Developmental Milestones
0 - 4 wks
• looks at face of caregiver
• small, throaty noises
• responds to sounds
• asymmetrical posture
• quiets when picked up
4 - 8 wks
• social smile
• babbles spontaneously
• facial response to sound
• head sometimes held erect
• reacts to feeding positions
8 - 12 wks
• recognizes mother visually
• single vowels
• glances at rattle in hand
• rolls partway to side
• anticipates lifting
12 - 16 wks
• smiles at mirror image
• coos / chuckles
• anticipatory excitement
• actively holds rattle
• regards own hand
16 - 20 wks
• aware of novel situations
• laughs, vocalizes excitement
• takes rattle to mouth
• hands engage in midline
• anticipates feeding on sight
20 - 24 wks
• shows displeasure over loss of toy
• spontaneous social vocalization
• visual pursuit of dropped object
• holds head erect and steady
• pats or fingers bottle or breast
24 - 28 wks
• plays simple interaction games
• attends to music or singing
• bangs objects on tabletops
• rolls to prone
• drinks from cup with assistance
28 - 32 wks
• shows anxiety to strangers
• polysyllabic vowel sounds
• shakes rattle
• transfers objects between hands
• holds objects voluntarily
32 - 36 wks
• imitates simple adult sounds
• single syllables (da, ba, ka)
• plays with two toys at same time
• pivots while in prone position
• feeds self cracker or cookie
36 - 40 wks
• waves bye-bye
• says "dada" or "mama" (nonspecific)
• uncovers toy hidden by cloth
• sits alone with no support
• responds to "pick up" gesture
40 - 44 wks
• inhibits activity on command
• says "dada" or "mama" (specific)
• combines toys in play
• uses index finger to secure object
• cooperates in social games
44 - 48 wks
• "gives" toy to mirror image
• one word besides "mama" and "dada"
• preference for certain toys over others
• rolls ball while sitting
• gives toy to others without release
48 - 52 wks
• initiates games with adult
• two words besides "mama" and "dada"
• uses crayon to "dot" imitatively
• takes two steps independently
• releases toy to others
1.25 yrs
• shows desire to please parents
• combines words and gestures
• builds tower of two blocks
• runs well, little falling
• points to one body part
1.5 yrs
• hugs or feeds doll
• speaks in sentences
• draws imitative stroke
• turns knob
• understands meaning of "hot"
1.75 yrs
• shares toys or possessions
• says 50 or more words
• uses tool to attain object out of reach
• kicks ball
• uses spoon well
2 yrs
• simple make-believe play
• jargon discarded, speech mostly intelligible
• makes simple generalizations
• turns pages of book, walks up and down stairs
• pulls on simple clothing
2.5 yrs
• identifies own mirror image
• states first and last names
• matches simple shapes
• holds crayon with fingers
• toilet trained during the day
3 yrs
• labels affects in self
• uses past tense, knows some songs or nursery rhymes
• designates action in picture, copies circle
• rides tricycle
• helps put away things
3.5 yrs
• cooperative play, games with rules
• uses adjectives and adverbs
• copies square, compares sizes
• complex block constructions
• does simple chores
4 yrs
• assumes specific role in play
• participates in conversations
• draws person with two parts, counts three objects
• hops
• apologizes for unintentional mistakes
4.5 yrs
• elaborate, dramatic play
• uses compound sentences
• names missing parts, counts four objects
• bounces ball
• orders food in restaurant
5 yrs
• understands rules in games
• defines words, names coins
• knows days of week, counts 10 objects
• throws ball, skips well
• dresses and undresses mostly independently
6 yrs
• has "best friend"
• prints words from memory, reads simple stories
• draws person with head, neck, hands
• rides bicycle
• chooses activities independently