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• Chart Your Baby
• Cow's Milk: Pros and Cons
• Traveling With a Baby
• How to Measure a Temperature
• Developmental Milestones

Developmental Milestones

Each child is unique. It is therefore difficult to describe exactly what should be expected at each stage of a child's development. While certain behaviors and physical milestones tend to occur at certain ages, a wide spectrum of growth and behavior for each age is normal. These guidelines are offered as a way of showing a general progression through the development stages rather than as fixed requirements for normal development at specific ages. It is perfectly natural for a child to attain some milestones earlier and other milestones later than the general trend.

If you have any concerns related to your child's own pattern of development, check with your pediatrician of family physician.

Normal Development: Newborn

Here's what you might see your baby doing between the ages of 0 and 2 weeks old.

Reflexes

• Reflexive actions: crying, grasping, yawning, swallowing, sucking, blinking, coughing, gagging, and sneezing.
• Grasps whatever is placed in hand.
• Sucks whatever is placed in mouth.
• Is startled by sudden noises and movements.

Movement

• Jerky, mostly uncontrolled motions.
• Waves arms, kicks legs, wiggles and squirms.
• Cannot turn body or support head without assistance.
• Cannot sit without support.
• May turn head from side to side while lying on back.

Sleep/Wakefulness

• Usually sleeps from 17 to 20 hours per day.
• Cries and fusses about 1 to 4 hours per day.
• Is alert and quiet about 2 to 3 hours per day.

Vision

• Cannot focus clearly.
• Sees best at 8 to 10 inches.

Interactive Behaviors and Senses

• Smiles spontaneously and unselectively.
• Discriminates between some smells.
• Begins to turn in direction of sound.
• Begins to distinguish the human voice from other sounds.
• Is more sensitive to high-pitched voices, especially mother's voice.
• Is best calmed by a soft, rhythmic voice.
• Cries a lot.
• Makes tiny gurgling sounds when content.
• Shows preference for the human face.

Normal Development: 2 Weeks Old

Here's what you might see your baby doing between the ages of 2 weeks and 2 months.

Movement

• Movements gradually become smoother and more controlled.
• Lifts chin for a few seconds when lying on tummy.
• Cannot support head without assistance.
• Grasps whatever is placed in hand.

Vision and Hearing

• May follow some moving objects with eyes.
• Explores surroundings with eyes.
• Turns in direction of some sounds.

Interactive Behaviors

• Gives more precise meaning to crying (hunger, discomfort, and excitement).
• Cries when left alone; usually stops when picked up.
• Makes variety of gurgling and cooing sounds when happy and content.
• Makes eye contact.
• May quiet down in response to human face.
• Responds positively to being held and comforted.
• May smile socially at familiar faces and voices, especially mother's voice.

Normal Development: 2 Months Old

Here's what you might see your baby doing between the ages of 2 and 4 months.

Daily Activities

• Crying gradually becomes less frequent.
• Displays greater variety of emotions: distress, excitement and delight.
• May begin to sleep through the night.
• Smiles, gurgles and coos, particularly when talked to.
• Shows more distress when an adult leaves.
• Quiets down when held or talked to.
• Cannot conceive of an object existing if it cannot be sensed.

Vision

• Focuses better, but still no more than 12 inches.
• Follows objects by moving head side to side.
• Prefers brightly colored objects.

Hearing

• Knows difference between male and female voices.
• Knows the difference between angry and friendly voices.

Motor Skills

• Movements become increasingly smoother.
• Lifts chest momentarily when lying on tummy.
• Holds head steady when held or seated with support.
• Discovers hands and fingers.
• Grasps with more control.
• May bat at dangling objects with entire body.

Normal Development: 4 Months Old

Here's what you might notice your baby doing between the ages of 4 months and 6 months of age.

Daily Activities

• Is active, playful, and gregarious.
• Reaches and grasps some object.
• Shakes rattle when placed in hand.
• Carefully studies objects placed in hand.
• Puts everything into mouth.
• Plays contentedly with fingers and hands.
• Usually sleeps through the night.
• Acknowledges bottle gleefully.
• Laughs and giggles while playing and socializing.
• Basks in attention.
• Just begins to realize objects exist even when out of sight.

Hearing

• Turns head purposefully in response to human voice.
• Smiles and coos when talked to.

Motor Skills

• Rolls from front to back and back to front.
• Holds up chest when lying on tummy.
• Supports head when held in sitting position.
• Sits with support for longer periods.
• Enjoys using the legs in kicking motions.

Vision

• Focuses clearly.
• Fascinated with mirror image.

Normal Development: 6 Months Old

Here's what you might see your baby doing between 6 and 9 months of age.

