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Developmental Milestone Chart For Infants and Toddlers
Presenting our Developmental Milestone Chart For Infants and Toddlers! This checklist is for parents of newborns, babies and toddlers up to the age of two-years-old, providing guidance on when to expect your child to show certain developmental milestones. It is based on a range of sources including the CDC, the Australia Government’s Department of Social Services, Pathways.org, Baby Sleep Science, RaisingChildren.net.au, and of course my own contributions! These are all wonderful resources for parents out there and worth taking a look if you have time between nappy changes! Just remember, supporting your child with developmentally appropriate toys, which you’ll find throughout Newbabytoys.com, will help them to reach these milestones faster, so make sure you play with children every day and keep toys at the center of their little worlds! And so, without further ado, I give you our beautiful infographic, enjoy!
Below, I’ve outlined the text in the infographic, plus some additional information that summarizes each age group, just for a bit of added flavour!
Developmental Milestone Chart For Infants and Toddlers
This chart will help you to understand your child’s development as they grow and learn. It provides guidance on when to expect your child to show certain capabilities and skills, based on broad averages. Just remember, every child is different and will reach each milestone at varying stages. You should not have cause for concern if your child is slow to reach one or two milestones. However, if you are in doubt, please don’t hesitate to contact your family GP.
Developmental Milestone Chart For Infants and Toddlers - Birth to 1 Year
Age | 0-3 Months
Your little bundle of joy has only just arrived and is still trying to understand their own body, let alone the world around them! Everything is overwhelming with so many different sources of stimuli all around them. To be able to take it all in, they first need to gain a bit more control over their body. During this phase your baby’s developmental priority will be to begin to master the basics of moving each part of their body, particularly head movement. They will slowly improve their control over their voice, their eyes and the facial expressions, the very fundamentals of communication. It’s all very exhausting and so sleeping, eating and getting rid of waste will take up a significant portion of their day. Make sure you try to rest whenever they do!
Movement & Physical Ability
- Able to move all parts of their body
- Can lift and hold head up unsupported
- Able to make a fist and bring hands to mouth
- Begins to push up when lying on tummy
- Tries to roll from side-to-side
Social, Emotional & Cognitive Skills
- Smiles, laughs, makes eye contact and focuses on faces
- Coos, makes gurgling sounds and cries to communicate
- Reacts to sudden noises and turns towards sounds
- Follows objects with their eyes and reaches with hands
- Tries to imitate facial expressions and tongue movements
Feeding & Sleeping
- Latches on to nipple or bottle, sucking and swallowing well during feeds
- Feeds 5-7 times per day, drinking 2-6 oz per feed
- Sleeps 14-17 hours in each 24 hour period
- Naps 4-5 times per day rather than a long sleep through the night
- May wake regularly during sleep and need help settling
Hot Tip For Hot Days! Do not feed your baby water at this stage, their little tummies and kidneys are not quite ready for water and you risk hyponatremia, which is very dangerous and can even lead to death! You would also be replacing the nutrient-rich breast milk or formula they need for development, so please, not water for little bubs even if its a hot day!
Extra Tips!
- Do not feed your baby water at this stage, their little tummies and kidneys are not quite ready for water and you risk hyponatremia, which is very dangerous and can even lead to death! You would also be interfering with the nutrient intake required for development which is biologically intended to come from nutrient-rich breast milk or formula they need for development, so please, not water for little bubs even if its a hot day!
Age | 4-6 Months
Having gotten a little more used to their bodies, babies at this age can begin exploring the world around them more confidently. Although their curiosity about everything around them is unbounded, they are yet to have any real mobility. They will love tummy time and often try to roll from their back to their front. They may also begin sitting up against you, a wall or a piece f furniture unassisted, using their new found gripping/grasping skills to investigate everything in arms’ reach. Colors, sounds, textures and shapes are very exciting and almost everything needs to be taste-tested! They demonstrat early problem-solving skills as they begin to understand the nature of their world and they love to learn and play with others. Their constant discoveries use up loads of energy and so sleeping and eating is still a big part of their days, with pureed foods now a part of their daily diet.
