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Developmental Milestones

Infant Childcare

Parent Mentoring Manual

Development Milestones for Infants and Toddlers*

Every child is unique and develops at his or her own pace. Use these milestones as general guides to a child's development.

• How a child's body will grow
• How a child's personality will grow
• How a child's language and thinking skills will grow

Here's how a child's body will grow:

3 Months

• holds up head and chest while lying on stomach
• eats and sleeps more regularly

6 months

• reaches out for and grabs hold of objects
• sleeps in a favorite position
• first teeth appear

9 months

• holds and shakes a rattle
• sits without help for up to a minute
• shifts objects with fingers
• can stand if held up

12 months

• sits without help for ten minutes
• can pull self up to standing position
• picks up objects with fingers
• crawls on hands and knees

15 months

• cruises a room (holds onto furniture to move around)
• can stand alone for a few seconds
• scribbles with crayons
• walks for a few steps
• crawls up stairs

18 months

• walks and doesn't fall
• walks up stairs if you hold hand
• can pull or throw toys

21 months

• squats down and doesn't fall
• kicks a ball
• stacks up blocks and other toys

24 months

• runs and doesn't fall
• walks up and down stairs
• turns pages of a book

Here's how a child's body will grow:

3 Months

• smiles at faces
• stays alert and looks around more

6 months

• looks at objects closely
• recognizes you (but may be afraid of others)
• smiles at other children

9 months

• self-feeds crackers
• holds own bottle
• shy with strangers
• smiles at face in a mirror

12 months

• acts more secure with strangers
• shows emotions like love and jealousy
• likes to be with adults
• helps to dress

15 months

• tells you when diaper needs changed
• doesn't always stop when you say "no"
• throws objects from high chair but wants them back
• is very curious
• approaches other children

18 months

• acts impatient with problems
• disobeys commands sometimes
• takes off shoes, flushes toilet

21 months

• pulls you to show you something
• can drink from a cup
• hugs you and toys

24 months

• imitates housework
• doesn't share, but will when asked
• puts on simple clothes

Here's how a child's language and thinking skills will grow:

3 Months

• cries less and makes more noises
• responds to voices

6 months

• laughs and squeals
• coos a lot
• reacts to sounds

9 months

• says "ma-ma"
• imitates sounds
• responds to own name
• watches others

12 months

• waves bye-bye to people
• responds to music with body movements
• says two words
• understands "no-no"

15 months

• points to things she/he wants
• says five words, names included
• can follow simple commands
• imitates adults talk
• points to clothes or parts of body when named

18 months

• says "no"
• points to pictures of people or objects when named
• understands what you say but still babbles back

21 months

• asks for food or to be taken to the bathroom
• speaks in two-word sentences
• uses twenty words or more

24 months

• speaks in three-word sentences
• says "I", "me", and "you"
• names and points to pictures

*This developmental chart is borrowed from the Better Kid Care Program, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Pennsylvania State University.

For additional information about the development of infants and toddlers, please contact the Institute staff either by email or calling (717) 233-5274. Thank you for visiting our web site.