Child Development Milestones by Age: 2 Months to 5 Years

Watching your child learn to smile, crawl, walk and talk is one of the joys of parenthood. Milestones give a general guide to what to expect, but they are not strict deadlines. Children develop at their own pace.

Typical milestones by age

Age	What many children can do
2 months	Smiles at people, coos, follows things with their eyes, briefly holds head up on tummy
4 months	Smiles on their own, laughs, holds head steady, brings hands to mouth
6 months	Rolls over, babbles, laughs, reaches for and grabs toys
9 months	Sits without support, responds to their name, plays peekaboo, makes different sounds
12 months	Pulls to stand, waves bye-bye, says "mama" or "dada", picks up small items
18 months	Walks alone, points to show you things, says several single words, scribbles
2 years	Uses two-word phrases, kicks a ball, follows simple instructions, points to body parts
3 years	Speaks in sentences that others mostly understand, climbs, plays pretend, copies a circle
4 years	Tells simple stories, hops, plays with other children, knows some rules
5 years	Speaks clearly, counts to 10 or more, hops on one foot, dresses with little help, draws a person with several body parts

Areas of development

• Movement: crawling, walking, running, using hands and fingers
• Language: babbling, understanding, first words and sentences
• Thinking and learning: curiosity, problem-solving, memory and play
• Social and emotional: smiling, bonding, sharing, coping with feelings

How to support your child's development

• Talk, read and sing to your baby every day
• Play on the floor together, and give safe things to explore
• Respond to your child's sounds, gestures and needs
• Limit screen time, especially for babies and toddlers
• Ensure good sleep and nutrition
• Keep up with health checks and vaccinations

Signs to discuss with your doctor

These are general guides. Speak to a doctor or health visitor if your child:

• Loses a skill they had before, at any age
• Does not respond to loud sounds, or seems not to hear well
• Does not make eye contact or smile at people
• Is not babbling by 12 months
• Is not pointing or waving by 12 to 15 months
• Is not saying single words by 16 months
• Is not walking by 18 months
• Is not using two-word phrases by 24 months
• Seems unusually stiff or floppy, or has very limited movement

Developmental checks

Doctors and nurses check development at routine visits. Many health systems also use structured developmental and autism screening at around 9, 18 and 24 to 30 months. Ask your child's healthcare provider when checks are due.

When to see a doctor

If you are worried about your child's development, do not wait and see. Early assessment and support, such as speech therapy or early intervention, can make a big difference.