Daily Activities

• Adores playing with balls, rattles, and squeaky toys.
• Usually sleeps through the night.
• Usually begins teething.
• May prefer some foods to others.
• May enjoy playing with food.
• Loves games like peek-a-boo and patty cake.

Language Development

• Babbles and squeals using single syllables.
• Loves to jabber.
• May recognize own name.

Emotional Development

• May show sharp mood changes.
• Displays especially strong attachment to mother.
• Develops deeper attachment to father, siblings, and other familiar people.
• Distinguishes children from adults.
• Smiles at other children.
• May show fear of strangers.
• Continues to be intrigued with mirror image.

Motor Skills

• Rests on elbows.
• Begins to sit alone.
• Sits in high chair.
• Continues to use motions leading to crawling.
• Makes jumping motions when held in standing position.
• Reaches with one hand.
• Bats and grasps dangling objects.
• Holds objects between thumb and forefinger.
• Passes objects from one hand to another.

Normal Development: 15 Months Old

Here's what you might see your child doing between the ages of 15 months and 18 months.

Daily Activities

• Avidly explores everything.
• Revels in water play.
• Likes to feed self.
• Begins to use more objects conventionally (for example, may put comb in hair).
• Enjoys throwing, rolling, pushing and pulling toys.

Motor Skills

• Stands unsupported.
• Walks without assistance with wide stance and outstretched arms.
• Climbs stairs with assistance.
• Refines grasp.
• Picks up an object from a standing position.

Language Development

• Adds gesture to speech.
• Prefers adults to other children.
• Likes to watch and imitate activities.

Cognitive Development (Thinking and Learning)

• Looks to parent for help in solving problems.
• Learns cause-effect relationship (repeats enjoyable actions).
• Looks for hidden objects in last seen place seen.
• Begins to experiment through trial and error.

Normal Development: 18 Months Old

Here's what you might see your child doing between the ages of 18 and 24 months.

Daily Activities

• Begins to eat with fork.
• Enjoys imitating parents.

Motor Skills

• Walks proficiently.
• Enjoys pushing and pulling toys while walking.
• Runs awkwardly and falls a lot.
• Walks backward a short distance.

Cognitive Development (Thinking and Learning)

• Understands that something can exist even when hidden.
• Can picture objects and events mentally.

Language Development

• Speaks 3 to 50 words.
• Wants to name everything.
• May use a few two-word combinations.
• Repeats familiar and unfamiliar sounds and gestures.

Emotional and Behavioral Development

• May begin to show frustration when not understood.
• May show strong attachment to a toy or blanket.
• May resist bedtime, prefers predictable pattern of bedtime events.
• May respond with "no" constantly.
• Likes to show some independent (feeds self, undress self).
• Begins to develop a self-concept.
• Responds to simple requests ("bring me your book").

Normal Development: 2 Years Old

Physical Development

• Is constantly in motion
• Tires easily
• Runs and climbs
• Walks up and down stairs alone
• Begins to walk on tiptoe
• Builds a tower of 3 to 5 blocks
• Progresses from random scribbling to somewhat more controlled movements
• Begins to button and unbutton large buttons
• Develops greater independence in toileting needs (still needs some assistance)
• May have difficulty settling down for bedtime

Emotional Development

• Gets upset and impatient easily
• Shows anger by crying or striking out
• Becomes frustrated when not understood
• Wants own way
• May assert self by saying "no"
• Reverts to baby behavior at times
• Gets upset when daily routine changes
• Shows sharp mood changes

Social Development

• Imitates with considerable realism
• Becomes more interested in brothers and sisters
• Knows gender
• May have an imaginary playmate
• Enjoys playing among, not with, other children
• Does not share
• Claims everything is "mine"
• May scratch, hit, bite, and push other children

Mental Development

• Dramatically increases interest in language
• Shows frustration if not understood
• Uses child grammar
• Uses three- to five-word phrases by end of second year
• Understands more words than can speak
• Is in the "do-it-myself" stage
• Cannot be reasoned with much of the time
• Cannot choose between alternatives

Normal Development: 3 Years Old

Physical Development

• Jumps, gallops, tiptoes, runs smoothly
• Can walk backwards a long distance
• May stumble and fall frequently
• Rides a tricycle
• Pours from a pitcher or milk carton using both hands
• Undresses self, but needs help with dressing
• Buttons and unbuttons large buttons
• Uses crayons with somewhat more control
• Most primary teeth have erupted

Emotional Development

• Becoming more relaxed and flexible
• Still cries and hits at times
• Quickly alternates between shyness and exuberance
• May show fear of unfamiliar objects or activities
• May want to be a baby at times
• Begins to talk about dreams

