Child Development Stages by Age: Milestones Month by Month, from Birth to 5

In short: the lists below are the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) milestones: things most children, 75% or more, can do by each age. Because they are set at the age most children have reached, a missed milestone is a reason to talk to the doctor, not a diagnosis. Children develop at their own pace, and the most useful thing you can do at every stage is talk, read and play together.

How to read these milestones

The CDC deliberately places each milestone at the age by which at least three in four children have it, so that "wait and see" is not the default when one is missing (CDC). They are not a test and not a diagnosis. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends developmental screening at 9, 18 and 30 months, and autism screening at 18 and 24 months, or any time a parent is worried (CDC).

The first year, month by month

Months 1 and 2 (by 2 months)

• Calms down when spoken to or picked up, looks at your face, and smiles when you talk or smile at them.
• Makes sounds other than crying, and reacts to loud sounds.
• Watches you as you move, and looks at a toy for several seconds.
• Holds their head up when lying on their tummy, and moves both arms and both legs.

Play that helps: when your baby makes sounds, smile and talk back, which teaches the back-and-forth of conversation. Talk, read and sing to them, and hold them often; you cannot spoil a baby by holding them (CDC).

Months 3 and 4 (by 4 months)

• Smiles to get your attention, and chuckles when you try to make them laugh.
• Coos ("oooo", "aahh"), makes sounds back when you talk, and turns towards your voice.
• Holds their head steady without support when you hold them.
• Holds a toy you put in their hand, swings at toys, and brings hands to mouth.
• Pushes up onto elbows or forearms on their tummy.

Play that helps: put your baby on a blanket with safe toys to reach for and kick at, and let them put safe things in their mouth, which is how babies explore (CDC).

Months 5 and 6 (by 6 months)

• Knows familiar people, likes looking at themselves in a mirror, and laughs.
• Takes turns making sounds with you, blows "raspberries" and squeals.
• Puts things in their mouth to explore them, and reaches to grab a toy they want.
• Rolls from tummy to back, and leans on their hands to support themselves when sitting.

Play that helps: copy your baby's sounds and smiles, and "read" together by looking at pictures and naming what you see (CDC).

Months 7, 8 and 9 (by 9 months)

• May be shy or clingy with strangers, reacts when you leave, and laughs at peek-a-boo.
• Babbles "mamamama" and "bababababa", and lifts arms up to be picked up.
• Looks for things dropped out of sight, and bangs two things together.
• Sits without support, gets into sitting alone, and moves things from one hand to the other.

Play that helps: repeat your baby's sounds and turn them into words ("bababa... book"), and put toys a little out of reach on a mat so they crawl, scoot or roll to get them (CDC).

Months 10 to 12 (by 1 year)

• Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake, and waves "bye-bye".
• Calls a parent "mama", "dada" or another special name, and understands "no".
• Puts something in a container, like a block in a cup, and looks for a toy they saw you hide.
• Pulls up to stand, walks holding on to furniture, and picks things up between thumb and finger.

Play that helps: build on what your baby tries to say ("ta"… "yes, a truck"), and give them pots and pans or a small drum to make noise with (CDC). Toys for this age are in our baby toys by month guide.

From one to five

15 months

• Tries to say one or two words besides "mama" or "dada", and points to ask for something.
• Follows directions given with both a gesture and words, like "give me the toy" with your hand out.
• Stacks at least two small objects, like blocks, and takes a few steps on their own.
• Copies other children while playing, and shows you affection.

Play that helps: name things when your child points to them, and wait a few seconds to see if they make a sound before handing them over (CDC).

18 months

• Tries to say three or more words besides "mama" or "dada", and follows one-step directions without gestures.
• Looks at a few pages of a book with you, and points to show you something interesting.
• Copies you doing chores, like sweeping, and plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a car.
• Walks without holding on, scribbles, tries to use a spoon, and climbs on and off a chair.

Play that helps: encourage pretend play: give them a spoon to feed a teddy, and take turns pretending (CDC).

2 years

• Says at least two words together, like "more milk", and points to things in a book when you ask.
• Points to at least two body parts, and uses gestures like blowing a kiss or nodding yes.
• Tries switches, knobs and buttons on toys, and plays with more than one toy at a time.
• Kicks a ball, runs, walks up a few stairs, and eats with a spoon.

