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milestones

Wondering if your child is hitting the right milestones? See our guide below to explore a quick checklist of motor and speech milestones from birth to age 3—and learn when it might be time to reach out for extra support.

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Speech & Language Milestones: Birth to 3 Years

(Delays in these may warrant referral to a speech-language pathologist)

0-3 MONTHS

  • Startles to loud sounds

  • Cries differently for different needs

  • Coos, gurgles, and makes vowel sounds

  • Looks toward voices

 Concerns if: No response to sound, rare vocalizations, little eye contact

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4-6 MONTHS

  • Babbles with a variety of sounds (e.g., "ba", "da")

  • Vocal play with pitch and volume

  • Responds to own name

  • Expresses pleasure/displeasure vocally

 Concerns if: No babbling, doesn’t respond to name or voice, no interest in sound-making

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6-9 MONTHS

  • Babbles chains of sounds (e.g., "baba", "mamama")

  • Understands "no" and other familiar wordsImitates simple sounds and gestures

  • Uses voice to get attention

 Concerns if: No back-and-forth vocal play, not imitating sounds or gestures

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9-12 MONTHS

  • Says 1–2 simple words (e.g., “mama,” “dada”)

  • Understands basic words like “bye-bye,” “up”

  • Recognizes familiar people and objects by name

  • Uses gestures like pointing or waving

Concerns if: No meaningful words, no pointing, little understanding of routine words

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12-18 MONTHS

  • Says 5–10 words consistently

  • Follows simple 1-step directions (e.g., “Give me the ball”)

  • Uses words and gestures together

  • Tries to imitate new words

Concerns if: Fewer than 5 words by 18 months, not following directions, no imitation of speech

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18–24 Months

  • Vocabulary grows to ~50 words

  • Begins combining 2 words (“more juice,” “mama go”)

  • Identifies body parts and common objects

  • Uses words to request, protest, and label

Concerns if: Not combining words by 2 years, unclear speech, limited expressive vocabulary

 

2–3 Years

  • Uses 2–4 word sentences

  • Follows 2-step directions

  • Speech is ~50–75% understandable to familiar listeners

  • Asks simple questions (“What’s that?”)

Concerns if: Speech is mostly unintelligible, difficulty following directions, little use of language for interaction

Motor Milestones:

Birth to 3 Years

(Delays in these may warrant referral to a speech-language pathologist)

0–3 Months

  • Lifts head while on tummy

  • Opens and closes hands

  • Brings hands to mouth

  • Turns head side to side while on back

Concerns if: Head always tilted to one side, difficulty lifting head, hands stay fisted

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4–6 Months

  • Pushes up on arms during tummy time

  • Rolls from tummy to back (then back to tummy)

  • Reaches for and grasps toys

  • Hands to midline (claps, plays with feet)

 Concerns if: Not rolling, no purposeful reaching, limited arm/leg movement on one side

 

6–9 Months

  • Sits without support

  • Transfers objects between hands

  • Begins crawling or scooting

  • Uses raking grasp to pick up small items

 Concerns if: Poor core control, can’t sit independently, no early crawling or exploration

 

9–12 Months

  • Pulls to stand

  • Cruises along furniture

  • Pincer grasp emerges (thumb and finger)

  • Begins to feed self with fingers

 Concerns if: Not bearing weight through legs, no crawling or pulling to stand, limited hand use

 

12–18 Months

  • Walks independently

  • Pushes/pulls toys while walking

  • Stacks 2–3 blocks

  • Scribbles with a crayon

Concerns if: Not walking by 18 months, frequent falls, avoids fine motor tasks

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18–24 Months

  • Runs

  • Climbs on/off furniture

  • Kicks a ball

  • Uses both hands in play (bilateral coordination)

Concerns if: Immature walking pattern, limited balance or coordination, avoids messy play

 

2–3 Years

  • Jumps with both feet

  • Walks up and down stairs (with/without help)

  • Snips with scissors

  • Begins using utensils effectively

Concerns if: Poor balance, avoids climbing or stairs, difficulty with hand strength or control

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