Patient Education: Developmental Milestones

Part of the joy of being a parent is watching your child develop. Although every child develops differently, the following are guidelines you can use to track your child’s progress, adapted from "Caring for Your Baby and Young Child, Birth to Age 5" by Steven Shelov, M.D., American Academy of Pediatrics.

By the End of the Second Year (12-24 months)

MOVEMENT MILESTONES

• Walks alone
• Pulls toy behind him while walking
• Carries large toy or several toys while walking
• Begins to run
• Stands on tip toes
• Kicks a ball
• Climbs onto and down from furniture unassisted
• Walks up and down stairs holding on to support

HAND AND FINGER MILESTONES

• Scribbles spontaneously
• Turns over container to pour out contents

LANGUAGE MILESTONES

• Points to an object or picture when it is named for him
• Recognizes names of familiar people, objects and body parts
• Says several single words by 18 months
• Uses phrases by 24 months
• Uses two to four word sentences
• Follows simple instructions
• Repeats words overheard in conversation

COGNITIVE MILESTONES

• Begins to sort by shapes and colors
• Begins make-believe play

SOCIAL MILESTONES

• Imitates behaviors of others, especially adults and older children
• Increasingly aware of himself as separate from others
• Increasingly enthusiastic about the company of other children

EMOTIONAL MILESTONES

• Demonstrates increasing independence
• Begins to show defiant behavior
• Episodes of separation anxiety increase toward midyear, then fade

DEVELOPMENTAL HEALTH WATCH
If a child displays any of the following signs they should be referred to their pediatrician.

• Cannot walk by 18 months
• Walks exclusively on toes
• Does not speak 15 words by 18 months
• Does not use two-word sentences by age 2
• Does not follow simple instruction by age 2

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