CDC Milestones checklist
In Feb 2022, the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) revised the developmental milestone checklists for children from birth to 6 years of age.
The revision included certain skills and behaviors that research shows 75% of children at that age typically exhibit, particularly in the four domains:
You may click on the age of your child to see the developmental milestones
Calms down when spoken to or picked up
Looks at your face
Seems happy to see you when you walk up to her
Smiles when you talk to or smile at her
Makes sounds other than crying
Reacts to loud sounds
Watches you as you move
Looks at a toy for several seconds
Holds head up when on tummy
Moves both arms and both legs
Opens hands briefly
Spending quality time with your child is CRITICAL for your child's brain development and overall well-being. Below are some activities to enjoy with your 2-month-old baby.
Smiles on his own to get your attention
Chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make her laugh
Looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention
Makes sounds like “oooo”, “aahh” (cooing)
Makes sounds back when you talk to him
Turns head towards the sound of your voice
If hungry, opens mouth when she sees breast or bottle
Looks at his hands with interest
Holds head steady without support when you are holding her
Holds a toy when you put it in his hand
Uses her arm to swing at toys
Brings hands to mouth
Pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy
Spending quality time with your child is CRITICAL for your child's brain development and overall well-being. Below are some activities to enjoy with your 4-month-old baby.
Knows familiar people
Likes to look at self in a mirror
Laughs
Takes turns making sounds with you
Blows “raspberries” (sticks tongue out and blows)
Makes squealing noises
Puts things in her mouth to explore them
Reaches to grab a toy he wants
Closes lips to show she doesn’t want more food
Rolls from tummy to back
Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
Leans on hands to support himself when sitting
Spending quality time with your child is CRITICAL for your child's brain development and overall well-being. Below are some activities to enjoy with your 6-month-old baby.
Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers
Shows several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry, and surprised
Looks when you call her name
Reacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you, or cries)
Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo
Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa”
Lifts arms up to be picked up
Looks for objects when dropped out of sight (like his spoon or toy)
Bangs two things together
Gets to a sitting position by herself
Moves things from one hand to her other hand
Uses fingers to “rake” food towards himself
Sits without support
Spending quality time with your child is CRITICAL for your child's brain development and overall well-being. Below are some activities to enjoy with your 9-month-old baby.
Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake
Waves “bye-bye”
Calls a parent “mama” or “dada” or another special name
Understands “no” (pauses briefly or stops when you say it)
Puts something in a container, like a block in a cup
Looks for things he sees you hide, like a toy under a blanket
Pulls up to stand
Walks, holding on to furniture
Drinks from a cup without a lid, as you hold it
Picks things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small bits of food
Spending quality time with your child is CRITICAL for your child's brain development and overall well-being. Below are some activities to enjoy with your 1-year-old baby.
Copies other children while playing, like taking toys out of a container when another child does
Shows you an object she likes
Claps when excited
Hugs stuffed doll or other toy
Shows you affection (hugs, cuddles, or kisses you)
Tries to say one or two words besides “mama” or “dada,” like “ba” for ball or “da” for dog
Looks at a familiar object when you name it
Follows directions given with both a gesture and words. For example, he gives you a toy when you hold out your hand and say, “Give me the toy.”
Points to ask for something or to get help
Tries to use things the right way, like a phone, cup, or book
Stacks at least two small objects, like blocks
Takes a few steps on his own
Uses fingers to feed herself some food
Spending quality time with your child is CRITICAL for your child's brain development and overall well-being. Below are some activities to enjoy with your 15-month-old baby.
Moves away from you, but looks to make sure you are close by
Points to show you something interesting
Puts hands out for you to wash them
Looks at a few pages in a book with you
Helps you dress him by pushing arm through sleeve or lifting up foot
Tries to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada”
Follows one-step directions without any gestures, like giving you the toy when you say, “Give it to me.”
Copies you doing chores, like sweeping with a broom
Plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car
Walks without holding on to anyone or anything
Scribbles
Drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes
Feeds herself with her fingers
Tries to use a spoon
Climbs on and off a couch or chair without help
Spending quality time with your child is CRITICAL for your child's brain development and overall well-being. Below are some activities to enjoy with your 18-month-old baby.
