Baby Development Milestones
Every baby develops at their own pace. These milestones are general guidelines— talk to your pediatrician if you have concerns.
Understanding Milestones
Developmental milestones are skills most children reach by a certain age. They fall into four categories:
- Motor: Rolling, sitting, crawling, walking
- Language: Babbling, first words, sentences
- Cognitive: Problem-solving, understanding cause and effect
- Social/Emotional: Smiling, attachment, playing with others
0-2 Months
Motor Skills
- Lifts head briefly when on tummy
- Moves arms and legs
- Opens and closes hands
Language & Cognitive
- Watches faces closely
- Follows objects with eyes
- Makes cooing sounds
- Recognizes familiar voices
Social & Emotional
- First social smile (around 6 weeks)
- Calms when picked up or spoken to
- Looks at parent's face
4 Months
Motor Skills
- Holds head steady without support
- Pushes up on elbows during tummy time
- Brings hands to mouth
- Reaches for and grasps toys
Language & Cognitive
- Babbles with expression (ba-ba, ma-ma sounds)
- Responds to affection
- Watches faces intently
- Follows moving objects with eyes
Social & Emotional
- Smiles spontaneously, especially at people
- Enjoys playing with people
- Copies some facial expressions
6 Months
Motor Skills
- Rolls over in both directions
- Sits with support, beginning to sit without
- Supports weight on legs when held standing
- Passes objects from hand to hand
Language & Cognitive
- Responds to own name
- Makes vowel sounds ("ah", "eh", "oh")
- Begins to understand "no"
- Looks for dropped objects
Social & Emotional
- Knows familiar vs. unfamiliar faces
- Enjoys looking at self in mirror
- Shows curiosity about things
9 Months
Motor Skills
- Sits without support
- Crawls
- Pulls to stand
- Uses pincer grasp (thumb and finger)
Language & Cognitive
- Understands "no"
- Points at objects
- Watches objects fall
- Looks for hidden toys (object permanence)
Social & Emotional
- May be clingy with familiar adults
- Shows fear of strangers (stranger anxiety)
- Has favorite toys
12 Months (1 Year)
Motor Skills
- Pulls up to stand, cruises along furniture
- May take first steps or walk independently
- Uses pincer grasp well
- Puts objects in/takes out of containers
Language & Cognitive
- Says "mama" and "dada" with meaning
- Says 1-3 other words
- Follows simple directions with gestures
- Explores objects in different ways
Social & Emotional
- Cries when parent leaves
- Shy or anxious with strangers
- Shows preferences for people and toys
- Repeats actions that get attention
18 Months
Motor Skills
- Walks independently
- Climbs on and off furniture
- Drinks from a cup
- Scribbles with crayons
Language & Cognitive
- Says several single words (10-25 words)
- Points to show wants
- Points to one body part
- Knows what ordinary objects are for
Social & Emotional
- Engages in pretend play
- May have temper tantrums
- Shows affection to familiar people
- Shows ownership ("mine!")
24 Months (2 Years)
Motor Skills
- Kicks a ball
- Runs
- Walks up stairs holding on
- Builds towers of 4+ blocks
Language & Cognitive
- Says 50+ words
- Uses 2-word phrases ("want milk", "more juice")
- Points to things in books
- Follows simple 2-step instructions
Social & Emotional
- Copies adults and other children
- Gets excited when with other children
- Shows defiant behavior
- Plays mainly beside other children
When to Talk to Your Doctor
Every child develops at their own pace, but talk to your pediatrician if you notice:
- Baby doesn't respond to loud sounds
- Doesn't watch things as they move (by 4 months)
- Doesn't smile at people (by 4 months)
- Doesn't bring hands to mouth (by 4 months)
- Doesn't hold head steady (by 4 months)
- Doesn't babble (by 9 months)
- Doesn't respond to own name (by 9 months)
- No words by 12-18 months
- Loses skills they once had
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), WHO Child Growth Standards