DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

BY THREE MONTHS:
Baby's eyes follow you as you move across the room. Baby smiles in
response to your smile. When lying on stomach, baby can raise head and
shoulders. Baby turns head and looks in direction of a sound. Baby
coos and babbles. Baby ceases crying when you enter the room and
recognizes familiar faces and objects. Baby actively holds rattle and
pulls at blanket and clothes. 

BY SIX MONTHS: 
Baby plays with his/her own hands. Baby begins to imitate sounds.
Baby's babbling contains sounds like: ma, mu, da, di, hi. Baby bites
and chews. Baby grasps and plays with small objects. Baby rolls from
back to stomach. Baby sits in high chair with back straight and head
steady. When lying on stomach, baby can lift chest and upper abdomen
off table, supporting his/her weight with hands. Baby adjusts position
to see a toy. 

BY NINE MONTHS: 
Baby sits on floor for several minutes. Baby begins crawling. Baby
pulls self to standing position and stands holding onto furniture. Baby
grasps small objects between thumb and index finger. Baby understands
"no-no." Baby looks for a toy if he/she sees it being hidden.

BY TWELVE MONTHS: 
Baby walks holding onto furniture or with both hands held. Baby can
hold crayon and make a mark on paper. Baby can follow rapidly moving
toy with eyes. Baby says two or more words, besides "dada" and "mama."
Baby recognizes objects by name and understands the meaning of several
words. Baby understands simple verbal commands (for example, "Give it
to me," "Show me your eyes"). Baby imitates animal sounds. Baby shows
emotions such as anger, fear, affection, jealousy. 

BY FIFTEEN MONTHS: 
Baby walks without help. Baby can stand up without support. Baby
drinks from a cup without help. Baby begins using spoon but needs help.
Baby scribbles spontaneously. Baby can place a round object in a round
hole. Baby shows intense interest in pictures. Baby says four to six
words, including names. Baby asks for objects by pointing. Baby kisses
and hugs you, has temper tantrums. Baby imitates activities, such as
sweeping, dusting, folding clothes. Baby tolerates some separation from
you. 

BY EIGHTEEN MONTHS: 
Child walks up stairs with one hand held. Child throws ball overhand
without falling. Child jumps in place with both feet. Child pulls and
pushes toys. Child eats with spoon well. Child turns pages in book,
two or three at a time. Child says 10 or more words. Child takes off
shoes, socks, gloves, and unzips. 

BY TWENTY-FOUR MONTHS: 
Child picks up toy without falling. Child runs fairly well. Child
kicks ball forward without losing balance. Child goes up and down
stairs alone with two feet on each step. Child turns pages of book one
at a time. Child turns doorknob, unscrews lid. Child builds tower of 6
to 7 blocks. Child has vocabulary of about 300 words. Child uses two
to three word phrases and uses pronouns I, me, you. Child refers to
self by first name. Child talks constantly. Child verbalizes need for
toileting, food, drink. Child's temper tantrums decrease. Child
dresses self in simple clothing. Child pulls people to show them
something. 

BY THIRTY MONTHS: 
Child stands on one foot momentarily. Child jumps a short distance
with both feet. Child holds crayon with fingers rather than fist.
Child moves fingers independently of each other. Child names one color.
Child refers to self by appropriate pronouns (I, me, mine). Child uses
plurals. Child knows own sex.

BY THIRTY-SIX MONTHS: 
Child has daytime bowel and bladder control and may have nighttime
control. Child rides tricycle. Child goes up stairs using alternating
feet. In drawing, child imitates simple designs like circle and cross.
Child constantly asks questions. Child uses complete sentences of 3 to
4 words. Child can dress self almost completely, including pulling on
shoes and buttoning and unbuttoning buttons. Child feeds self
completely. Child begins to learn simple games and the meaning of
rules.