Developmental Milestones (0-5 Years)

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As the baby keeps acquiring new skills as s/he grows up, there will be certain developmental milestones that tell us that the baby’s overall development is on the right track.

This article will describe the typical time-frame of the developmental milestones. This is strictly a general guideline for what to expect. The ages at which particular milestones are expected are average ages at which most babies achieve them. But there will be significant individual variations; some babies will achieve some milestones earlier and some later.

1. At 2 months:
   
2. Smiling responsively (Social smile).
3. Eyes can fix on an object and follow it to 90 degrees.
4. Starts cooing.
5. Startles on sound.
6. Quietens on sound (especially mother’s sound).

• At 4 months
  
• Starts holding head steady on neck. (Head Holding)
• Looks at own hands and plays with them. (Hand Regard).
• Follows object from side to side i.e. through 180 degrees.
• Turns head to sound.
• Laughs and squeals.
• Begins to babble, first generally and then expressively (trying to imitate the heard sound).

• At 5 months

• Looks at own feet and plays with them. (Foot regard)
• Reaches for objects.
• Puts fingers, toes and any hand-held object in mouth. (Mouthing)

• At 6-7 months

• Rolls over from tummy to back. (Prone to supine)
• Rolls over from back to tummy. (Supine to prone)
• Transfers object from hand to hand.
• Babbles 1-syllable sounds (like Ma, Da or Ba).
• Cries on seeing a stranger.(Stranger anxiety)
• Can follow object by moving head and eyes in full 360* circle.
• Holds object in palm, first touching it with little finger side. (Palmar grasp)
• Sitting with support

• At 9 months
  
• Sits without support.
• Stands with support.
• Crawling on tummy and then, progressing to creeping on four limbs.
• Can roughly hold a small object between thumb and index finger. (Inferior Pincer grip)
• Holds a bigger object in palm a scissor-like grasp.
• Says 2-syllable sounds (Mama, Dada and Baba) without meaning.
• Understands ‘No’.
• Looks for fallen objects.
• Can play ‘Pat-a-cake’ or ‘Peek-a-boo’.

At 1 year

• Walking without support. First for only a few steps and then, slowly becoming better.
• Can neatly hold a small object between thumb and index finger. (Neat pincer grip).
• Bangs two things together.
• Speaks at least one word with meaning. (Besides 2-syllable words such as Mama, Baba and Dada with meaning.)

At 1 and ½ years

• Walks up or down the stairs with support.
• Sits on a chair.
• Starts to scribble.
• Drinks from a cup and eats with a spoon.
• Follows simple single-step commands. (Stand up; sit down)
• 15-20 words vocabulary.
• Builds a tower of 3 cubes.

At 2 years

• Begins to run; kicks a ball; throws a ball overhand
• Stands on tip-toes.
• Copies or scribbles straight lines- vertical as well as horizontal.
• 50 words vocabulary.
• Follows two-step commands. (Go there and bring that ball!)
• Begins to sort shapes and colors.
• Points to body parts.
• 2-3 word sentences.
• Builds a tower of more than 4 cubes.
• Puts on shoes, socks and pants.

At 3 years

• Climbs and runs well.
• Walks up the stairs, one foot on each step
• Walks down the stairs 2 feet per step.
• Pedals a tricycle.
• Vocabulary of 1000 words.
• 3-4 word sentences. Most of the speech is understood even by strangers.
• Can count till 10 and sing nursery rhymes.
• Builds a tower of more than 6 cubes.
• Copies a circle.
• Dresses and undresses fully with little help.

At 4 years

• Can go up and down the stairs, one foot on each step.
• Hops or Stands on one foot for 2 seconds.
• Fluent conversation.
• Copies + sign.
• Draws a person with 2- 4 body parts.
• Vocabulary of 1500 words.
• Sentences with 4-5 words.
• Can button clothes fully.

At 5 years

• Can skip or do somersault.
• Hops or Stands on one foot for at least 10 seconds.
• Can draw a person with at least 6 body parts.
• Copies X.
• Copies a triangle and other geometric shapes.
• Vocabulary of 2000 words.
• Sentences with 5-6 words.
• Dresses and undresses fully on his own.
• Ties shoelaces.

Warning signals in infancy

• Generalized significant delay in many milestones (especially social smile and head-holding)
• A body that feels too stiff or too loose
• Lack of response to caregiver’s speech or actions
• Not making sounds
• Not following objects

Warning signals in latter ages

• Generalized significant delay in many milestones.
• Losing previously achieved milestones
• Lack of affection or emotions
• Delayed speech
• Not learning new things