Child Development Milestones From Birth Through 18 years

Norton Children’s Medical Group

Our pediatricians track and guide your child through each stage of their development.
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A child’s developmental milestones, such as speaking their first word or taking their first step, can be an exciting time for parents, and these moments also serve as important clues that their child’s development is on track.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, developmental milestones are actions or behaviors that at least 75% of children can do by a certain age. The way a child speaks, plays, moves, learns and acts provides important indicators about their development.

The CDC, along with the American Academy of Pediatrics, updated their checklist of developmental milestones in 2022. These guidelines help parents identify stages of child development to aid in early identification of autism and developmental delays. The four categories used in all age groups are social/emotional, language/communication, cognitive and movement/physical development. The pediatricians with Norton Children’s Medical Group, track your child’s development milestones with each appointment.

During your child’s regular well-child check ups with the pediatrician, the provider will ask the parent about the child’s milestones and observe the child play and talk during the exam. However, parents know their child best and should bring up any concerns, such as missing milestones or a loss of skills. These guidelines can help with consistency if your child sees more than one provider, clinic, health system or you move. They also help pediatricians identify and refer children with developmental delays.

Newborn to 2 months

Ability to look at parents’ faces
Alertness/startle to sounds
Ability to move all four extremities
Muscle tone
Reflexes such as root, suck, startle (moro), tonic neck, grasp, Babinski (involving toes) and step

2 months

Social/emotional (behavior)
- Looks at your face
- Smiles when being spoken to or smiled at
- Appears happy to see you
- Calms down upon hearing your voice or being picked up
Language/communication
- Reacts to loud noises
- Makes noises besides crying
Cognitive
- Looks at a toy for a few seconds
- Tracks your movement with their eyes
Movement/physical development
- Opens and closes hands
- Moves legs and arms
- Holds up head during tummy time

4 months

Social/emotional (behavior)
- Giggles when you try to make them laugh
- Smiles to get your attention
- Looks at you, makes noises and movements to get your attention
Language/communication
- Makes cooing sounds
- Responds with a sound when you talk to them
- Looks in the direction of your voice
Cognitive
- Opens mouth when hungry or during feeding time
- Looks at hands
Movement/physical development
- Holds up head without support while being held
- Holds a toy if put in their hand
- Uses arms to swing at toys
- Puts hands around mouth
- Pushes up to their forearms or elbows during tummy time

6 months

Social/emotional (behavior)
- Laughs
- Looks at self in mirror
- Recognizes familiar people
Language/communication
- Makes squealing sounds
- Takes turns making noises with you
- Sticks out tongue and blows (“raspberry” noises)
Cognitive
- Shuts mouth to indicate they are done eating
- Reaches for a desired toy
- Puts items in mouth
Movement/physical development
- Uses hands for support while sitting
- Rolls from tummy onto back
- Pushes up onto hands during tummy time

9 months

Social/emotional (behavior)
- Smiles or laughs during peek-a-boo
- Makes several facial expressions (happy, surprised, sad, angry)
- Looks, reaches or cries when you leave
- Knows their name (looks when it is said)
- Is shy or fearful around strangers
Language/communication
- Makes various babbling noises
- Lifts up arms when wants picked up
Cognitive
- Bangs items together
- Looks for items if they drop them
Movement/physical development
- Sits up independently and without support
- Uses fingers to bring food closer
- Moves items from one hand to another

12 months

Social/emotional (behavior)
- Plays games with you, such as pat-a-cake
Language/communication
- Says “mama” or “dada” or another special name for a parent
- Understands the word “no”
- Waves “bye-bye”
Cognitive
- Looks for items if you hide them
- Can place an item in a container, such as a toy in a cup
Movement/physical development
- Pulls up to stand
- Walks with support of furniture
- Can pick up items with thumb and pointer finger
- Drinks from a cup that is held

15 months

Social/emotional (behavior)
- Shows affection with hugs, kisses or cuddles
- Hugs toys
- Claps with excitement
- Mimics other children when playing
- Shows an object or toy they like
Language/communication
- Tries to say one or two words to describe objects
- Points to ask for an item or for help
- Looks at a familiar object when it is named
- Follows simple directions given with words and gestures
Cognitive
- Tries to use items correctly, such as a phone, book or cup
- Stacks at least two small objects, such as blocks
Movement/physical development
- Uses fingers to feed self some food
- Walks a few steps

18 months

Social/emotional (behavior)
- Points to show something interesting
- Looks at a few pages in a book
- Extends hands to be washed
- Helps while being dressed, such as lifting foot
- Moves away but checks to see if you are nearby
Language/communication
- Tries to say three or more words
- Follows simple directions
Cognitive
- Plays with toys
- Copies someone doing chores, such as sweeping
Movement/physical development
- Walks independently
- Drinks from a cup
- Feeds self with fingers
- Attempts to use eating utensils
- Climbs on a couch or chair
- Draws scribbles

