Child development milestones, 2 months to 5 years
159 milestones from the CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." checklists (2022 revision), by age from 2 months to 5 years and by area: social/emotional, language/communication, cognitive, and movement/physical.
If some milestones for their age are not reached yet, consult a doctor. In the app, you can tick each milestone as it is reached.
Milestones at 2 months
Stage: 0-3 monthsSocial/Emotional
- Calms down when spoken to or picked up
- Looks at your face
- Seems happy to see you when you walk up to them
- Smiles when you talk or smile at them
Language/Communication
- Makes sounds other than crying
- Reacts to loud sounds
Cognitive
- Watches you as you move
- Looks at a toy for several seconds
Movement/Physical
- Holds head up when on tummy
- Moves both arms and both legs
- Opens hands briefly
Milestones at 4 months
Stage: 3-6 monthsSocial/Emotional
- Smiles on their own to get your attention
- Chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make them laugh
- Looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention
Language/Communication
- Makes sounds like “oooo”, “aahh” (cooing)
- Makes sounds back when you talk to them
- Turns head towards the sound of your voice
Cognitive
- If hungry, opens mouth when they see breast or bottle
- Looks at their hands with interest
Movement/Physical
- Holds head steady without support when you are holding them
- Holds a toy when you put it in their hand
- Uses their arm to swing at toys
- Brings hands to mouth
- Pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy
Milestones at 6 months
Stage: 6-9 monthsSocial/Emotional
- Knows familiar people
- Likes to look at themselves in a mirror
- Laughs
Language/Communication
- Takes turns making sounds with you
- Blows “raspberries” (sticks tongue out and blows)
- Makes squealing noises
Cognitive
- Puts things in their mouth to explore them
- Reaches to grab a toy they want
- Closes lips to show they don’t want more food
Movement/Physical
- Rolls from tummy to back
- Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
- Leans on hands to support themselves when sitting
Milestones at 9 months
Stage: 9-12 monthsSocial/Emotional
- Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers
- Shows several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry, and surprised
- Looks when you call their name
- Reacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you, or cries)
- Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo
Language/Communication
- Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “babababa”
- Lifts arms up to be picked up
Cognitive
- Looks for objects when dropped out of sight (like their spoon or toy)
- Bangs two things together
Movement/Physical
- Gets to a sitting position by themselves
- Moves things from one hand to their other hand
- Uses fingers to “rake” food towards themselves
- Sits without support
Milestones at 1 year
Stage: 12-18 monthsSocial/Emotional
- Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake
Language/Communication
- Waves “bye-bye”
- Calls a parent “mama” or “dada” or another special name
- Understands “no” (pauses briefly or stops when you say it)
Cognitive
- Puts something in a container, like a block in a cup
- Looks for things they see you hide, like a toy under a blanket
Movement/Physical
- 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
Milestones at 15 months
Stage: 12-18 monthsSocial/Emotional
- Copies other children while playing, like taking toys out of a container when another child does
- Shows you an object they like
- Claps when excited
- Hugs stuffed doll or other toy
- Shows you affection (hugs, cuddles, or kisses you)
Language/Communication
- 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, 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
- Tries to use things the right way, like a phone, cup, or book
- Stacks at least two small objects, like blocks
Movement/Physical
- Takes a few steps on their own
- Uses fingers to feed themselves some food
Milestones at 18 months
Stage: 18 months - 2 yearsSocial/Emotional
- 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 them by pushing arm through sleeve or lifting up foot
Language/Communication
- 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
- Copies you doing chores, like sweeping with a broom
- Plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car
Movement/Physical
- Walks without holding on to anyone or anything
- Scribbles
- Drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes
- Feeds themselves with their fingers
- Tries to use a spoon
- Climbs on and off a couch or chair without help
Milestones at 2 years
Stage: 2 years - 3 years 1 monthSocial/Emotional
- 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
- 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 them to show you
- Uses more gestures than just waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes
Cognitive
- 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
- Kicks a ball
- Runs
- Walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help
- Eats with a spoon
Milestones at 30 months
Stage: 2 years - 3 years 1 monthSocial/Emotional
- Plays next to other children and sometimes plays with them
- Shows you what they 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
- Says about 50 words
- Says two or more words, 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
- 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 they know at least one color, like pointing to a red crayon when you ask, “Which one is red?”
Movement/Physical
- Uses hands to twist things, like turning doorknobs or unscrewing lids
- Takes some clothes off by themselves, 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 them
Milestones at 3 years
Stage: 2 years - 3 years 1 monthSocial/Emotional
- Calms down within 10 minutes after you leave them, like at a childcare drop off
- Notices other children and joins them to play
Language/Communication
- 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
- Draws a circle, when you show them how
- Avoids touching hot objects, like a stove, when you warn them
Movement/Physical
- Strings items together, like large beads or macaroni
- Puts on some clothes by themselves, like loose pants or a jacket
- Uses a fork
Milestones at 4 years
Social/Emotional
- 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 they are (place of worship, library, playground)
Language/Communication
- 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 their day, like “I played soccer.”
- Answers simple questions like “What is a coat for?” or “What is a crayon for?”
Cognitive
- 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
- Catches a large ball most of the time
- Serves themselves food or pours water, with adult supervision
- Unbuttons some buttons
- Holds crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not a fist)
Milestones at 5 years
Social/Emotional
- 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
- Tells a story they 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 them
- Keeps a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchanges
- Uses or recognizes simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall)
Cognitive
- 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 their name
- Names some letters when you point to them
Movement/Physical
- Buttons some buttons
- Hops on one foot
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