What are typical infant and toddler milestones?

During the first years of life, infants and toddlers are entirely dependent on their caregivers and cannot do anything by themselves. So, it is not uncommon for caregivers to feel tired, worried, or insecure with the challenges they face with their babies. However, infants and toddlers are fast learners and with care, attention, demonstration of affection, and cheering on, they quickly achieve many milestones. With some support, patience, and information on what to expect from your baby, these years can also be fun and filled with new discoveries.

There are multiple milestones that full term infants are expected to achieve during their first year of life. Below, we list the main gross motor, fine motor, language, and social milestones babies up to 1 year old should achieve:

	Gross Motor Milestones	Fine Motor Milestones	Language Milestones	Social Milestones
Around 1 month	Picking up chin while laying on tummy	Making fists close to the face	Producing throaty little sounds, startle response to sounds	Recognizes caregiver’s voice
Around 2 months	Holds head upright momentarily while sitting	Briefly holding an object when placed in hand by caregiver	Cooing, babbling	Social smiling
Around 3 months	Rolling onto one side	Batting at objects	Making vocal sounds when talked to	Visually following a person
Around 4 months	Head only slightly lagging with pulling	No fists, hands remain mostly opened	Laughing, vocalizations	Turns head to voices
Around 5 months	Puts things into mouth, including their own feet	Grasping object independently	Starts to understand their name	Visually recognizing and forms attachment to caregiver
Around 6 months	Sits while supported by propped hands, Holds head most of the time	Shakes toys, reaches out using one hand	Consonant babbling	Experiencing stranger anxiety
Around 7 months	Starts to bounce	Holds object between fingers and thumb	Attending to music or singing	Looking from caregiver to object when wanting help
Around 8 months	“Commando” crawling	Mirrors tapping an object	Might start saying non specific “mama” or “dada”, Longer vowel sounds	Recognizing familiar people, Shaking head for “No”
Around 9 months	Starts to creep, starts to pull self up to stand	Banging two objects together	Imitating sounds	Uses sounds to get attention
Around 10 months	Cruising	Releases cube into a box clumsily	Makes different vocal sounds to communicate feelings	Waves bye
Around 11 months	Standing without help	Throwing object	Using a word with meaning	Looking when name is called

Below is a list of the main gross motor, fine motor, language, and social milestones toddlers from 1 to 3 years of age are expected to achieve:

	Gross Motor Milestones	Fine Motor Milestones	Language Milestones	Social Milestones
Around 12 months		Using pincer grasp	Using gestures (e.g., waving, reaching) while making vocal sounds	Showing an object to a caregiver to share interest
Around 13 months	Walking alone
Around 14 months	Standing without pulling up			Pointing to objects to show interest Exploring toys using trial and error
Around 15 months		Building a small, three-block tower	Using 3-5 words, pointing to one body part	Hugging a caregiver back Showing empathy
Around 16 months	Walks up stairs with support, leading with the same foot.
Around 18 months	Running	Scribbling	Using 10-25 words Naming pictures, pointing to 3 body parts and to people	Using simple pretend play
Around 20 months			Asking for more
Around 22 months		Building a larger, six-block tower		Possibility of showing defiant behavior
Around 24 months	Walking down steps, two feet per step, while holding rail Kicking a ball	Imitating a vertical crayon line Stringing beads	Speaking two-word sentences	Engaging in parallel play
Around 28 months	Walking on toes	Unscrewing a jar lid	Beginning to use pronouns	Reduction in separation anxiety
Around 33 months			Saying first and last name	Taking turns
Around 36 months	Catching a ball Using a tricycle	Copying a circle Unzipping a zipper	Speaking two- to three-word sentences, counting to 3	Sharing without prompting

Where can I find more information if my child has not achieved important milestones?

Development is not the same for every child. Some children might walk earlier, others might talk earlier. A delay in one developmental area is not always a cause for concern.

However, if you are concerned about your child, additional information can be found at "I worry about my child, but how do I know what is going on?".

You can also find more information by pointing your phone camera at the QR code below or by clicking here.

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