Pediatric milestones

Question 1

What are social and emotional milestones at 2 months of age?

Answer 1

Begins to smile at people camera
Can briefly calm herself (may bring hands to mouth and suck on hand)camera
Tries to look at parent

Question 2

What are language/communication milestones at 2 months of age?

Answer 2

Coos, makes gurgling sounds

Turns head toward sounds

Question 3

What are cognitive milestones at 2 months of age?

Answer 3

Pays attention to faces
Begins to follow things with eyes and recognize people at a distance
Begins to act bored (cries, fussy) if activity doesn’t change

Question 4

What are movement/physical development at 2 months of age?

Answer 4

Can hold head up and begins to push up when lying on tummy camera
Makes smoother movements with arms and legs

Question 5

What are milestone concerns that a parent should notify a provider of at 2 months of age?

Answer 5

Doesn’t respond to loud sounds
Doesn’t watch things as they move
Doesn’t smile at people
Doesn’t bring hands to mouth
Can’t hold head up when pushing up when on tummy

Question 6

What are social/emotional milestones at 4 months of age?

Answer 6

Smiles spontaneously, especially at people
Likes to play with people and might cry when playing stops
Copies some movements and facial expressions, like smiling or frowning

Question 7

What are language/communication milestones at 4 months of age?

Answer 7

Begins to babble
Babbles with expression and copies sounds he hears
Cries in different ways to show hunger, pain, or being tired

Question 8

What are cognitive milestones at 4 months of age?

Answer 8

Lets you know if he is happy or sad
Responds to affection
Reaches for toy with one hand
Uses hands and eyes together, such as seeing a toy and reaching for it
Follows moving things with eyes from side to side
Watches faces closely
Recognizes familiar people and things at a distance

Question 9

What are movement/physical development milestones at 4 months of age?

Answer 9

Holds head steady, unsupported
Pushes down on legs when feet are on a hard surface
May be able to roll over from tummy to back
Can hold a toy and shake it and swing at dangling toys
Brings hands to mouth
When lying on stomach, pushes up to elbows

Question 10

What are concerns parents should discuss with their provider if their child is not meeting 4 month milestones?

Answer 10

Doesn’t watch things as they move
Doesn’t smile at people
Can’t hold head steady
Doesn’t coo or make sounds
Doesn’t bring things to mouth
Doesn’t push down with legs when feet are placed on a hard surface
Has trouble moving one or both eyes in all directions

Question 11

What are social/emotional milestones at 6 months?

Answer 11

Knows familiar faces and begins to know if someone is a stranger
Likes to play with others, especially parents
Responds to other people’s emotions and often seems happy
Likes to look at self in a mirror

Question 12

What are language/communication milestones at 6 months?

Answer 12

Responds to sounds by making sounds
Strings vowels together when babbling (“ah,” “eh,” “oh”) and likes taking turns with parent while making sounds
Responds to own name
Makes sounds to show joy and displeasure
Begins to say consonant sounds (jabbering with “m,” “b”)

Question 13

What are cognitive milestones at 6 months?

Answer 13

Looks around at things nearby
Brings things to mouth
Shows curiosity about things and tries to get things that are out of reach
Begins to pass things from one hand to the other

Question 14

What are motor/physical development milestones at 6 months of age?

Answer 14

Rolls over in both directions (front to back, back to front)
Begins to sit without support
When standing, supports weight on legs and might bounce
Rocks back and forth, sometimes crawling backward before moving forward

Question 15

What are concerns parents should discuss with their provider if their 6 month old is not meeting these following milestones?

Answer 15

Doesn’t try to get things that are in reach
Shows no affection for caregivers
Doesn’t respond to sounds around him
Has difficulty getting things to mouth
Doesn’t make vowel sounds (“ah”, “eh”, “oh”)
Doesn’t roll over in either direction
Doesn’t laugh or make squealing sounds
Seems very stiff, with tight muscles
Seems very floppy, like a rag doll

Question 16

What are social/emotional milestones for 9 months old?

Answer 16

May be afraid of strangers
May be clingy with familiar adults
Has favorite toys

Question 17

What are language/communication milestones for 9 months old?

Answer 17

Understands “no”
Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa”
Copies sounds and gestures of others
Uses fingers to point at things

Question 18

What are cognitive milestones for a 9 month old?

Answer 18

Watches the path of something as it falls
Looks for things she sees you hide
Plays peek-a-boo
Puts things in his mouth
Moves things smoothly from one hand to the other
Picks up things like cereal o’s between thumb and index finger

Question 19

What are movement/physical development milestones for a 9 month old?

Answer 19

Stands, holding on 
Can get into sitting position 
Sits without support 
Pulls to stand 
Crawls

Question 20

What are concerns parents should discuss with their provider if their child is not meeting these 9 month milestones?

