What are typical infant and toddler milestones?
During the first years of life, infants and toddlers are entirely dependent on their caregivers and cannot do anything by themselves. So, it is not uncommon for caregivers to feel tired, worried, or insecure with the challenges they face with their babies. However, infants and toddlers are fast learners and with care, attention, demonstration of affection, and cheering on, they quickly achieve many milestones. With some support, patience, and information on what to expect from your baby, these years can also be fun and filled with new discoveries.
There are multiple milestones that full term infants are expected to achieve during their first year of life. Below, we list the main gross motor, fine motor, language, and social milestones babies up to 1 year old should achieve:
| Gross Motor Milestones | Fine Motor Milestones | Language Milestones | Social Milestones | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Around | Picking up chin while laying on tummy | Making fists close to the face | Producing throaty little sounds, startle response to sounds | Recognizes caregiver’s voice |
| Around | Holds head upright momentarily while sitting | Briefly holding an object when placed in hand by caregiver | Cooing, babbling | Social smiling |
| Around | Rolling onto one side | Batting at objects | Making vocal sounds when talked to | Visually following a person |
| Around | Head only slightly lagging with pulling | No fists, hands remain mostly opened | Laughing, vocalizations | Turns head to voices |
| Around | Puts things into mouth, including their own feet | Grasping object independently | Starts to understand their name | Visually recognizing and forms attachment to caregiver |
| Around | Sits while supported by propped hands, Holds head most of the time | Shakes toys, reaches out using one hand | Consonant babbling | Experiencing stranger anxiety |
| Around | Starts to bounce | Holds object between fingers and thumb | Attending to music or singing | Looking from caregiver to object when wanting help |
| Around | “Commando” crawling | Mirrors tapping an object | Might start saying non specific “mama” or “dada”, Longer vowel sounds | Recognizing familiar people, Shaking head for “No” |
| Around | Starts to creep, starts to pull self up to stand | Banging two objects together | Imitating sounds | Uses sounds to get attention |
| Around 10 months | Cruising | Releases cube into a box clumsily | Makes different vocal sounds to communicate feelings | Waves bye |
| Around 11 months | Standing without help | Throwing object | Using a word with meaning | Looking when name is called |
Below is a list of the main gross motor, fine motor, language, and social milestones toddlers from 1 to 3 years of age are expected to achieve:
| Gross Motor Milestones | Fine Motor Milestones | Language Milestones | Social Milestones | |
| Around 12 months | Using pincer grasp | Using gestures (e.g., waving, reaching) while making vocal sounds | Showing an object to a caregiver to share interest | |
| Around 13 months | Walking alone | |||
| Around 14 months | Standing without pulling up | Pointing to objects to show interest Exploring toys using trial and error | ||
| Around 15 months | Building a small, three-block tower | Using 3-5 words, pointing to one body part | Hugging a caregiver back Showing empathy | |
| Around 16 months | Walks up stairs with support, leading with the same foot. | |||
| Around 18 months | Running | Scribbling | Using 10-25 words Naming pictures, pointing to 3 body parts and to people | Using simple pretend play |
| Around 20 months | Asking for more | |||
| Around 22 months | Building a larger, six-block tower | Possibility of showing defiant behavior | ||
| Around 24 months | Walking down steps, two feet per step, while holding rail Kicking a ball | Imitating a vertical crayon line Stringing beads | Speaking two-word sentences | Engaging in parallel play |
| Around 28 months | Walking on toes | Unscrewing a jar lid | Beginning to use pronouns | Reduction in separation anxiety |
| Around 33 months | Saying first and last name | Taking turns | ||
| Around 36 months | Catching a ball Using a tricycle | Copying a circle Unzipping a zipper | Speaking two- to three-word sentences, counting to 3 | Sharing without prompting |
Where can I find more information if my child has not achieved important milestones?
Development is not the same for every child. Some children might walk earlier, others might talk earlier. A delay in one developmental area is not always a cause for concern.
However, if you are concerned about your child, additional information can be found at "I worry about my child, but how do I know what is going on?".
You can also find more information by pointing your phone camera at the QR code below or by clicking here.
