The first few years of a baby’s life are crucial for development. How they move, act, talk, and respond to different stimuli are indicators of whether they are on track in their growth. These are all milestones.

All children should be able to do certain things from two months to five years. Some may be a little ahead of their development and some may be a bit behind. It’s important for parents to know what to look forward to and when to call the doctor.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a great resource for a child’s developmental milestones along with a free mobile app parents can use for tracking. But here's the timeline to watch for:

Two Months

Most babies will start to smile at people. They will try to look at their parents and can briefly calm themselves by sucking on their hands. They begin to coo or make gurgling sounds and will follow sounds. They pay attention to faces and will start to follow things with their eyes. They can hold their heads up and may start pushing up when lying on their tummies.

Talk to your doctor if the baby:
 

• Doesn’t respond to loud sounds
• Doesn’t watch moving objects
• Doesn’t smile at people
• Doesn’t bring hands to mouth
• Can’t hold head up when on tummy

Six Months

Most babies know their parents by this age and like playing with them. They also like to look at themselves in a mirror. They make sounds in response to sounds. They will start putting vowels together when babbling and will respond to their name. They bring things to their mouth, pass items between hands, and try to get things that are out of reach. By six months they should be able to roll over from front to back and back to front. They will start to sit without support and can support their weight when standing. Sometimes they crawl backward.

Talk to your doctor if the baby:
 

• Doesn’t reach for things
• Shows no affection for caregivers
• Doesn’t respond to surrounding sounds
• Has difficulty getting things to their mouth
• Doesn’t make vowel sounds
• Doesn’t roll over
• Doesn’t laugh or squeal
• Seems stiff or flops like a rag doll

12 Months

By year one they should at least be shy with strangers and cry when their caregiver leaves. They have favorite things and people. They show fear. They will hand you a book when they want a story and help you get them dressed, and will repeat sounds and actions for attention. They will shake their head “no” and wave “goodbye.” They will try to say the words you say and respond to simple spoken requests. They start to do things correctly like drinking from a cup or brushing their hair. They will start banging, shaking, and throwing things. They will look at pictures of the right thing when it’s named. They may be able to stand alone, take a few steps without holding on, be comfortable walking while holding furniture, and sit up without help.

Talk to your doctor if baby:
 

• Doesn’t crawl
• Can’t stand when supported
• Doesn’t search for things you hide
• Doesn’t say words like “mama” or “dada”
• Doesn’t point at things
• Doesn’t shake their head or wave
• Loses skills they once had

18 Months

Tantrums may start around this time. Children will start using their imagination when playing. They will also hand things to others when playing. They will likely be afraid of strangers and affectionate with familiar people. They will start exploring on their own if their parents are nearby. They should have a vocabulary of several words, including “no,” and will point to show what they want. They know what ordinary things are, will scribble, and can follow simple verbal commands. By this time, they should be able to walk up steps and run. They can also pull toys when walking, help undress themselves, drink from cups, and eat with a spoon.

Talk to your doctor if the child:
 

• Can’t walk
• Doesn’t show things to others
• Doesn’t gain new words
• Doesn’t have at least six words in their vocabulary
• Doesn’t notice or care when a caregiver leaves or returns
• Doesn’t know what familiar items are for
• Doesn’t copy others

Two Years

Your child will show more independence and even defiance by this age. They will get excited when they’re with other children and will play more often with other children. They copy the behavior of others. They can point to things or pictures of things when they’re named. They should know the names of familiar people and body parts, and will point to things in books and form sentences with two to four words. They will start to build with blocks, sort shapes and colors, play simple make-believe games, start using one hand more than another, complete sentences, and rhymes from familiar books, and follow instructions like, “pick up your clothes and put them in the hamper.” Finally, they can climb on furniture without help, walk up and down stairs holding the handrail, throw balls overhand, stand on tiptoe, and start to run.

Talk to your doctor if the child:
 

• Doesn’t use simple two-word phrases
• Doesn’t know what to do with common things like spoons or cups
• Doesn’t copy actions or words
• Can’t follow simple instructions
• Can’t walk steadily
• Loses any skills they once had

Development Goes On

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening for general development through 30 months and for autism at 18 and 24 months. The CDC has guidelines for other milestones to look for through the age of five years, along with warning signs of when to contact your doctor.

AltaMed provides a complete host of pediatric services including age-appropriate immunizations and screenings. For information or to make an appointment call (888) 499-9303.