Milestones Checklist for Early Childhood

I'm three months old! I...

• turn toward bright colors and lights
• follow moving toys or faces with my eyes
• recognize or know the bottle or breast
• respond to loud or new sounds
• reach for and grasp toys or hair
• wiggle and kick with my legs and arms
• lift my head and shoulders while on my stomach
• smile back at my parents or other family members
• make sounds like gurgling, cooing, or babbling

I'm six months old! I...

• turn toward voices
• reach for toys and pick them up
• roll over front-to-back and back-to-front
• play with my toes
• help hold my bottle during feedings; if I'm bottle-feeding
• know the faces of my family members
• babble, squeal, & repeat vowel sounds like "ooh," "ah," and "ee."
• sit by leaning on my hands

I'm nine months old! I...

• copy sounds or gestures
• reach for crumbs or other small things with my thumb and fingers
• move toys from one hand to the other hand
• straighten my arms to support myself when I'm on my stomach
• understand the word "No."
• sit without help

I'm 12 months old! I...

• respond to my name
• may be scared of strangers
• crawl on my hands and knees
• pull myself to a standing position
• look for an object if you hide it from me, even if I didn't see you hide it
• walk by holding onto furniture
• can drink from a cup with your help
• enjoy playing games like "peek-a-boo" or "patty cake."
• say 1 to 2 words

I'm 15 months old! I...

• use gestures
• like to look at pictures in a book
• can hold a crayon in my fist
• can hand toys to you when you ask me to
• can point to pictures you name if the pictures are familiar to me
• walk alone without help

I'm 18 months old! I...

• like to pull and push things
• follow simple directions
• pull off my shoes and socks
• feed myself some of the time
• step off low objects and keep my balance
• turn 2 to 3 pages of a book at a time
• can point to one body part
• can name one object
• like to copy your words or actions

I'm 21 months old! I...

• can name two objects
• like to pretend-play
• can put together a simple picture puzzle if it has only 2 or 3 large pieces
• like to throw balls
• like to play alone with toys for a short time
• say "No" often

I'm 24 months old! I...

• use 2 to 3 words together, like "No, Mommy" or "More cookies."
• say the names of toys and people
• feed myself with a spoon
• turn one page at a time
• point to my hair, eyes, and nose when someone asks me
• show affection to family members and pets
• run short distances without falling

I'm 36 months old! I...

• answer simple questions
• walk up steps, alternating my feet
• put my clothes on by myself
• open simple containers
• like to play with other children
• repeat simple rhymes and songs
• use 3- to 5-word sentences
• jump in place
• express my emotions