2 years

Social/emotional (behavior)
- Looks at your face for reactions
- Notices if someone is hurt or upset
Language/communication
- Points to objects in books if you ask where it is on the page
- Says at least two words together
- Uses more gestures, such as nodding yes
- Points to at least two body parts when asked
Cognitive
- Can use both hands to complete a task, such as balancing a cup while taking off the lid
- Plays with more than one toy at the same time
- Tries to use switches or buttons on a toy
Movement/physical development
- Runs
- Eats with a spoon
- Kicks a ball
- Walks up a few stairs

30 months

Social/emotional (behavior)
- Follows simple routines, such as picking up toys during “cleanup time”
- Plays next to or with other children
- Asks you to watch them do something (“Mama, look!”)
Language/communication
- Can say around 50 words
- Names objects in a book when asked what something is
- Pairs nouns and verbs, such as “dog run”
- Uses subject pronouns such as “I” or “we”
Cognitive
- Plays pretend with toys
- Knows at least one color
- Follows directions involving two steps
- Shows simple problem-solving skills, such as standing on an object to reach something
Movement/physical development
- Jumps with both feet
- Turns pages of a book
- Can remove some of their clothing
- Can twist objects, such as doorknobs

3 years

Social/emotional (behavior)
- Joins other children to play
- Calms down within 10 minutes after you leave them (at day care, etc.)
Language/communication
- Can speak well enough for others to understand
- Knows and says first name when asked
- Asks questions involving who, what, where, why?
- Has a conversation involving at least two back-and-forth exchanges
- Describes what is happening in a photo or book
Cognitive
- Avoids touching hot objects, such as the stove, when taught
- Can draw a circle after receiving instructions
Movement/physical development
- Uses a fork
- Can put on some loose clothing, such as a jacket
- Can put items on a string, such as beads or macaroni

4 years

Social/emotional (behavior)
- Uses imagination to act like something else during playtime (superhero, dog, etc.)
- Changes behavior based on the setting, such as a playground versus church
- Avoids danger, like jumping from tall heights
- Comforts someone who is hurt or sad
- Asks to play with friends
- Enjoys helping with tasks, such as making food
Language/communication
- Speaks sentences with four or more words
- Repeats words from a song or story
- Can recall one thing they did during the day
- Answers simple questions
Cognitive
- Draws a person with several body parts
- Can say what happens next in a familiar story
- Names several colors
Movement/physical development
- Holds writing utensil between fingers and thumb
- Can serve food or drink with supervision
- Catches a large ball
- Unbuttons buttons

5 years

Social/emotional (behavior)
- Can complete simple chores, such as clearing their table setting
- Sings, dances or acts for others
- Follows rules or takes turns when playing
Language/communication
- Tells a story with at least two events
- Answers simple questions about a book or story
- Has a conversation with more than three back-and-forth exchanges
- Uses or understands simple rhyming words
Cognitive
- Knows how to count to 10
- Writes some letters of their name
- Names some numbers between 1 and 5 when pointed at
- Names some letters when pointed at
- Uses timing words, such as yesterday or tomorrow
- Can pay attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities themself
- Hops on one foot
- Buttons a button

Social/emotional (behavior)
- Shows more independence from family
- Pays more attention to friendships and cooperation
- Wants to be liked by friends
- Starts to think about the future
Cognitive
- Begins to show concern for others, not only themselves
- Improves in describing events and experiences
- Rapidly develops mental skills and learning at school

Social/emotional (behavior)
- Forms closer friendships, especially those of the same sex
- Becomes more aware of body
- Experiences peer pressure
Cognitive
- Can more easily see others’ point of view
- Increased attention span
- Experiences more academic challenges

Social/emotional (behavior)
- Has more concern for body image, self-expression, puberty
- Navigates self-esteem issues
- More mood changes
- More independent and less affectionate toward parents
- Navigates stress from school or social life
Cognitive
- Increases complex thought and critical thinking skills
- Improves expression of emotions via naming, talking about them
- Improves sense of right, wrong and consequences

Social/emotional (behavior)
- More interest in romantic relationships
- Increased independence from family
- Increased time spent with friends and social groups
Cognitive
- Shows responsibility via work and study habits
- Cares about future plans after high school
- Can justify choices with sense of morals

Benefits of Norton Children’s Medical Group

Convenient locations with more than 25 pediatrician offices in Louisville and surrounding areas in Kentucky and Southern Indiana
New patients can be seen within 24 hours
Same-day sick appointments are available
Schedule appointments online, get appointment reminders, communicate with your child’s medical provider, view and request immunization records, refill prescriptions and more through your free Norton MyChart account
Night and weekend hours are available
Access to Norton Children’s After Hours Care and the after-hours nurse care line
Medicaid and most major commercial insurance plans accepted