A picture of a family doing picknik outdoor and playing jengga

Sources: Center for Disease Control (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-3yr.html

2 Months Old

Social/Emotional Milestone

  • Calms down when spoken to or picked up 
  • Looks at your face

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Makes sounds other than crying 
  • Reacts to loud sounds

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Watches you as you move 
  • Looks at a toy for several seconds

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Holds head up when on tummy 
  • Moves both arms and both legs 
  • Opens hands briefly 

Four Months

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Smiles on his own to get your attention 
  • Chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make him laugh. 
  • Looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention.

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Makes sounds like “oooo”, “aahh” (cooing) 
  • Makes sounds back when you talk to him .
  • Turns head towards the sound of your voice .

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • If hungry, opens mouth when he sees breast or bottle.
  • Looks at her hands with interest .

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Holds head steady without support when you are holding him 
  • Holds a toy when you put it in his hand 
  • Uses his arm to swing at toys 
  • Brings hands to mouth 
  • Pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy

Six Months

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Knows familiar people
  • Likes to look at self in a mirror
  • Laughs 

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Takes turns making sounds with you 
  • Blows “raspberries” (sticks tongue out and blows) 
  • Makes squealing noises 

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Puts things in her mouth to explore them
  • Reaches to grab a toy she wants
  • Closes lips to show she doesn’t want more food 

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Rolls from tummy to back 
  • Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
  • Leans on hands to support herself when sitting

Nine Months

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers 
  • Shows several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry, and surprised
  • Looks when you call her name 
  • Reacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you, or cries) 
  • Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa” 
  • Lifts arms up to be picked up

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Looks for objects when dropped out of sight (like his spoon or toy) 
  • Bangs two things together 

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Gets to a sitting position independently
  • Moves things from one hand to her other hand
  • Uses fingers to “rake” food during eating
  • Sits without support

One Year (1 Year)

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake 

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Waves “bye-bye” 
  • Calls a parent “mama” or “dada” or another special name 

    • Understands “no” (pauses briefly or stops when you say it)

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Puts something in a container, like a block in a cup 
  • Looks for things he sees you hide, like a toy under a blanket 

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Pulls up to stand
  • Walks, holding on to furniture 
  • Drinks from a cup without a lid, as you hold it 
  • Picks things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small bits of food

15 Months old

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Copies other children while playing, like taking toys out of a container when another child does
  • Shows you an favorable object
  • Claps when excited 
  • Hugs stuffed doll or other toy
  • Shows you affection (hugs, cuddles, or kisses you)

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Tries to say one or two words besides “mama” or “dada,” like “ba” for ball or “da” for dog 
  • Looks at a familiar object when you name it 
  • Follow directions given with both a gesture and words. For example, he gives you a toy when you hold out your hand and say, “Give me the toy.” 
  • Points to ask for something or to get help 

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Tries to use things the right way, like a phone, cup, or book
  • Stacks at least two small objects, like blocks 

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Takes a few steps on his own
  • Uses fingers to feed herself some food

18 Months Old

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Moves away from you, but looks to make sure you are close by 
  • Points to show you something interesting
  • Puts hands out for you to wash them
  • Looks at a few pages in a book with you
  • Helps you dress him by pushing arm through sleeve or lifting up foot 

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Tries to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada” 
  • Follows one-step directions without any gestures, like giving you the toy when you say, “Give it to me.” 

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Copies you doing chores, like sweeping with a broom 
  • Plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Walks without holding on to anyone or anything 
  • Scribbles
  • Drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes
  • Feeds himself with his fingers
  • Tries to use a spoon
  • Climbs on and off a couch or chair without help

2 Years old

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Notices when others are hurt or upset, like pausing or looking sad when someone is crying
  • Looks at your face to see how to react in a new situation 

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Points to things in a book when you ask, like “Where is the bear?”  
  • Says at least two words together, like “More milk.”  
  • Points to at least two body parts when you ask him to show you  
  • Uses more gestures than just waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes  

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Holds something in one hand while using the other hand; for example, holding a container and taking the lid off 
  • Tries to use switches, knobs, or buttons on a toy
  • Plays with more than one toy at the same time, like putting toy food on a toy plate

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Kicks a ball
  • Runs 
  • Walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help
  • Eats with a spoon

30 Month Old

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Plays next to other children and sometimes plays with them 
  • Shows you what she can do by saying, “Look at me!” 
  • Follows simple routines when told, like helping to pick up toys when you say, “It’s clean-up time.” 

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Says about 50 words 
  • Says two or more words together, with one action word, like “Doggie run” 
  • Names things in a book when you point and ask, “What is this?” 
  • Says words like “I,” “me,” or “we” 

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Uses things to pretend, like feeding a block to a doll as if it were food 
  • Shows simple problem-solving skills, like standing on a small stool to reach something 
  • Follows two-step instructions like “Put the toy down and close the door.” 
  • Shows he knows at least one color, like pointing to a red crayon when you ask, “Which one is red?” 

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Uses hands to twist things, like turning doorknobs or unscrewing lids
  • Takes some clothes off by himself, like loose pants or an open jacket
  • Jumps off the ground with both feet /li>
  • Turns book pages, one at a time, when you read to her

3 Years Old

Social/Emotional Milestones

  • Calms down within 10 minutes after you leave her, like at a childcare drop off 
  • Notices other children and joins them to play 

Language/Communication Milestones

  • Talks with you in conversation using at least two back-and-forth exchanges 
  • Asks “who,” “what,” “where,” or “why” questions, like “Where is mommy/daddy?” 
  • Says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like “running,” “eating,” or “playing” 
  • Says first name, when asked 
  • Talks well enough for others to understand, most of the time 

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

  • Draws a circle, when you show him how 
  • Avoids touching hot objects, like a stove, when you warn her 

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

  • Strings items together, like large beads or macaroni
  • Puts on some clothes by himself, like loose pants or a jacket
  • Uses a fork