Play that helps: simple puzzles with shapes, colours or animals, naming each piece as it goes in, and toys where pressing a button makes something happen (CDC).

2½ years

• Says about 50 words, and puts two or more words together with an action word, like "doggie run".
• Uses things to pretend, like feeding a block to a doll, and follows two-step instructions.
• Knows at least one colour, and twists things like lids and doorknobs.
• Jumps with both feet, and turns book pages one at a time.

Play that helps: "free play", where your child follows their own interests and uses things in new ways (CDC).

3 years

• Has short back-and-forth conversations, asks "who, what, where, why", and says their first name.
• Talks well enough for others to understand most of the time.
• Draws a circle when shown, strings large beads, and puts on some clothes alone.
• Joins other children to play, and calms down within about ten minutes after you leave.

Play that helps: playdough to squash, pinch and roll, which builds the hand muscles for writing and buttoning (CDC).

4 years

• Says sentences of four or more words, and talks about something that happened in their day.
• Pretends to be someone else in play, and likes to be a helper.
• Names a few colours, tells what comes next in a well-known story, and draws a person with three or more body parts.
• Catches a large ball most of the time, and holds a crayon between fingers and thumb.

Play that helps: read together and ask what is happening and what might happen next; dress-up, pretend cooking and blocks feed their imagination (CDC).

5 years

• Tells a story with at least two events, and keeps a conversation going.
• Counts to 10, names some letters and numbers, and writes some letters of their name.
• Pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during a story or a craft.
• Follows rules and takes turns in games, buttons some buttons, and hops on one foot.

Play that helps: puzzles and building blocks, and asking "why?" and "how?" about what they build (CDC).

When do babies hold their head up, sit, crawl and walk?

The CDC's ages are late on purpose, because they mark when most children have a skill. The World Health Organization's motor development study of healthy children gives the typical ages and the normal range (WHO):

Skill	Typical age (median)	Normal range
Sitting without support	5.9 months	3.8 to 9.2 months
Crawling on hands and knees	8.3 months	5.2 to 13.5 months
Walking with help	9.0 months	6.0 to 13.7 months
Standing alone	10.8 months	6.9 to 16.9 months
Walking alone	12.0 months	8.2 to 17.6 months

Some babies never crawl and bottom-shuffle instead, which is fine if they use both sides of the body equally (AAP). Baby walkers don't teach walking and cause falls, and the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly advises against them (AAP).

When to talk to the doctor

The CDC's advice at every age: you know your child best. If your child is not meeting one or more milestones, has lost skills they once had, or you have any other concern, don't wait: talk to their doctor and ask about developmental screening (CDC). Babies born before 37 weeks may reach milestones later (AAP).

Toys and guides for each stage

• Birth to 12 months: baby toys by month, toys for ages 0–1 and newborn gift ideas.
• 1 to 2: the best toys for 1- and 2-year-olds and toys for ages 1–2.
• 3 to 5: toys for ages 3–5 and skills games by age.
• Talking: how to help your child talk.

Questions parents ask

When do babies hold their head up?

By 2 months most babies lift their head when lying on their tummy, and by 4 months most hold it steady without support when you hold them (CDC).

When do babies sit on their own?

Typically at around 6 months, with a normal range of about 4 to 9 months (WHO). Tell the doctor if your baby isn't sitting alone by 9 months (AAP).

When do babies start walking?

Many babies take their first steps around their first birthday; the typical age for walking alone is 12 months, and anywhere from about 8 to 18 months is normal (WHO). Most children walk without holding on by 18 months (CDC).

When do babies crawl?

Usually between 7 and 10 months, but some babies never crawl and shuffle on their bottom instead, which is fine if they use both sides of the body equally (AAP).

Does a baby walker help a baby walk?

No. Walkers don't teach walking, can delay it, and cause falls and injuries. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly advises parents not to use them.

When do babies start talking?

Around their first birthday most call a parent "mama" or "dada", by 18 months most try to say three or more other words, and by two most put two words together (CDC). See how to help your child talk.

Read next: supporting thinking and learning through everyday play.