Answer 20

Doesn’t bear weight on legs with support
Doesn’t sit with help
Doesn’t babble (“mama”, “baba”, “dada”)
Doesn’t play any games involving back-and-forth play
Doesn’t respond to own name
Doesn’t seem to recognize familiar people
Doesn’t look where you point
Doesn’t transfer toys from one hand to the other

Question 21

What are social/emotional milestones for 1 year olds?

Answer 21

Is shy or nervous with strangers
Cries when mom or dad leaves
Has favorite things and people camera
Shows fear in some situations
Hands you a book when he wants to hear a story
Repeats sounds or actions to get attention
Puts out arm or leg to help with dressing
Plays games such as “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake”

Question 22

What are language/communication milestones for a 1 year old?

Answer 22

Responds to simple spoken requests
Uses simple gestures, like shaking head “no” or waving “bye-bye”
Makes sounds with changes in tone (sounds more like speech)
Says “mama” and “dada” and exclamations like “uh-oh!”
Tries to say words you say

Question 23

What are cognitive milestones for a 1 year old?

Answer 23

Explores things in different ways, like shaking, banging, throwing
Finds hidden things easily
Looks at the right picture or thing when it’s named
Copies gestures
Starts to use things correctly; for example, drinks from a cup, brushes hair
Bangs two things together
Puts things in a container, takes things out of a container
Lets things go without help
Pokes with index (pointer) finger
Follows simple directions like “pick up the toy

Question 24

What are movement/physical development for a 1 year old?

Answer 24

Gets to a sitting position without help
Pulls up to stand, walks holding on to furniture (“cruising”)
May take a few steps without holding on
May stand alone

Question 25

What are concerns parents should discuss with their provider if their one year old is not meeting these milestones?

Answer 25

Doesn’t crawl
Can’t stand when supported
Doesn’t search for things that she sees you hide
Doesn’t say single words like “mama” or “dada”
Doesn’t learn gestures like waving or shaking head
Doesn’t point to things
Loses skills he once had

Question 26

What are social/emotional milestones for a 18 month old?

Answer 26

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

Question 27

What are language/communication milestones for a 18 month old?

Answer 27

Says several single words
Says and shakes head “no”
Points to show someone what he wants

Question 28

What are cognitive milestones for a 18 month old?

Answer 28

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”

Question 29

What are movement/physical development milestones for a 18 month old?

Answer 29

Walks alone 
May walk up steps and run 
Pulls toys while walking 
Can help undress herself
Drinks from a cup 
Eats with a spoon

Question 30

What are concerns parents should bring to their provider if their 18 month old is not meeting these milestones?

Answer 30

Doesn’t point to show things to others
Can’t walk
Doesn’t know what familiar things are for
Doesn’t copy others
Doesn’t gain new words
Doesn’t have at least 6 words
Doesn’t notice or mind when a caregiver leaves or returns
Loses skills he once had

Question 31

What are social/emotional milestones for a 2 year old?

Answer 31

Copies others, especially adults and older children
Gets excited when with other children
Shows more and more independence
Shows defiant behavior (doing what he has been told not to)
Plays mainly beside other children, but is beginning to include other children, such as in chase games

Question 32

What are language/communication milestones for a 2 year old?

Answer 32

Points to things or pictures when they are named
Knows names of familiar people and body parts
Says sentences with 2 to 4 words
Follows simple instructions
Repeats words overheard in conversation
Points to things in a book

Question 33

What are cognitive milestones for a 2 year old?

Answer 33

Finds things even when hidden under two or three covers
Begins to sort shapes and colors
Completes sentences and rhymes in familiar books
Plays simple make-believe games
Builds towers of 4 or more blocks
Might use one hand more than the other
Follows two-step instructions such as “Pick up your shoes and put them in the closet.”
Names items in a picture book such as a cat, bird, or dog

Question 34

What are movement/physical development milestones for a 2 year old?

Answer 34

Stands on tiptoe
Kicks a ball
Begins to run
Climbs onto and down from furniture without help
Walks up and down stairs holding on
Throws ball overhand
Makes or copies straight lines and circles

Question 35

What are concerns parents should bring to their provider if their child is not meeting these 2 year old milestones?

Answer 35

Doesn’t use 2-word phrases (for example, “drink milk”)
Doesn’t know what to do with common things, like a brush, phone, fork, spoon
Doesn’t copy actions and words
Doesn’t follow simple instructions
Doesn’t walk steadily
Loses skills she once had

Question 36

What are social/emotional milestones for a 3 year old?

Answer 36

Copies adults and friends
Shows affection for friends without prompting
Takes turns in games
Shows concern for crying friend
Understands the idea of “mine” and “his” or “hers”
Shows a wide range of emotions
Separates easily from mom and dad
May get upset with major changes in routine
Dresses and undresses self

Question 37

What are language/communication milestones for a 3 year old?

