Although each child develops at their own pace, there are certain milestones they should reach at each age and stage. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has developed age-based developmental milestones.  These are some of the milestones to look for:

One Month Old:

• Brings hands within range of mouth and eyes
• Keeps hands in tight fists
• Strong reflex movements
• Moves head side to side while on stomach
• Eyes wander and occasionally cross, focuses 8-12 inches away
• Recognizes some sounds and may turn toward familiar sound and voices
• Prefers human faces most along with black and white or highly-contrasting patterns
• Prefers soft rather than course sensations and dislikes abrupt or rough handling

Three Months Old:

• Raises head and chest while lying on stomach
• Open and shuts hands, grasps and brings hands to mouth
• Stretches legs out and kicks while laying on back or stomach
• Watches faces intently and follows moving objects (tracks)
• Babbles and coos
• Has a social smile
• Begins to imitate some facial expressions

Seven Months Old:

• Rolls both ways (front to back, back to front)
• Sits up with or without support of hands
• Reaches out and grabs, transfers object from hand to hand
• Explores with hands and mouth
• Supports weight on legs (bears weight)
• Responds to own name
• Enjoys social play
• Babbles chains of consonants
• Uses voice to express joy or displeasure
• Interested in mirror objects

Twelve Months Old:

• Gets into sitting position without help
• Crawls forward on belly pulling with arms and pushing with legs
• Pulls self up to stand and stands momentarily without support
• Walks holding onto furniture and may walk without support
• Uses pincer grasp
• Puts objects in and out of containers
• Responds to simple verbal requests
• Says dada, mama and tries to imitate words
• Explores objects in many different ways (banging, touching, dropping, shaking)
• Finds hidden objects

Two Years Old:

• Begins to run
• Pulls and carries toys while walking
• Kicks a ball
• Climbs on/off furniture without assistance
• Scribbles spontaneously
• Builds towers of blocks, four or more high
• Points to an object or picture when it is named
• Says several single words and uses two-to-four word sentences
• Follows simple instructions
• Repeats words overheard in conversation
• Imitates others, especially adults and older children
• Increasingly aware of his or herself as separate from others
• Begins to express defiant behavior

Three-Four Years Old:

• Hops and stands on one foot for up to five seconds
• Kicks a ball forward and throws a ball overhead
• Moves forward and backwards with agility
• Peddles a tricycle
• Draws circles and squares
• Uses scissors
• Speaks clear enough for strangers to understand
• Speaks in five to six word sentences
• Correctly names some colors
• Counts to 3 (3yrs) and 10 (4yrs)
• Cooperates with other children
• Dresses and undresses self
• Follows 3-part command
• More independent

Four-Five Years Old:

• Stands on one foot for ten seconds or longer
• Hops, somersaults, swings, climbs and may be able to skip
• Can ride a bicycle (with training wheels)
• Draws circles, squares, and triangles
• Draws a person with a body
• Prints name (5yrs)
• Uses future tense and tells stories
• Speaks in sentences using more than five words
• Knows name, address and phone number
• Counts to 10 (4yrs) and 20 (5yrs)
• Knows and can identify at least four colors
• Wants to please and be like friends
• Likes to sing, dance and act
• Able to distinguish fantasy from reality
• Better understands the concept of time
• Usually cares for own toilet needs

Should you have any questions or concerns about your child’s development, contact your child’s pediatrician.

Resources:

www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/Pages/default.aspx