This document outlines developmental milestones for infants from birth to 18 months. It notes that while development varies individually, guidelines can help parents understand realistic expectations. For premature infants, milestones should be measured based on their corrected age. The document then lists typical developmental milestones in 3-month intervals, noting skills babies may acquire in areas like motor skills, social interaction, and communication. Parents are advised to monitor development and seek guidance if children fall outside typical ranges.

1. Gladys A. Ducusin
1-C ECE
Emory University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics
Developmental Milestones
Maureen Mulligan LaRossa, R.N.
Each child is an individual and will grow and develop at her own rate. However, broad
guidelines for development can be helpful in understanding what is realistic to expect a child to
accomplish by certain ages. If your child was born prematurely it is very important that you use
her corrected age when looking at these milestones.
At birth a prematurely born baby's muscles and nervous system do not function at the same
level as do a full-term infant's. It takes roughly forty weeks for all systems in an infant's body to
be at the point of maturity we associate with a newborn. If a child is born early she will
continue to develop as if she were still in the womb. Experiencing the world prematurely will
not accelerate the normal progression of development. However, the neonatal intensive care
unit (NICU) environment and some of the complications of prematurity may have a significant
effect on her developmental maturation.
In this section of our resource room we outline general developmental milestones you can
expect to observe in your child from infancy through eighteen months of age. We also provide
you with information on some of the common ways prematurity may effect your child's
progress through these steps. Children may pass through these steps at different rates. Some
children may even take a somewhat different route. We provide indications as to when these
variations are of concern and should be evaluated further.
Milestones: Two to Five Months
Remember to use your child’s corrected age when comparing her accomplishments to a
developmental chart! If your baby went home from the hospital in generally good health and is
able to feed from breast or bottle you may expect that sometime from two to five months she
will begin to:

2. 1. smile and coo.
2. watch a person’s face intently.
3. follow people and objects with her eyes
4. laugh out loud.
5. lift her head and chest when on her stomach.
6. independently hold her head steady when pulled to sit.
7. .grasp a rattle placed in her hand.
8. startle when she hears a loud sound.
Milestones:Sixto Nine Months
Remembertouse yourchild’scorrectedage whencomparingher accomplishmentstoadevelopmental
chart! If yourbaby has beengenerallyhealthysince she came home fromthe hospital,youcanexpect
she will:
1. babble andbegintocombine vowel consonantsounds.Forexample,"dadadada."
2. turn to locate the source of a sound.
3. respondtoher name.
4. roll over.
5. move fromsittingwithsupporttosittingindependently.
6. transferobjectsfromhandto hand.
7. supportherweightonher feetwhenheldinanuprightposition.
8. use the thumband fingerstopickup small objects(rather thanusingthe whole handina raking
motion).
9. crawl (supportingherweightonherhandsand kneesratherthanpullingherself alonginasemi-
lyingposition).

3. Milestones:Tento Twelve Months
Remembertouse yourchild'scorrectedage whencomparing heraccomplishmentstoa developmental
chart! If yourbabyhas beengenerallyhealthysince discharge fromthe hospitalyoucanexpectshe will:
1. carry out a simple actiononverbal request.Forexample,wave "bye"whenshe hearsthe word.
She no longerhasto see someone wave first.
2. purposefullysay"mama"and/or"dada"as a greetingor tocall a parentto her.
3. playwithan objectwithbothhandswhile sittingindependently.
4. independentlymoveherself acrossthe floortogeta desiredobject.
5. pull tostand and cruise holdingontofurnitureoran adult'shand.
6. pickup small objectswiththumbandfingers.
7. try to communicate bypointingorreachingforwhatshe wants.
8. turn the pagesof a board or thickplasticbook.
9. visually andmanuallyexplore toys,revealingagrowingcuriosity.
10. indicate recognitionof familiarpeople byfacial expressionorbyphysicallyapproachingthe
familiarperson.
11. use bothhands equallywell.
Milestones: Thirteen to Eighteen Months
Remembertouse yourchild'scorrectedage whencomparingheraccomplishments to a developmental
chart! If your baby has been generally healthy since nursery discharge you can expect she will:
1. be able to scribble with a large crayon (if she can keep from putting it in her mouth).
2. walk alone with heels flat on the floor.
3. feed herself finger foods and begin to try to use a spoon.
4. walk up stairs with one hand held.
5. use a vocabulary of four to ten words.
6. follow simple verbal directions to perform a single task. For example, "Give me the ball."
7. coordinate the use of bothhands well.Forexample,holdacontainer in one hand while putting
something into it with the other.
8. respond to her name.
9. "talk" in long, jabbering sentences as if holding an understandable conversation with you.
10. point to at least two pictures on request.
11. use her thumb and first finger easily to pick up a very small object.