Answer 37

Follows instructions with 2 or 3 steps
Can name most familiar things
Understands words like “in,” “on,” and “under”
Says first name, age, and sex
Names a friend
Says words like “I,” “me,” “we,” and “you” and some plurals (cars, dogs, cats)
Talks well enough for strangers to understand most of the time
Carries on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences

Question 38

What are cognitive milestones for a 3 year old?

Answer 38

Can work toys with buttons, levers, and moving parts
Plays make-believe with dolls, animals, and people
Does puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces
Understands what “two” means
Copies a circle with pencil or crayon
Turns book pages one at a time
Builds towers of more than 6 blocks
Screws and unscrews jar lids or turns door handle

Question 39

What are movement/physical development milestones for a 3 year old?

Answer 39

Climbs well
Runs easily
Pedals a tricycle (3-wheel bike)
Walks up and down stairs, one foot on each step

Question 40

What are concerns parents should bring to their provider if their child is not meeting these 3 year old milestones?

Answer 40

Falls down a lot or has trouble with stairs
Drools or has very unclear speech
Can’t work simple toys (such as peg boards, simple puzzles, turning handle)
Doesn’t speak in sentences
Doesn’t understand simple instructions
Doesn’t play pretend or make-believe
Doesn’t want to play with other children or with toys
Doesn’t make eye contact
Loses skills he once had

Question 41

What are social/emotional milestones for 4 year olds?

Answer 41

Enjoys doing new things
Plays “Mom” and “Dad”
Is more and more creative with make-believe play
Would rather play with other children than by himself
Cooperates with other children
Often can’t tell what’s real and what’s make-believe
Talks about what she likes and what she is interested in

Question 42

What are language/communication milestones for 4 year olds?

Answer 42

Knows some basic rules of grammar, such as correctly using “he” and “she”
Sings a song or says a poem from memory such as the “Itsy Bitsy Spider” or the “Wheels on the Bus”
Tells stories
Can say first and last name

Question 43

What are cognitive milestones for a 4 year old?

Answer 43

Names some colors and some numbers video icon
Understands the idea of counting
Starts to understand time
Remembers parts of a story
Understands the idea of “same” and “different”
Draws a person with 2 to 4 body parts
Uses scissors
Starts to copy some capital letters
Plays board or card games
Tells you what he thinks is going to happen next in a book

Question 44

What are movement/physical development milestones for a 4 year old?

Answer 44

Hops and stands on one foot up to 2 seconds
Catches a bounced ball most of the time
Pours, cuts with supervision, and mashes own food

Question 45

What are concerns parents should bring to their provider if their 4 year old isn’t meeting these milestones?

Answer 45

Can’t jump in place
Has trouble scribbling
Shows no interest in interactive games or make-believe
Ignores other children or doesn’t respond to people outside the family
Resists dressing, sleeping, and using the toilet
Can’t retell a favorite story
Doesn’t follow 3-part commands
Doesn’t understand “same” and “different”
Doesn’t use “me” and “you” correctly
Speaks unclearly
Loses skills he once had

Question 46

What are social/emotional milestones a 5 year old should be meeting?

Answer 46

Wants to please friends
Wants to be like friends
More likely to agree with rules
Likes to sing, dance, and act
Is aware of gender
Can tell what’s real and what’s make-believe
Shows more independence (for example, may visit a next-door neighbor by himself [adult supervision is still needed])
Is sometimes demanding and sometimes very cooperative

Question 47

What are language/communication milestones a 5 year old should be meeting?

Answer 47

Speaks very clearly
Tells a simple story using full sentences
Uses future tense; for example, “Grandma will be here.”
Says name and address

Question 48

What are cognitive milestones a 5 year old should be meeting?

Answer 48

Counts 10 or more things
Can draw a person with at least 6 body parts
Can print some letters or numbers
Copies a triangle and other geometric shapes
Knows about things used every day, like money and food

Question 49

What are movement/physical development milestones a 5 year old should be meeting?

Answer 49

Stands on one foot for 10 seconds or longer
Hops; may be able to skip
Can do a somersault
Uses a fork and spoon and sometimes a table knife
Can use the toilet on her own
Swings and climbs

Question 50

What are concerns parents should discuss with their provider if their 5 year old is not meeting the following milestones?

Answer 50

Doesn’t show a wide range of emotions
Shows extreme behavior (unusually fearful, aggressive, shy or sad)
Unusually withdrawn and not active
Is easily distracted, has trouble focusing on one activity for more than 5 minutes
Doesn’t respond to people, or responds only superficially
Can’t tell what’s real and what’s make-believe
Doesn’t play a variety of games and activities
Can’t give first and last name
Doesn’t use plurals or past tense properly
Doesn’t talk about daily activities or experiences
Doesn’t draw pictures
Can’t brush teeth, wash and dry hands, or get undressed without help
Loses skills he once had