Milestones
Keep track of your child's progress. Here are some milestones to check as your child grows up.
Your baby at 6 months:
Social and Emotional
- Knows familiar faces and begins to develop stranger awareness
- Likes to look at self in the mirror
- Responds to other people's emotions and seems happy most of the time
Language and Communication
- Responds to own name by looking at the person speaking
- Makes sounds to express joy and displeasure
- Responds to sounds by making sounds, and enjoys making sounds back and forth especially with parents
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem solving)
- Begins to pass things from one hand to the other
- Looks at nearby things and people
- Brings things to mouth
Physical
- Rolls over in both directions
- Begins to sit without support
- When standing, supports weight on legs and might bounce
Your baby at 12 months:
Social and Emotional
- Plays games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake
- Cries when mom or dad leaves
- Repeats sounds or actions to get attention
Language and Communication
- Uses simple gestures like shaking head "no" and waving "bye-bye"
- Says "mama", "dada" and exclamations like "uh-oh!"
- Responds to simple spoken requests
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem solving)
- Explores things in different ways like banging, shaking, hitting
- Looks at pictures or thing when they are named
- Follows simple directions like "pick up the toy"
Physical
- Gets to a sitting position without help
- May stand alone
- May take a few steps without help
Your baby at 18 months:
Social and Emotional
- Points to show others something interesting
- Shows affection to familiar people
- May have temper tantrums
Language and Communication
- Says several words
- Says and shakes head "no"
- Points to show someone what he wants
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem solving)
- Shows interest in a doll or stuffed animal by hugging or pretending to feed
- Scribbles with crayons
- Can follow 1-step verbal commands
Physical
- Walks alone
- Drinks from a cup
- Eats with a spoon
Your baby at 2 years:
Social and Emotional
- Copies others, especially adults and older children
- Plays mainly beside other children, but begins to include other children such as in chase games
- Gets excited with other children
Language and Communication
- Says 2 to 4-word sentences
- Points to body parts when named
- Repeats words heard in conversation
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem solving)
- Completes phrases and rhymes in familiar songs and books
- Builds towers of 4 or more blocks
- Follows 2-step directions
Physical
- Kicks a ball
- Makes or copies straight lines and circles
- Walks up and down stairs holding on