4. 12. throw a ball easily.
Important Milestones: Your Child at Eighteen Months
What most babies do at this age:
Social and Emotional
Likes to hand things to others as play
May have temper tantrums
May be afraid of strangers
Shows affection to familiar people
Plays simple pretend, such as feeding a doll
May cling to caregivers in new situations
Points to show others something interesting
Explores alone but with parent close by
Toddler eating you from a blue bowl
Language/Communication
Says several single words
Says and shakes head “no”
Points to show someone what he wants

5. Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Knows what ordinary things are for; for example, telephone, brush, spoon
Points to get the attention of others
Shows interest in a doll or stuffed animal by pretending to feed
Points to one body part
Scribbles on his own
Can follow 1-step verbal commands without any gestures; for example, sits when you say “sit
down”
Movement/Physical Development
Walks alone
May walk up steps and run
Pulls toys while walking
Can help undress herself
Drinks from a cup
Eats with a spoon

6. Reshel N. Antipatia
1-C ECE
Developmental Milestones
Maureen Mulligan LaRossa, R.N.
Each child is an individual and will grow and develop at her own rate. However, broad
guidelines for development can be helpful in understanding what is realistic to expect a child to
accomplish by certain ages. If your child was born prematurely it is very important that you use
her corrected age when looking at these milestones.
At birth a prematurely born baby's muscles and nervous system do not function at the same level
as do a full-term infant's. It takes roughly forty weeks for all systems in an infant's body to be at
the point of maturity we associate with a newborn. If a child is born early she will continue to
develop as if she were still in the womb. Experiencing the world prematurely will not accelerate
the normal progression of development. However, the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
environment and some of the complications of prematurity may have a significant effect on her
developmental maturation.
In this section of our resource room we outline general developmental milestones you can expect
to observe in your child from infancy through eighteen months of age. We also provide you with
information on some of the common ways prematurity may effect your child's progress through
these steps. Children may pass through these steps at different rates. Some children may even
take a somewhat different route. We provide indications as to when these variations are of
concern and should be evaluated further.
Milestones: Two to Five Months
Remember to use your child’s corrected age when comparing her accomplishments to
a developmental chart! If your baby went home from the hospital in generally good health and is
able to feed from breast or bottle you may expect that sometime from two to five months she will
begin to:

7. 1. smile and coo.
2. watch a person’s face intently.
3. follow people and objects with her eyes
4. laugh out loud.
5. lift her head and chest when on her stomach.
6. independently hold her head steady when pulled to sit.
7. .grasp a rattle placed in her hand.
8. startle when she hears a loud sound.
Milestones: Six to Nine Months
Remember to use your child’s corrected age when comparing her accomplishments to
a developmental chart! If your baby has been generally healthy since she came home from the
hospital, you can expect she will:
1. babble and begin to combine vowel consonant sounds. For example, "dadadada."
2. turn to locate the source of a sound.
3. respond to her name.
4. roll over.
5. move from sitting with support to sitting independently.
6. transfer objects from hand to hand.
7. support her weight on her feet when held in an upright position.
8. use the thumb and fingers to pick up small objects (rather than using the whole hand in a
raking motion).
9. crawl (supporting her weight on her hands and knees rather than pulling herself along in a
semi-lying position).

8. Milestones: Ten to Twelve Months
Remember to use your child's corrected age when comparing her accomplishments to
a developmental chart! If your baby has been generally healthy since discharge from the hospital
you can expect she will:
1. carry out a simple action on verbal request. For example, wave "bye" when she hears the
word. She no longer has to see someone wave first.
2. purposefully say "mama" and/or "dada" as a greeting or to call a parent to her.
3. play with an object with both hands while sitting independently.
4. independently move herself across the floor to get a desired object.
5. pull to stand and cruise holding onto furniture or an adult's hand.
6. pick up small objects with thumb and fingers.
7. try to communicate by pointing or reaching for what she wants.
8. turn the pages of a board or thick plastic book.
9. visually and manually explore toys, revealing a growing curiosity.
10. indicate recognition of familiar people by facial expression or by physically approaching
the familiar person.
11. use both hands equally well.
Milestones: Thirteen to Eighteen Months
Remember to use your child's corrected age when comparing her accomplishments to a
developmental chart! If your baby has been generally healthy since nursery discharge you can
expect she will:
1. be able to scribble with a large crayon (if she can keep from putting it in her mouth).

9. 2. walk alone with heels flat on the floor.
3. feed herself finger foods and begin to try to use a spoon.
4. walk up stairs with one hand held.
5. use a vocabulary of four to ten words.
6. follow simple verbal directions to perform a single task. For example, "Give me the ball."
7. coordinate the use of both hands well. For example, hold a container in one hand while
putting something into it with the other.
8. respond to her name.
9. "talk" in long, jabbering sentences as if holding an understandable conversation with you.
10. point to at least two pictures on request.
11. use her thumb and first finger easily to pick up a very small object.
12. throw a ball easily.
Important Milestones: Your Child at Eighteen Months
What most babies do at this age:
Social and Emotional
Likes to hand things to others as play
May have temper tantrums
May be afraid of strangers
Shows affection to familiar people
Plays simple pretend, such as feeding a doll
May cling to caregivers in new situations
Points to show others something interesting

10. Explores alone but with parent close by
Toddler eating you from a blue bowl
Language/Communication
Says several single words
Says and shakes head “no”
Points to show someone what he wants
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Knows what ordinary things are for; for example, telephone, brush, spoon
Points to get the attention of others
Shows interest in a doll or stuffed animal by pretending to feed
Points to one body part
Scribbles on his own
Can follow 1-step verbal commands without any gestures; for example, sits when you say “sit
down”
Movement/Physical Development
Walks alone
May walk up steps and run
Pulls toys while walking
Can help undress herself
Drinks from a cup
Eats with a spoon