Contact Early Intervention services if you notice the following delays at this age:
- Can't walk.
- Hasn't learned new words (or have at least 6 words).
- Isn't phased by caregiver coming/going.
- Doesn't know what familiar items do or are used for.
- Won't copy other people.
2 Years
What your baby may do at this age:
- Shows independence, defiant behavior (does what they are told not to do).
- Gets excited when around other kids their age.
- Plays mostly next to other children, but may include other kids in their games.
- Says sentences of 2 to 4 words.
- Follows simple instructions.
- Able to stand on their tip toes.
- Might start using one hand more than the other.
- Plays simple pretend games.
- Sorts shapes and colors.
- Kicks and throw balls.
- Can climb onto and off of furniture without support.
How to help your child's development:
- Encourage your child to complete certain tasks at home. Praise them for being a good helper.
- Teach your child to identify common things, animals, or body parts.
- Praise and give attention to when your child follows instructions. Limit attention to defiant behavior.
- Don't correct your child when they say a word incorrectly. Instead say it correctly ("that is a ball").
- Help your child do puzzles involving shapes, colors, or other objects to name as they put each piece in place.
- Once your child can walk efficiently, ask them to carry small things for you.
- Ask your child to help open doors, drawers, or containers.
- Take them to the park to run, climb on playground equipment, or walk through nature trails.
Contact Early Intervention services if you notice the following delays at this age:
- Doesn't know how to use common objects like utensils, cups, crayons.
- Won't copy words, gestures, or actions.
- No understanding of simple instructions.
- Difficulty saying two-word phrases (example: kick ball).
- Can't walk steadily.
- Loses any skills they once had.
- Won't make eye contact.
3 Years
What your baby may do at this age:
- Copies adults and friends.
- Is toilet trained.
- Is affectionate to friends without prompting.
- Understands possessives and ownership ("mine," "his," "her").
- Follows instructions with 2 or 3 steps.
- Can carry a conversation with 2 or 3 sentences.
- Strangers can more or less understand them when they talk.
- Can dress and undress themselves.
- Has a wide emotional range.
- Understands location-describing words ("in," "under," "over," etc).
- Plays with toys with moving parts.
- Can unscrew lids, turn door handles.
- Runs easily and walk up and down stairs.
- Able to pedal a tricycle.
How to help your child's development:
- Get them into activities where lots of kids are playing.
- Work with your child to solve problems when they are upset.
- Talk with your child about their emotions, help them identify their feelings.
- Set consistent rules and limits for your child. Praise them for following rules, give them a time out for 30 seconds to a minute when they don't.
- Use instructions with 2 or 3 steps.
- Read to your child every day, letting them repeat things in pictures.
- Play games involving counting, matching, and coloring.
- Take your child outside to play.
Contact Early Intervention services if you notice the following delays at this age:
- Trouble with stairs.
- Drooling or unclear speech.
- Can't work simple toys.
- Doesn't make eye contact or speak in sentences.
- Won't play pretend.
- Loses any skills they once had.
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