Parenting, Relationships

Childhood Development Milestones

Ali Lemmons
Lindsay Gammenthaler, MD
September 5, 2024

Baby Steps: Recognizing Childhood Development Milestones

From birth to 5 years of age, there are many milestones that your child will begin to hit socially, linguistically, cognitively, and physically. While not every child matures at the exact same rate, these milestones are a good guideline to determine how and when your child should be progressing. Here, we discuss just a few of the ways your child will begin to develop and share advice from experts on the subject.

What Are the Different Kinds of Child Development?

Social/Emotional

Your baby will learn to recognize you, experience joy and laughter, and interact with those around them.

Language/Communication

Your baby will learn how to make sounds, understand what is spoken to them, and slowly develop their speaking skills.

Cognitive

Your baby will learn new things, follow instructions or commands, and develop problem-solving skills.

Physical

Your baby will grow, get stronger, develop large and fine motor skills, and improve their coordination.

Typical Milestones

2-4 months:

Smiling – In this age range, your baby will begin to smile, both in response to your smile and to get your attention.
Cooing noises – Though they aren’t speaking yet, your baby will try to communicate with you by making different noises, such as ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh.’
Using hands – Your baby will start by opening their hands and move on to holding toys that you place in them.
Holding head up – During tummy time, your baby will learn to lift their head up and eventually push up onto their forearms.

6 months:

Laughing – As your baby continues to develop, they’ll soon start laughing along with their smiles.
Making sounds – In addition to cooing, your baby will take turns making different sounds with you.
Rolling over – Your baby will learn to roll over from their tummy onto their back.

9 months:

Sitting without support – Your baby will learn to get into a sitting position by themselves and be able to sit there without any support.
Reacting to name – When you call your baby’s name, they’ll begin to notice and look towards you.
Lifting arms – To communicate that they want to be picked up, your baby will begin lifting their arms toward you.

1 year:

Playing games – At 1 year of age, your baby will take interest in playing games such as pat-a-cake.
Saying names – Your baby will begin to call you a name, such as ‘mama’ or ‘dada.’
Pulling up – Your baby will learn to pull themselves up to a standing position and walk while using furniture as a guide.

15-18 months:

Showing affection – Your toddler will begin to hug, kiss, and cuddle with you.
Trying to speak – While not quite to full words, your toddler will try to say things like ‘ba’ (ball) and ‘da’ (dog).
Taking steps – Now, your toddler will begin trying to walk without holding onto anything.
Looking at books – Your toddler will be able to focus on a few pages of a book at a time while reading together.

2 years:

Developing empathy – Your toddler will begin to notice if someone is upset. They will pause to take it in or be noticeably upset.
Speaking – Now, your toddler will say words in groups of two. This may sound like ‘more milk.’
Running – Now more confident, your toddler will move from unsteady steps to running.

3 years:

Noticing other children – Your child will begin to not only notice other children, but to seek them out to play.
Asking questions – Your child will enter their question phase and begin to ask who, what, where, and why?
Using a fork – With developing motor skills, your child will begin to use a fork and other utensils with more ease.

5 years:

Singing for you – As their personality develops, your child may begin to sing, dance, and act for you.
Telling stories – Your child will tell stories that have at least two events in them.
Writing letters – Your child will be able to write some of the letters in their name.

Developmental Delays

Every child is different, so not every child will reach the same milestones at the exact same time. These milestones are good guidelines to follow to see how your child is developing, but it’s not a strict timetable.

However, in some instances, a child could be suffering from a developmental delay. A developmental delay occurs when a child consistently falls behind their peers and doesn’t meet expectations. According to the CDC, around
1 in 6 children have at least one delay in their development.

But don’t worry yet. Many developmental delays will be resolved on their own time or can be worked through with extra parental support. If you’re concerned about your child’s development, consult your doctor for advice.

Five Tips to Improve Delays

Play with your child
Read to your child
Set screen time limits
Create a routine
Consult your doctor

Q. What causes developmental delays in children? Are there ways to avoid them?

A. It astounds me how quickly children grow and develop. Because these changes occur rapidly, it’s important to have regular “well checks” to assure your child is developing appropriately. While some delays are not preventable – like those caused by prematurity or genetic factors – there are some habits that can promote healthy development. Singing, talking, and reading with your child can do wonders for their communication skills. For motor skills, starting daily “tummy time” in the first few weeks of life can help build the muscles your child needs to soon roll, then crawl and walk. Additionally, time spent outside – versus in front of a screen – usually results in great opportunities for imagination, strength building, and even social development if another child is present.

Lindsay Gammenthaler, MD Pediatrician, Spring Creek Pediatrics

Q. When should parents consult their doctor about their child falling behind in these milestones?

A. As a parent, you know your child best. If you ever feel like your child isn’t meeting their developmental milestones or if you notice anything unusual in how they play, learn, speak, or move, don’t hesitate to talk to your child’s doctor. Early intervention is crucial, so if you have any concerns about delays, it’s important to discuss them with your primary care provider (PCP) promptly. Trust your instincts and reach out whenever you feel unsure – it’s never too early to seek help. Keeping track of your child’s milestones can be helpful. You can use resources like the CDC milestones tracker to monitor their development. Regular well-child visits, including developmental surveillance, are also essential. During these visits, your doctor will assess your child’s development and offer support if needed. Well-child visits are an excellent opportunity for your PCP to evaluate your child’s development and provide assistance if necessary.

Lorena Ferreira, MD Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician, Siskin Children’s Institute

Q. How can parents support their children and encourage them to reach these developmental milestones?

A. Simple activities that cross the areas of global development don’t have to be complicated or expensive. A trip to the park with friends can target each developmental domain incidentally: count stairs as you climb to the slide, take turns, bury toys in the sand and dirt, and talk about what’s happening – you just hit it all! Modeling healthy practices is so important for children to then choose them independently, and while it is important to keep our children safe, part of learning is failing. Falling down and learning to get back up is part of gross motor development – and of lifelong learning. If you ever have concerns about your child’s development – and we all do at some point – always talk to your pediatrician.