Movement & Physical Ability
- Can roll over on both front and back
- Begins to sit without support, using hands to balance
- Can support own weight when held in standing position
- Plays with feet and toes when lying on their back
- Grasps objects with one hand and brings to mouth
Social, Emotional & Cognitive Skills
- Recognizes and likes to play with parents and familiar people
- Startled by sudden noises but calm hearing everyday sounds
- Listens and responds with single syllable sounds (da, goo, eh)
- Enjoys colorful and noisy toys / objects, often mouthing them
- Repeats actions as they begin to understand cause and effect
Feeding & Sleeping
- Familiar with their eating and sleeping schedules
- Shows interest in eating and transitions from milk to pureed foods
- Takes 3-4 naps a day and starts sleeping longer during the night
- Sleeps 12-15 hours a day with roughly 3-5 hours as naps during the day
- Becomes more settled with consistent sleeping and eating routines
Hot Tip For Hot Days! Your little one’s body is still developing. Similar to the last few months, they should only be drinking breast milk or formula or you may be putting them at serious risk of hyponatremia. If the weather is hot, there is nothing wrong with giving them an extra feed or two or cooling down your formula or pre-pumped breast milk. Just don’t make it too cold or at can be quite a shock for baby who wasn’t expecting it!
Age | 7-9 Months
In order to continue to fuel their inquisitive natures and adventurous spirits, the limitations drawn from their lack of mobility must be overcome! At this age, your little one will begin making every effort to reach further and further out into their world, crawling, clambering and even standing up to get to the next shiny object. Their communication skills improve remarkably as they begin to attempt two-way communication and demonstrate familiarity with common words and people who are often around them. Toys and books are wonderfully stimulating and will help them grow and develop quickly. Although sleep is still a big part of their day, it’s slowly becoming weighted towards night-time hours. They love to eat with their hands and may begin eating solids.
Movement & Physical Ability
- Begins attempting to pull up to standing position
- Able to get into sitting position on their own
- Alternates hand/leg movements to creep/crawl
- Improved fine motor skills for gripping/grasping
- Watches movement and activities across the room
Social, Emotional & Cognitive Skills
- May be clingy with familiar people and wary of strangers
- Communicates using lots of different sounds and noises
- Recognizes their own name and attempts two-way conversation
- Follows simple gestured commands and understands “no”
- Enjoys toys, textures, peek-a-boo and finding hidden objects
Feeding & Sleeping
- Comfortably eats in a high chair and able to grasp bottle with their hands
- Eats 3-5 meals a day and enjoys mashed adult food, staying full for longer
- Sleeps for 12-15 hours each day, sleeping 6+ consecutive hours at night
- Naps 2-3 times during daylight hours, totaling 3-4 hours
- Soothes self with thumb or object when tired or upon waking during sleep
Hot Tip For Hot Days! During this developmental stage, you can introduce water for the first time. Their main fluid liquid intake should still be breast milk or formula, but you can start with tiny amounts of water and see how they respond. Think a teaspoon or two at most around 6 to 7 months of age but you can increase it if they take a liking to it. Even by 9 months, they should be having less than ~4oz (115ml) per day
Age | 10-12 Months
With the challenges of immobility behind them, children at this age begin to see rapid improvements in the development of fine motor skills. Their adeptness at crawling and movement increases and they may take their first independent steps. Babies often become quite the conversationalist at around a year old, usually in baby speak gibberish but they may also speak their first words. It’s quite an exciting time! They demonstrate an understanding of simple gestures and commands and have begun to understand the purpose of everyday objects like containers bottles, containers, phones and chairs. They often experience distress when separated from their parents as the emotional bond has grown very strong. Daytime naps have reduced to about 3 hours and they should be sleeping through most of the night. They enjoy a variety of foods and confidently feed themselves, potentially even with a fork or spoon.
Movement & Physical Ability
- Picks up and shakes, throws or rolls objects
- Uses thumb and index finger to point or grip small objects
- Lifts self to standing position and walks along furniture
- May stand or take a few steps by themselves
- Can crawl quickly and uses varied positions to reach things
Social, Emotional & Cognitive Skills
- “Talks” with long strings of sounds and may sound first word/s
- Can follow simple commands like “come here” or “give”
- Uses simple gestures like waving or reaching to be picked up
- Takes items in/out of boxes and explores objects in many ways
- Emotionally bonded to caregiver/parent, anxious without them
Feeding & Sleeping
- Can feed self with hands and may even be able to practice with utensils
- Enjoys a variety of foods including some solids and eats 3-4 meals a day
- Can drink from a sippy cup and may even be confident with an open cup
- Still sleeps 12-15 hours a day but with longer, uninterrupted sleep at night
- Naps once or twice a day for about 3 hours
Hot Tip For Hot Days! Having now accustomed your child to the taste of water and the differences to breast milk and formula, you can increase their intake further and start to have them understand that water is a good source of hydration when feeling thirsty. After all, it will become a big part of their lives going forward, so they better get used to it! During this stage ~4-8oz (115-230ml) of water per day is enough and you can begin to substitute breast milk or formula in these quantities.