Notices when others are hurt or upset, like pausing or looking sad when someone is crying
Looks at your face to see how to react in a new situation
Points to things in a book when you ask, like “Where is the bear?”
Says at least two words together, like “More milk.”
Points to at least two body parts when you ask him to show you
Uses more gestures than just waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes
Holds something in one hand while using the other hand; for example, holding a container and taking the lid off
Tries to use switches, knobs, or buttons on a toy
Plays with more than one toy at the same time, like putting toy food on a toy plate
Kicks a ball
Runs
Walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help
Eats with a spoon
Spending quality time with your child is CRITICAL for your child's brain development and overall well-being. Below are some activities to enjoy with your 2-year-old baby.
Plays next to other children and sometimes plays with them
Shows you what she can do by saying, “Look at me!”
Follows simple routines when told, like helping to pick up toys when you say, “It’s clean-up time.”
Says about 50 words
Says two or more words, with one action word, like “Doggie run”
Names things in a book when you point and ask, “What is this?”
Says words like “I,” “me,” or “we”
Uses things to pretend, like feeding a block to a doll as if it were food
Shows simple problem-solving skills, like standing on a small stool to reach something
Follows two-step instructions like “Put the toy down and close the door.”
Shows he knows at least one color, like pointing to a red crayon when you ask, “Which one is red?”
Uses hands to twist things, like turning doorknobs or unscrewing lids
Takes some clothes off by himself, like loose pants or an open jacket
Jumps off the ground with both feet
Turns book pages, one at a time, when you read to her
Spending quality time with your child is CRITICAL for your child's brain development and overall well-being. Below are some activities to enjoy with your 30-month-old baby.
Calms down within 10 minutes after you leave her, like at a childcare drop off
Notices other children and joins them to play
Talks with you in conversation using at least two back-and-forth exchanges
Asks “who,” “what,” “where,” or “why” questions, like “Where is mommy/daddy?”
Says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like “running,” “eating,” or “playing”
Says first name, when asked
Talks well enough for others to understand, most of the time
Draws a circle, when you show him how
Avoids touching hot objects, like a stove, when you warn her
Strings items together, like large beads or macaroni
Puts on some clothes by himself, like loose pants or a jacket
Uses a fork
Spending quality time with your child is CRITICAL for your child's brain development and overall well-being. Below are some activities to enjoy with your 3-year-old baby.
Pretends to be something else during play (teacher, superhero, dog)
Asks to go play with children if none are around, like “Can I play with Alex?”
Comforts others who are hurt or sad, like hugging a crying friend
Avoids danger, like not jumping from tall heights at the playground
Likes to be a “helper”
Changes behavior based on where she is (place of worship, library, playground)
Says sentences with four or more words
Says some words from a song, story, or nursery rhyme
Talks about at least one thing that happened during his day, like “I played soccer.”
Answers simple questions like “What is a coat for?” or “What is a crayon for?
Names a few colors of items
Tells what comes next in a well-known story
Draws a person with three or more body parts
Catches a large ball most of the time
Serves himself food or pours water, with adult supervision
Unbuttons some buttons
Holds crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not a fist)
Spending quality time with your child is CRITICAL for your child's brain development and overall well-being. Below are some activities to enjoy with your 4-year-old baby.
Follows rules or takes turns when playing games with other children
Sings, dances, or acts for you
Does simple chores at home, like matching socks or clearing the table after eating
Tells a story she heard or made up with at least two events. For example, a cat was stuck in a tree and a firefighter saved it
Answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it to him
Keeps a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchanges
Uses or recognizes simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall)
Counts to 10
Names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to them
Uses words about time, like “yesterday,” “tomorrow,” “morning,” or “night”
Pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities. For example, during story time or making arts and crafts (screen time does not count)
Writes some letters in her name
Names some letters when you point to them
Buttons some buttons
Hops on one foot
Spending quality time with your child is CRITICAL for your child's brain development and overall well-being. Below are some activities to enjoy with your 5-year-old baby.
Developmental Milestone content adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program (www.cdc.gov/ActEarly)