Social Development

• Is keenly interested in family activities
• Idolizes parents
• Seeks approval from adults
• Tests limits constantly
• Often prefers to play alone
• May have an imaginary playmate
• Shares and takes turns occasionally
• Quarrels with other children

Mental Development

• Develops more stable concept of self
• Speaks about 1,000 words
• Begins to use pronouns in speech
• Grasps some grammatical principles
• Delights in hearing stories over and over again
• Loves learning short rhymes and songs
• May match or identify primary colors
• Enjoys imaginative and imitative play
• Can assume some very simple responsibilities
• Puts toys away with adult help
• Has attention span of no more than a few minutes
• Can choose between alternatives

Normal Development: 4 Years Old

Physical Development

• Hops, runs, skips, climbs with increasing skill
• Tires easily
• Is accident prone
• Enjoys making loud noises, but is frightened by unexpected sounds
• Toilets independently
• Makes designs and draws recognizable objects
• Manipulates blunt scissors
• Dresses self (with exception of shoes)
• Small muscle control lags behind large muscle

Emotional Development

• Regresses to baby behavior periodically
• Shows new fears (becoming aware of more dangers)
• Has a penchant for silliness

Social Development

• Refers to parents as final authority
• Continues to test parental limits
• Uses "naughty" words to observe reaction
• Is ready for group activities
• Talks "with" another child, but does not listen to what other child says
• Is comfortable with other children, but shares grudgingly
• Tattles and name-calls
• Is more aware of sex role differences
• Imitates adult activities

Mental Development

• Is more likely to solve problems through words than aggressive action
• Has a vocabulary of about 1,500 to 2,000 words
• Speaks in 4 to 5 word sentences
• Fancies funny, exaggerated stories
• Can count to 5
• Identifies some shapes
• Begins to understand some concepts of time (yesterday, today, tomorrow)
• Asks endless "why" questions
• Usually can put toys and materials away without adult assistance
• Insists on finishing an activity or project
• Likes helping with simple tasks
• Begins to know difference between right and wrong
• Shows growing ability to distinguish real-life from make-believe
• Tells tall tales, but cannot always distinguish between honesty and dishonesty
• Believes the only viewpoint is his or her own
• Believes two unrelated events can have a cause-effect relationship

Normal Development: 6 Years Old

Physical Development

• Loves active play but may tire easily.
• Can be reckless (does not understand dangers completely).
• Is still improving basic motor skills.
• Is still not well coordinated.
• Begins to learn some specific sports skills like batting a ball.
• Dawdles much of the time.
• Is fascinated with the subject of teeth.
• May become a finicky eater.
• Uses crayons and paints with some skill, but has difficulty writing and cutting.
• May resist baths.
• Permanent teeth erupting, both molars and front teeth.

Emotional Development

• May have unpredictable mood swings.
• Is quite sensitive to criticism.
• Has a problem admitting a mistake.
• Feels quite guilty about mistakes.

Social Development

• Evaluates self and friends.
• Begins to impose rules on play activities.
• Cooperates with other children with some difficulty.
• Has difficulty considering the feelings of others.
• Values independence.

Mental Development

• Likes taking responsibility for simple household chores.
• Likes to make simple decisions.
• Counts to 100.
• Asks endless "how-what-when-where-why" questions.
• Continues to refine concepts of shape, space, time, color and numbers.
• Begins to understand the difference between intentional and accidental.
• Begins to understand differences of opinion.
• Still has a short attention span (about 15 minutes maximum).
• Enjoys dramatic play.

Normal Development: 7 Years Old

Physical Development

• Still has a better large muscle than small muscle coordination.
• Rides a bicycle.
• Begins to alternate rigorous and restful activities independently.
• Favors competitive games.
• Has more refined eye-hand coordination.
• May ask questions about life, death and the human body.
• Still preoccupied with subject of teeth.

Emotional Development

• Becomes better at expressing negative feelings through language.
• May blame another for own mistake.

Social Development

• Plays with boys and girls together.
• Usually has a best friend of the same sex.
• Shows growing concern about popularity among peers.
• Seeks approval of peers as well as adults.
• Takes it upon self to enforce rules.
• Tattles on other children perceived to be misbehaving
• Tends to be quite critical.
• Begins to look for role-models.

Mental Development

• Experiences rapid language development.
• Wants to be "first", "best", and "correct" in everything.
• Is greatly concerned with concepts of honesty and dishonesty.
• Begins to use logical reasoning to solve problems.
• Continues to enjoy dramatic play.

Normal Development: 9 Years Old

Physical Development

• Acquires greater small muscle coordination.
• Has increasing dexterity.
• Favors active, highly charged games and sports.
• Wants to excel in sports and recreational skills.
• Becomes more interested in clothing and appearances.
• Laughs at bathroom humor.

