Developmental milestones for infants and toddlers help track child development
Children grow and develop at their own speed, but knowing and tracking certain changes is helpful. There are several developmental milestones for infants and toddlers. If you notice that your little one isn’t meeting a certain goal, you need to talk to our Plano pediatricians, so they can monitor your child and schedule early intervention if necessary.
What are the important child development stages? We talk about a few of the things to watch for here, but you can ask our team where to find more detailed lists.
Infants make tremendous strides during their first year
It’s exciting to watch your infant go from a tiny baby who primarily eats and sleeps to an individual who is sitting up, saying words, and crawling or walking. Here are some things most babies of a certain age will do.
- Two months – Infants can lift their heads while on their tummies; react to loud noises
- Four months – Coo, prop up on their elbows and hold objects
- Six months – Laugh, respond to you with sounds, roll from tummy to back, reach for objects
- Nine months – Sit up unassisted, raise their arms to show that they want to be picked up, and make sounds like ba-ba or da-da
- Twelve months – Wave bye-bye, pull up to standing, pick up small objects
From the first birthday to the second, your child begins to walk, talk and become more social
Your baby is leaving infancy and becoming an active toddler. The developmental milestones for infants and toddlers at this age are fun to watch. Here are a few changes to note during the next 12 months.
- Begins to learn words
- Stacks two or more blocks
- Hides and finds toys
- Plays peek-a-boo
- Takes steps and learns to walk
- Points to people and pictures in books
- Enjoys looking at other children and playing near them
Between the ages of 2 and 3, language, motor and emotional skills grow
The year between ages 2 and 3 is busy and exciting for you and your toddler. Children walk, run, jump and enjoy physical activity. Here are some more child development milestones to expect.
- Talk in two, three or more-word sentences
- May become interested in toilet training
- Able to undress
- Play with parents by rolling a large ball, doing easy puzzles or listening to short books
- Play more with other children
- Learning to feed themselves
Parents can help encourage developmental milestones for infants and toddlers
You are your child’s first teacher. You can help them reach developmental goals by reading, talking and singing to expose them to language. Expose your child to age-appropriate toys and engage them. Encourage active play. Help them learn new skills. The most important thing you can do is be present at every stage, providing encouragement and love.
Our Plano pediatricians are here to help your child grow and thrive
If you have any questions about developmental milestones for infants and toddlers, talk to our team. We can provide you with the resources and advice you need to help advance child development. Contact us for an appointment.
