Watching your baby grow and develop [1] is thrilling, awe-inspiring, and — let's be real — a little stressful. As a parent, you just want to do a good job raising your precious baby [2], but conflicting information from books and TV (plus your annoying great aunt's penchant for judgment) could leave even the most zen parents feeling a little crazed. That's why we did our research and created a no-frills list of developmental stages backed by the CDC [3]. Use this as a road map to track the exciting changes your baby undergoes [4], and, as always, reach out to your trusted pediatrician if you have questions about childhood development.
2 Months
Important milestones:
- Begins smiling at people
- Turns their head toward sounds
- Coos and makes other similar sounds
- Pays attention to specific faces
- Can lift up their head
- Begins pushing up when lying on their belly
4 Months
Important milestones:
- Smiles spontaneously
- Responds to affection
- Can reach for a toy with one hand
- Can follow moving things with their eyes
- Holds up head unsupported
- Starts babbling
- Mimics some movements and facial expressions
6 Months
Important milestones:
- Begins sitting without support
- Rolls over in different directions such as front to back or back to front
- Likes to look at self in a mirror
- Responds to name
- Creates sounds that show displeasure or joy
- Exhibits curiosity at items outside of their reach
- Enjoys playing with others, especially Mom and Dad
9 Months
Important milestones:
- Stands while holding on
- Sits without support
- Can play peekaboo
- Uses finger to point at things
- Understands "no"
- Watches the path of different things as they fall
- Places things in mouth
18 Months
Important milestones:
- Can walk alone
- Can drink from a cup and eat with a spoon
- Can scribble without assistance
- Points to attract attention of others
- May be able to walk up stairs
- Understands and can follow simple verbal commands
- Says some single words
- Able to shake head "no"
2 Years
Important milestones:
- Can make copies of circles and straight lines
- Able to throw a ball overhead
- Begins running
- Can stand on tiptoes
- Able to sort colors and shapes
- Repeats certain words that are overheard
- Understands names of body parts and some people
- Gets excited when with other children
- Shows defiant behavior
3 Years
Important milestones:
- Plays make-believe with people, animals, and toys
- Turns book pages one at a time
- Able to climb
- Runs with ease
- Able to pedal a tricycle
- Shows affection for others
- Takes turns in games
- Dresses and undresses self
- Exhibits a wide range of varying emotions
- Uses sentences when talking
4 Years
Important milestones:
- Hops and stands on one foot for up to two seconds
- Can catch a ball that's bouncing
- Begins understanding time
- Able to draw a person with some body parts
- Begins copying capital letters
- Likes trying new things
- Talks about interests and likes
- Able to tell stories
5 Years
Important milestones:
- Wants to make friends happy
- Enjoys singing, acting, and dancing
- Speaks clearly
- Counts to 10 or higher
- Understands things that are used daily such as food and money
- Can do a somersault
- Able to use the toilet
- Swings, climbs, and hops
6-8 Years
Important milestones:
- Physical, mental, and emotional skills develop quickly as child begins school
- Shows more independence
- Begins thinking about the future
- Pays attention to teamwork, family, and friends
- Learns ways to better describe experiences
- Has more concern for others and the wider world