Development milestones
read full articles for details
6 weeks of age
Gross motor
- Head control- Head is held at level with body in ventral suspension ( 0- 3 months)
- Moros reflex
Fine motor and vision
- Stares at bright object
- Follows horizontally to 90 degree
Hearing and speech
- Startle response-Stills to sound
Social behaviour
- Smiles ( 0 – 10 weeks)
- Turns to regard observers face
Warning signs at 6 weeks
- No visual fixation or following to bright light
- Failure to respond to sound
- Asymmetrical neonatal reflex
- Excessive head lag
- Failure to smile( by 10 weeks)
6 to 8 months of age
Gross motor
- Holds head at 90 degrees in ventral suspension ( 3 months)
- Bears weight on legs ( 3- 7 months)
- In prone lifts up on forearms( 6 months)
- Downward parachute ( 4- 6 months)
- Sits with support ( 4- 6 months)
- Sits without support ( 5- 8 months)
- Can be pulled to sit( 3 ½ to 6 months)
- Crawls( 9- 10 months)
Fine motor and vision
- Reaches out to grasp ( palmar grasp- 3 to 6 months)
- Transfers objects and mouths objects ( 4 ½ to 8 months)
- Fixes vision on small objects ( 5 to 8 months)
- Follows fallen objects/ toys ( 5 to 8 months)
Hearing and speech
- Turns to sound (3 months)
- Vocalises (4 to 6 months)
- Laughs (2- 5 months)
- Responds to name ( 4 to 8 months)
- Distraction hearing test
- Social behaviour and play
- Puts everything to mouth ( 4- 8 months)
- Hand and foot regard( 4- 8 months)
- Plays peek a boo ( 6 to 10 months)
Warning signs
- Hand preference
- Fisting
- Squint
- Persisting of primitive reflexes ( moros/ stepping/ asymmetrical tonic neck reflex)
9 months of age-
Gross Motor
- Crawls
- Sits steadily unsupported
Fine Motor and vision
- Pincer grasp
- Bangs 2 cubes together
12 months old
Gross motor
- Gets to sitting position ( 6 to 11 months)
- Pulls to standing position ( 6 to 10 months)
- Walks holding furniture (7- 13 months)
- Walks alone ( 12- 15 months)
Fine motor and vision
- Points with index finger
- Throws objects ( 9 – 15 months)
- Pincer grasp (9- 14 months)
- Holds two bricks and bangs together ( 7 – 13 months)
Hearing and speech
- Turns to sound of name
- Uses ‘Mama’ and ‘Dada’ ( 11- 20 months )
- Understands several words
- Distraction hearing test
Social behaviour and play
- Drinks from a cup ( 10 – 16 months)
- Indicates wants ( 10 – 15 months)
- Plays ‘ Pat a cake’ ( 8-1 months)
- Waves good bye( 8- 13 months)
Warning signs at 12 months
- Unable to sit or bear weight
- Persistence of hand regard
- Absence of babbling and cooing
18 months old
Gross motor
- Walks backwards ( 12- 22 months)
- Carried toys while walking
- Climbs stairs ( 14- 22 months)
- Climbs onto chair
Fine motor vision
- Delicate pincer grasp ( 10- 18 months)
- Scribbles ( 12- 24 months)
- Turns pages
- Build tower of 3 – 4 bricks( 16- 24 months)
- Hearing and speech
- Jabbers continuously
- Utters 3 or more words( 10-21 months)
- Points to eyes, nose and mouth ( 14- 23 months)
- Obeys simple instructions ( 15 month- 2 ½ years)
Social behaviour and play
- Holds spoon and tries to put in mouth( 14 months- 2 ½ years)
- Explores environment ( 13- 20 months)
- Takes off shoes and socks ( 13- 20 months)
- Indicated toilet needs
Warning signs at 18 months
- Inability to stand without support
- Inability to understand simple commands
- No spontaneous vocalisation
- No pincer grasp
2 ½ years old
Gross motor
- Climbs and descends stairs
- Jumps in place ( 21 months – 3 years)
- Kicks ball( 15- 24 months)
Fine motor and vision
- Picks up objects
- Imitates vertical line ( 18 months – 3 years)
- Builds tower of 8 blocks ( 21 months – 3 ½ years)
Hearing and speech
- Gives name
- Hearing test- Speech discrimination test
- Social behaviour and play
- Plays alone
- Eats with spoon and fork without spilling
- Puts on clothes
- Dry throughout day
Warning signs at 2 ½ years
- Unable to speak in short sentences
- Unable to understand speech
3 years old
Fine motor
- Runs
- Climbs stairs one step at a time
- Pedals tricycle( 21 months- 3 years)
- Stand on one foot for few seconds ( 22 months – 3 ½ years)
- Fine motor and vision
- Copies circle ( 2 ½ years – 3 ½ years)
- Threads beads
- Matches 2 colours
Hearing and speech
- Uses 4 word sentences
- Gives full name, sex , age( 2 ½ years – 4 years)
Social behaviour and play
- Eats with knife and fork
- Goes to toilet alone
- Dresses independently
- Washes and dries hands ( 20 months- 3 ½ years)
- Separates from mother (2- 4 years)
4 years old
Gross motor
- Hops on one foot
- Climbs ladder
- Stands on one foot for 5 seconds( 2 ½ years to 4 ½ years)
- Walks heel to toe (3 ½ years – 5 ½ years)
Fine motor and vision
- Copies cross and square
- Imitates bridge of 3 blocks
- Draws man with 3 parts
Hearing and speech
- Counts till 10
- Gives full name and address
- Recognises colours
Social behaviour and play
- Shares toys
- Brushes teeth
- Dress without supervision ( 3 ½ years – 5 ½ years)
Warning signs
- Speech difficult to understand
5 years old
Gross motor
- Walks down stairs one foot per step
- Bounces and clothes ball ( 3 years- 5 ½ years)
- Walks backwards heel t toe ( 4 to 6 years)
Fine motor and vision
- Copies triangle (5 ½ years)
- Draws man with complete features ( 4 ½ years – 6 years)
Hearing and speech
- Speaks fluently
- Hearing test- audiometry
Social behaviour and play
- Comforts friends in distress
- Chooses friends
- Group play
Key messages
- Parents who are concerned that there is something wrong with their child are usually right
- History of loss of skills (regression) implies a progressive underlying cause for developmental delay.
- Almost all normal babies born around their expected due date smile by 8 weeks. Failure to do so should alert you to the possibility that there is a problem.
- Children not walking at 18 months have a 1 in 5 chance of having a significant problem.