Baby and toddler development milestones

Every parent wants to know how their baby or toddler is growing and developing. But how can you tell if your child is meeting the expected milestones for their age? And what can you do to support their learning and development?

Milestones are skills or abilities that most children can do by a certain age. They include things like crawling, walking, talking, playing, and socializing. Milestones are not fixed rules, but rather general guidelines that can help you monitor your child's progress and identify any potential delays or concerns.

Some of the factors that can affect how your child reaches their milestones are:

- Genetics

- Health

- Nutrition

- Environment

- Stimulation

- Personality

It's important to remember that every child is unique and develops at their own pace. Some children may achieve some milestones earlier or later than others, and that's OK. However, if you notice that your child is significantly behind or ahead of their peers, or if they seem to lose skills they previously had, you may want to talk to your pediatrician or a developmental specialist.

Here are some of the common milestones for different age groups:

0 to 3 months

At this stage, your baby is learning to:

- Recognize your voice and face

- Smile and coo

- Follow moving objects with their eyes

- Lift their head and chest when lying on their tummy

- Grasp objects in their hand

- Kick their legs and move their arms

You can support your baby's development by:

- Talking, singing, and reading to them

- Making eye contact and smiling back at them

- Providing them with different textures, colors, sounds, and shapes to explore

- Giving them tummy time every day

- Holding them close and cuddling them

4 to 6 months

At this stage, your baby is learning to:

- Roll over from tummy to back and back to tummy

- Sit up with support

- Reach for and hold objects

- Transfer objects from one hand to another

- Babble and make different sounds

- Show interest in people and toys

You can support your baby's development by:

- Playing peek-a-boo and other games with them

- Encouraging them to reach for and grasp toys

- Offering them a variety of safe objects to mouth and chew

- Responding to their sounds and babbling

- Introducing them to solid foods (with your doctor's advice)

7 to 9 months

At this stage, your baby is learning to:

- Sit up without support

- Crawl or scoot around

- Pull up to stand with support

- Pick up small objects with their thumb and index finger (pincer grasp)

- Wave bye-bye and clap their hands

- Understand simple words like "no" and "bye-bye"

You can support your baby's development by:

- Providing them with a safe space to crawl and explore

- Helping them practice standing and taking steps with support

- Giving them finger foods and spoons to practice self-feeding

- Playing games like pat-a-cake and hide-and-seek with them

- Naming objects and actions for them

10 to 12 months

At this stage, your baby is learning to:

- Stand alone for a few seconds

- Walk with support or take a few steps alone

- Say their first words (usually mama or dada)

- Imitate sounds and gestures

- Point to things they want or are interested in

- Show emotions like happiness, anger, fear, and frustration

You can support your baby's development by:

- Encouraging them to walk with support or on their own

- Praising their efforts and achievements

- Talking to them about what they see and do

- Playing simple games like ball rolling and stacking blocks with them

- Reading books and singing songs with them

13 to 18 months

At this stage, your toddler is learning to:

- Walk alone or run clumsily

- Climb up and down stairs with support

- Scribble with crayons or markers

- Say more words and understand simple commands

- Identify body parts and common objects

- Show affection, curiosity, independence, and tantrums

You can support your toddler's development by:

- Providing them with opportunities to run, jump, climb, and play outside

- Giving them crayons, paper, puzzles, books, and other toys that stimulate their creativity and fine motor skills

- Expanding their vocabulary by naming things, asking questions, and repeating words they say

- Teaching them simple rules and routines

- Giving them choices and praise for good behavior

19 to 24 months

At this stage, your toddler is learning to:

- Kick a ball, throw a ball overhand, and catch a ball with both hands

- Build a tower of four or more blocks

- Draw lines and circles

- Use two-word sentences (like "more juice" or "daddy go")

- Follow two-step directions (like "pick up the toy and put it in the box")

- Show more interest in playing with other children

You can support your toddler's development by:

Encouraging them to practice their physical skills like kicking, throwing, catching, balancing, etc.

Giving them more complex toys like shape sorters, nesting cups, puzzles, etc.

Helping them learn new words by reading books, singing songs, playing word games, etc.

Setting limits and consequences for unacceptable behavior like hitting, biting, throwing tantrums, etc.

Arranging playdates with other children of the same age

Remember that these milestones are only general guidelines. Your child may reach some of them earlier or later than others. The most important thing is to enjoy every moment of your child's growth and development. They grow up so fast!