Developmental Milestones by Age: A Parent's Guide from Birth to 5
Developmental milestones by age are the movement, speech, and social skills most children show by a certain point, based on guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Every child grows at their own pace, so milestones are a guide for conversation, not a test, and your pediatrician checks them at every well visit.
What are developmental milestones?
Milestones are skills such as rolling over, waving, saying first words, or taking turns in play. The AAP updated their milestone checklists in 2022. The new lists describe what most children (about 3 in 4) can do by each age. That means a child who has not reached a milestone yet is worth a closer look, rather than simply "a little behind average."
Milestones fall into a few areas:
- Movement: sitting, crawling, walking, climbing, and hand skills like picking up small objects
- Language and communication: cooing, babbling, words, sentences, and understanding what others say
- Social and emotional: smiling, eye contact, playing with others, and showing feelings
- Thinking and learning: exploring objects, solving simple problems, and pretend play
What milestones should my child reach from birth to 12 months?
| Age | Movement | Speech and communication | Social |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 months | Holds head up during tummy time | Makes sounds other than crying | Smiles when you talk to them |
| 4 months | Pushes up on forearms, holds a toy | Coos and makes sounds back at you | Smiles to get your attention |
| 6 months | Rolls from tummy to back, leans on hands to sit | Squeals, blows raspberries | Knows familiar people, laughs |
| 9 months | Sits without support | Makes sounds like "mamama" or "bababa" | Looks when you call their name, may be shy with strangers |
| 12 months | Pulls up to stand, walks holding furniture | Waves bye-bye, calls a parent "mama" or "dada" | Plays games like pat-a-cake |
What milestones should my toddler reach from 15 months to 3 years?
| Age | Movement | Speech and communication | Social |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months | Takes a few steps alone | Says 1–2 words besides "mama" or "dada" | Shows you a toy they like |
| 18 months | Walks without help, climbs on furniture | Tries to say 3 or more words | Points to show you something interesting |
| 2 years | Kicks a ball, runs | Puts 2 words together, like "more milk" | Notices when others are hurt or upset |
| 30 months | Jumps off the ground with both feet | Says about 50 words | Plays next to and sometimes with other kids |
| 3 years | Uses a fork, puts on some clothes | Talks in short conversations | Calms within 10 minutes after you leave, joins other kids in play |
What milestones should my child reach at 4 and 5 years?
| Age | Movement | Speech and communication | Social |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 years | Catches a large ball most of the time, pours water with help | Says sentences of 4 or more words, tells what happened in their day | Pretends to be something else, comforts others |
| 5 years | Hops on one foot, buttons some buttons | Tells a story with at least 2 events, answers simple questions about a story | Follows rules and takes turns in games |
These tables show a sample of milestones, not every skill. For age-specific parent handouts, visit our Growth & Development library.
Is it normal for kids to reach milestones at different times?
Yes. Children develop at different rates, and a child may race ahead in one area while taking longer in another. A baby who walks early may talk later. Premature babies are often measured by their adjusted age in the early months.
What matters most is steady progress over time. That is why we track development at every checkup instead of judging one moment.
Which delays should I talk to my pediatrician about?
Trust your instincts. You know your child best. Bring up any concern, and call sooner rather than waiting for the next checkup if you notice:
- Loss of skills your child once had, at any age
- No babbling or pointing by 12 months
- Not responding to their name by 12 months
- No single words by 16–18 months, or no two-word phrases by 2 years
- Not walking by 18 months
- Little eye contact or interest in playing with others
- Speech that is very hard for family to understand by age 3
- Trouble with simple pretend play or following simple directions by age 3–4
Raising a concern early never hurts. If everything is on track, you leave reassured. If not, you have a head start on support.
How do we screen development at well visits?
At Advocare Society Hill Pediatrics in Philadelphia, we assess physical and cognitive development at every well visit by asking questions, watching your child, and listening to you. At key ages, we add standardized screening tools:
- Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) at the 9-month, 18-month, and 2½-year visits. For the 2½-year visit, we ask families to complete the ASQ 2–3 days before the appointment.
- M-CHAT autism screening questionnaire at the 18-month and 2-year visits
- Hearing and vision checks, including a hearing test at 12 months and vision photoscreening at 1 and 2 years
- Speech and development review at the 5-year visit, along with kindergarten readiness
Screening does not diagnose a condition. It helps us decide whether a closer evaluation would help.
What does early intervention offer?
Early intervention is a set of services for babies and toddlers under age 3 who have developmental delays or a condition likely to cause one. A federal law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), requires every state to offer it. Evaluations are free, and services are provided at no cost or low cost to families.
Services are built around your child and family. They can include:
- Speech and language therapy
- Physical therapy for movement skills
- Occupational therapy for hand skills, feeding, and daily routines
- Developmental support and coaching for parents
Often services take place at home or in child care, during everyday routines. After age 3, children who need ongoing support can be evaluated for preschool special education services through the local school district. You do not need a diagnosis to ask for an evaluation, and we can help you take the first step.
Frequently asked questions
What if my child misses a milestone?
Mention it at your next visit, or call us if you are worried. Missing one milestone is not always a problem, but we would rather check than wait.
Do premature babies reach milestones later?
Often, yes, in the first year or two. We usually use your baby's adjusted age when we look at early milestones.
Can I fill out a developmental screening at home?
Yes. For the 2½-year visit, we ask families to complete the ASQ 2–3 days before the appointment.
Does screen time affect development?
Play and talk help young children learn best. Our 2-year visit guidance notes that toddlers do better playing than watching TV, even TV left on in the background.
Who on your team has a special interest in development?
Dr. Marcus Ramspott lists child development among his special interests, and nurse practitioner Mina Baisch has experience in Developmental Pediatrics. Meet the full team on our Our Providers page.
Key takeaways for families
Milestones give parents a simple way to follow their child's growth from birth to age 5. Kids vary, but loss of skills, missed key milestones, or a gut feeling that something is off are all worth raising. We screen development at every well visit and use the ASQ and M-CHAT at key ages. Early intervention works best when it starts early. Advocare Society Hill Pediatrics serves families in Philadelphia, PA. To talk about your child's development, call 215-545-8188 or book your appointment online.
