Every parent wants to celebrate their child’s growth—but how do you know what to expect and when?

Do Milestones Matter?

Developmental milestones are the skills most children master at certain ages—like smiling, rolling over or saying “mama.” Doctors, parents and caregivers use these milestones to track your child’s progress.

Every child grows at his or her own pace, and tracking milestones is meant to guide and support—not to create pressure or worry. That said, here are some general guidelines for those “magical moments.”

• 1 Month
  • Tiny hands grasp your finger
  • Eyes follow your face
  • Turns head to the side when lying on tummy
• 2 Months
  • Fists unclench
  • Turns from side to back
  • Holds head in the middle
  • Gurgles and coos
  • Follows objects with eyes
• 3 Months
  • Momentarily holds a rattle
  • Smiles when you smile
  • Watches his or her own hands
  • Follows objects with their eyes (180 degrees)
  • Recognizes your scent, face and voice
• 4-6 Months
  • Picks up objects and brings them to mouth
  • Rolls over
  • Sits with support
  • Turns head to object or sound
  • Plays with toes
  • Imitates sounds
• 7–9 Months
  • Sits without support
  • Bangs objects on a table
  • Reaches for toys out of reach
  • Begins crawling
  • Begins to use a pincer grasp to pick up small items
  • Says “mama” and “dada” but not necessarily to the right parent
  • Creeping on hands and knees
  • Pulls up to stand, explores everything!
• 10–12 Months
  • Holds bottle
  • Feeds himself/herself finger foods
  • Crawls well and pulls self to sitting
  • Plays games like patty-cake and peek-a-boo
  • Begins walking with help, then alone
  • Turns pages in a book
  • Imitates your actions
  • Puts objects into container; drops objects deliberately
  • Indicates wants with gestures
• 13–23 Months
  • Builds towers, scribbles
  • Uses simple words
  • Runs, jumps, climbs stairs
  • Plays make-believe, feeds dolls, kicks a ball
  • Uses more words, names pictures in books
  • Begins feeding himself/herself with fork and spoon
  • Bends over and picks up objects
  • Walks backward
  • Runs and jumps in place
  • Has temper tantrums

Quality Over Speed

It’s not just about when your child reaches a milestone, but how they do it. If your toddler is just learning to walk, a little clumsiness is normal. But if you notice ongoing struggles after several months, trust your instincts and talk to your pediatrician.

It’s also important to note that prematurity can affect the timeframe that milestones are achieved. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you might have.

Trust Your Instincts

You know your child better than anyone. If something feels off, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Sometimes, a little extra support from an occupational therapist, physical therapist or speech-language pathologist may be recommended.

Celebrate every milestone—big or small. Each new skill is a step on your child’s unique journey. Enjoy watching your child grow!