Emotional Development

• Becomes self-absorbed and introspective.
• Tends to be critical of self.
• Takes comfort in knowing others experience similar troubling feelings.

Social Development

• Has ideas and interests independent from parents.
• Does not like anything "different".
• Wants to talk, dress and act just like friends.
• Is involved in informal clubs and small groups of the same sex.
• Begins to just sit and talk to friends.

Mental Development

• Uses reference books with increasing skill.
• Becomes immersed in a hobby or project, then drops it for another.
• May be a perfectionist.
• Generally follows instructions.
• Is developing personal standards of right wrong.
• Is highly concerned about fairness.

Normal Development: 10 Years Old

Physical development

• Physical growth and development varies enormously among this age group.
• Is energetic and spirited.
• Is usually awkward.
• Strives to be physically fit.
• Is fascinated with how the body works.
• May be curious about drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
• Continues to revel in bathroom humor.

Emotional Development

• Fluctuates between dependent child and independent pre-teen.
• Becomes increasingly self-conscious.

Social Development

• Seeks approval for being "good" from significant people.
• Becomes preoccupied with opposite sex.
• Relates to peer group intensely and abides by group decisions.
• Succumbs to peer pressure more readily.
• Does not want to be "different".
• Continues to participate in small groups of same sex.
• Confides constantly in best friend.
• Can be fickle.

Mental Development

• Is eager to learn and master new skills.
• Is proud of doing things well.
• Is concerned about personal capabilities.
• Has internalized standards of right and wrong to some degree.

Normal Development: Early Adolescence (12 to 14 Years Old)

Adolescence is divided in to 3 stages: early (12 to 14 years), middle (15 to 17 years), and late (18 to 20 years). While certain attitudes, behaviors, and physical milestones tend to occur at certain ages, a wide spectrum of growth and behavior for each age is normal. Consequently, these guidelines are offered as a way of showing a general progression through the development stages rather than as fixed requirements. It is perfectly natural for a teen to attain some milestones earlier and other milestones later than the general trend.

Physical Development

• May experience adolescent growth spurt (girls usually develop 2 years earlier than boys).
• Girls: changes in fat distribution, pubic hair, breast development; start of menstrual period.
• Boys: testicular growth, voice changes, pubic hair, and "wet dreams".
• May try to experiment with body (masturbation).

Emotional Development

• May have moody behavior.
• Struggles with sense of identity.
• Is sensitive and has a need for privacy.
• Is anxious due to increased social and academic stresses.
• Starts to look for loving relationships outside of family.
• May become opinionated and challenge family rules and values.
• May try to "show-off".

Social Development

• Becomes increasingly self-sufficient.
• Usually seeks out friends with beliefs and values similar to those of his or her family.
• May be preoccupied by appearance.
• Influenced by peers about clothes and interests.
• May be influenced by peers to try risky behaviors (alcohol, tobacco, sex).

Mental Development

• Mostly bases judgments on concrete rules of right and wrong, good or bad.
• Thinks in terms of the present rather than the future.
• May start to think abstractly and about complex issues.

Normal Development: Middle Adolescence (15 to 17 Years Old)

Physical Development

• Most girls have completed the physical changes related to puberty by age 15.
• Boys are still maturing and gaining strength, muscle mass and height and are completing the development of sexual traits.

Emotional Development

• May have anxiety over school and test scores.
• Is self-involved (may have high expectations and low self-concept).
• Seeks privacy and time alone.
• Is concerned about physical and sexual attractiveness.
• May complain that parents prevent him or her from doing things independently.
• Starts to integrate both physical and emotional intimacy into relationships.

Social Development

• Is increasingly aware of social behaviors of friends.
• Seeks friends that share similar beliefs, values and interests. Friends become more important.
• Starts to have more intellectual interests.
• May be influenced by peers to try risky behaviors (alcohol, tobacco, sex).

Mental Development

• Becomes better able to set goals and think in terms of the future.
• Has a better understanding of complex interrelationships of problems and issues.
• Starts to develop moral ideals and to select role models.

Normal Development: Late Adolescence (18 to 20 Years Old)

Emotional Development

• Has a better sense of self.
• Becomes gradually more emotionally stable.
• Has a greater concern for others.
• Has thoughts about his or her purpose in life.
• Has pride in his or her own work.

Social Development

• Has become self-reliant and able to make own decisions.
• Becomes more comfortable around parents.
• Becomes interested and concerned in serious relationships.
• Can integrate both emotional and physical intimacy in a relationship.
• Has developed a clear sexual identity.

Mental Development

• Has ability to think ideas through and set goals.
• Has ability to express ideas.
• Has developed a deeper perspective of life and may become involved in community issues (environment, homelessness, world hunger).