Developmental Milestone Chart For Infants and Toddlers - Age 1 to 2 Years
Age | 13-18 Months
Your little baby is now a little toddling terror! They have learnt to walk confidently and may even be able to run and climb stairs or low pieces of furniture. Their desire to explore and investigate is still unwavering and their increased speed and reach can often get them in to trouble. Keep a close eye on them and be sure to baby-proof the dangerous areas in your house! Their motor skills are well developed and they are likely to enjoy stacking objects and scribbling.
They’ve now have a vocabulary of several simple words and understand many, many more. They love to imitate others and be involved in everything you are doing. Their imagination is often present as they play pretend and copy-cat others with their toys. They feed themselves comfortably, can hold and drink from an open cup and may no longer need a high chair. Sleeps are solid through the night with usually only a single nap in the day. Their desire to spend time with you and the people they love may make them resist going to bed, but stick to a routine and they’ll respond well.
Movement & Physical Ability
- Pulls/pushes toys while walking, stacks two objects
- Scribbles with crayons, turns thick pages of books
- Moves to help as you dress/undress them
- Walks independently and may run or climb
- Can kick and throw a ball consistently
Social, Emotional & Cognitive Skills
- Can say several single syllable words, understands many words
- Interested in books and pictures, plays make-believe with toys
- Pairs speech with gestures like shaking head while saying “no”
- Independently explores but seeks parental reassurance regularly
- Can cooperate during play and may seeks other kids to play with
Feeding & Sleeping
- Eats a variety of solid foods and has improved coordination with utensils
- Can hold and drink from an open cup without spilling
- Sleeps 12-14 hours each day, largely during the night
- Down to a single 2-3 hour nap during the daytime
- May protest bedtime at night but once asleep its often solid until morning
Hot Tip For Hot Days! Water should now be your child’s main source of hydration. They should have been slowly weened off breast milk or formula during the previous developmental phase and now having water as their main source of fluid. Target at least 4oz (115ml) of water per day and continue to increase this as they grow. The risk of hyponatremia is still present as their bodies are still only small, so don’t push too hard if they don’t appear to be drinking enough.
Age | 19-24 Months
You’re child is now a little pocket rocket of energy, running and playing all day! They love to be outside in the sunshine inspecting every little thing and will dart about from one thing to the next as their excitement grows! Children at this age can become quite good with scooters and balance bikes and thrive on any chance for more independence, through they still need to know their loved ones are nearby. They may show an ability to draw of shapes and lines as the foundations for writing skills start to form. They will now know and use many words in short phrases and can communicate quite effectively. Pictures and books are very entertaining and they can identify many common items within them. They are accustomed to day-to-day life and often help out with regular tasks. They are able to self soothe if upset or awaken during the night. Their sleeping and eating habits should be well established and they will demonstrate discomfort with any change.
Movement & Physical Ability
- Able to draw straight lines and circular shapes
- Can walk, run, climb, crawl and tiptoe, switching regularly
- Can maintain balance with throwing and trying to catch
- Uses a variety of motor skills to reach and explore objects
- May enjoy scooters, balance bikes and ride-on toys
Social, Emotional & Cognitive Skills
- Speaks 50+ words in 2+ word phrases like “red car” or “food hot”
- Can identify objects in pictures and enjoys books
- Patiently participates in day-to-day activities like nappy changes
- Copies others and often expresses these during pretend play
- Shows increased independence and can even be stubborn
Feeding & Sleeping
- Eats a variety of different foods and is willing to try new things
- Can feed themselves with fingers and use a fork or spoon with some assistance
- Has an established sleep schedule and struggles when this is not upheld
- Sleeps 11-14 hours a day with only a single 2-3 hour nap during the daytime
- Self soothes if they wake up during the night
Hot Tip For Hot Days! By now, your toddler should love to drink water. They should have fully substituted breast milk or formula and also be drinking other liquids like juice or cow’s milk. Again, target at least 4oz (115ml) of water per day but you can comfortable go toward 24oz (945ml) a day without serious risk. If your child is not having sufficient quantities of water, its definitely time to talk to your child’s health professional.
Conclusion: Developmental Milestone Chart For Infants and Toddlers
Once again, this chart should only be considered as a guide. Every child is beautiful and unique and each will experience their own development journey in their own way. That’s what makes them so special! However, where you have concerns, you should contact your family doctor.
References
How About A New Toy For The Little One?
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If your child is older than 2 years old and not covered by our Developmental Milestones Chart for Infants and Toddlers, then it might the case that you have started to think about pre-kindy or kindergarten. If that’s the case, check our great tips on how to prepare your child for kindergarten!
And if you’re just starting your baby toy journey, then it’s best to begin with the basics by taking a look at our Definitive Guide to the Best Toys for Babies. Here, we’ll teach you everything you need to know to get those creative juices flowing and help you find the perfect baby toy.