Not all children grow at the same pace. Each individual will grow emotionally, mentally, and physically at their own rate. However, there are some broad developmental milestones and benchmarks that help parents, caretakers, and pediatricians track the progress of your child’s growth. Milestones can vary by age, and include rolling over, reacting to noise, smiling, and various levels of speech. They can also include social and behavioral categories, such as interacting with other children and becoming comfortable being separated from a parent.

The goal of developmental milestones is to ensure your child’s healthy development and identify as early as possible any developmental delays. Some such delays may be minor, correcting themselves over time. Others may require more intentional interventions and therapies. 

Early detection and treatment can be critical to achieving positive outcomes. That’s why it’s important for parents and caregivers to be familiar with the broad strokes of developmental milestones in children–especially through the age of three years old. Recognizing these developmental milestones can help you support development at home, know when an early intervention program might be necessary, and track your child’s progress as they age. 

Key Developmental Milestones for Ages 0-3

Babies and children tend to grow very quickly. As a result, there are a significant number of milestones between birth and the age of 3 years. These milestones are often divided into various categories and separated by age. The following is a list of common milestones, though it is by no means complete. (For a complete list of milestones, you can talk to your child’s pediatrician during a regular wellness check.)

Milestones include the following: 

Age 0-2 months:

• Watches you when you move

• Calms down when picked up

• Makes sounds other than crying

• Can hold their head up independently

Age 4 months:

• Makes “ooo” and “ahh” sounds 

• Can hold a toy when you put it in their hands

• Uses body language such as smiling or moving to get your attention

• Turns their head towards the sound of your voice 

Age 6 months:

• Can roll from tummy to back 

• Laughs 

• Will take turns making sounds with you 

• Recognizes familiar people and likes to look at their own reflection 

Age 9 months: 

• Is able to visibly express several emotions, including happiness, sadness, and so on

• Will visibly react or notice when you leave 

• Can make simple sounds such as “baba” or “mama” 

• Can move into a sitting position on their own 

• Uses fingers to eat by “raking” the food towards their mouth 

Age 1 year

• Understands “no”

• Can walk by hanging on to furniture 

• Can pick small objects up using their thumb and pointer finger 

• Can look for hidden objects and understands that hidden objects can be found 

• Will wave “goodbye” to people 

• Will play games such as pat-a-cake with adults 

Age 15 months

• Will show parents and caregivers affection in the form of hugs and kisses 

• Can search for or spot a familiar object when you name it

• Attempts to put at least two words together (usually along with “mama” or other simple words) 

• They can take a few steps on their own 

• Will mimic other children, especially when playing 

Age 18 months

• Will begin copying you when doing chores (such as sweeping or cleaning) 

• Can drink for themselves using a sippy cup and feed themselves using their fingers 

• Communicates in simple ways, such as pointing at an object of interest to show you

• Begins to separate themselves from you, playing independently, but always looking to make sure you’re still there

Age 2 years

• Can walk, run, and walk up stairs 

• Can eat with simple utensils, such as a spoon 

• Knows to look at your face to see how you are reacting to a situation 

• Can hold an object in one hand while using the other for a different task 

• Can nod “yes” and use other simple gestures beyond pointing 

• Will begin to say two words together to create meaning, such as “more food”

Age 3 years:

• Can respond with their first name when asked 

• Will ask simple questions, such as “who,” “what,” “where,” and “when?” 

• Can put on some clothes on their own 

• Joins other children in play 

• Can be left at a daycare or other place with minimal fuss (less than ten minutes or so) 

• Will begin to pay attention to pages in a book 

• Will begin to have conversations with you which may last for several back and forth exchanges 

How Can You Spot Developmental Delays?

Because children grow at their own pace, delays in development are not always easy to see. This is also true because developmental delays can come in many forms and to varying degrees. Some delays are purely physical while others are primarily behavioral. In some cases, developmental delays may also impact many areas of development. When two or more areas are affected, pediatricians refer to this as a global developmental delay.

As with many issues related to health and wellness, early detection can be important to achieving positive outcomes. As a result, it’s important to talk to your child’s pediatrician when you first notice symptoms.

Some of the most common symptoms of developmental delays that parents and caregivers should be on the lookout for include the following:

• Demonstrated challenges with problem solving skills.

• Your child doesn’t talk as much, as often, or as well as they should. Language delays are among the most noticeable delays.

• Your child struggles with basic self-care tasks, such as feeding themselves (especially after the 1-2 year marks).

• Your child experiences more tantrums and demonstrates difficulty controlling their emotions inline with expected benchmarks. (In other words, this might look a little different for a 6 month old than a 3 year old.)

• A lack of social connection, such as lack of eye contact or smiling or understanding of basic social gestures.

• They have trouble connecting their actions to the consequences of their actions (again in line with their recommended benchmarks)

This list is not exhaustive. Parents and caregivers who notice issues should talk to their child’s pediatrician. In these cases, your child may be given a simple assessment to determine whether the delays are within the normal range or may require additional therapies. Often, small delays are not necessarily a cause for concern. And it’s entirely possible for your child to have a bad week. But the longer these symptoms endure, the more important an assessment and screening will become.

It’s also important to note that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may present very similarly to developmental delays. But autism is not itself such a condition. Generally, autism is categorized as a neurodivergence with a broad array of symptoms and possible disabilities. Therapies and accommodations designed for autism will not necessarily be appropriate for treating a developmental delay, so it’s important to accurately diagnose the source of any symptoms.

How to Make Sure Your Child Gets the Help They Need

While parents know their child best, there are a lot of benchmarks and milestones to keep track of. Which is why it’s important to make sure your child attends their regularly scheduled wellness visits. In general, it’s recommended that children undergo development screenings at the ages of:

• 9 months old

• 18 months old

• 24 or 30 months old

Your child’s pediatrician will be there to help you keep track of milestones and benchmarks and get your child the help that they need. Pediatricians can help by writing referrals to specialists and ensuring you are able to navigate the healthcare system with your child successfully. They can also coordinate care and track the overall progress of your child’s health and development.

How to Encourage Development at Home

Parents and caregivers can help create an enriching and nurturing development environment at home. In some cases, this can address or prevent possible delays. In other cases, providing a solid foundation for development may have lasting benefits as your child ages.

Some of the things that parents can do at home to encourage physical, behavioral, and cognitive development include the following:

• Read to your child every day: Reading can help foster your child’s imagination and their linguistic skills.

• Play with your child: Play is a great way for your child to learn. Games and activities can help with motor skills, coordination, social and emotional learning, and more. As they age, you can aim for an appropriate mix of independent and cooperative play time.

• Use a schedule: Not all children respond well to schedules, but it can definitely be a help for many. The added structure helps your child understand what’s happening when and why. And when they know what’s next, they’re less likely to experience anxiety about it.

• Spend time with your baby at their level: If your baby is crawling, spend some time on the ground with them. If they’re just starting to learn how to stand, meet them at eye level. Spend time with activities that are at their level.

• Limit screentime: Sometimes parents need a break. That’s understandable! But remember that screentime does very little to help your child’s development. Limiting time on screens can help your child develop more naturally!

Whether you can address your child’s developmental delay at home or not, it’s important to ensure that your child is supported and gets the help that they need. Start by making sure your child attends their regular wellness visits for the appropriate screenings.

If your child is a patient here at Children’s Healthcare Associates, you can make an appointment at our Chicago or Northbrook offices today!