Early Years of Childhood and Development: What Should a Parent Expect?

Every child is different. However, it is common for a parent to worry about developmental milestones or to wonder if their child is developing at an appropriate or typical rate. There are various possible causes of slow development, such as premature birth and diagnosable conditions. With this in mind, it’s important to know what to expect and when to consult with a professional. So, what are the standard developmental milestones that should take place?

Developmental Milestones by Age

The Centers for Disease Control (or CDC) indicates a number of markers of healthy, standard development in the early years of one’s life. Based on age, here are some markers of typical development that a child should meet from the ages of 2 months old to 5 years old.

2 months

By the time your child is around two months old, they should start to:

● Smile.

● Make sounds (other than crying).

● React to loud noises.

● Hold their head up when laying on their stomach.

● Move both their legs and arms

4 months

By the time your child is around four months old, they should start to:

● Make cooing noises, such as “ooh” and “ahh.”

● Make sounds in response when you speak to them.

● Turn their head toward you when you talk.

● Hold their head steady on their own when you hold them.

● Hold a toy when it's placed in their hand.

● Bring their hands to their mouth.

6 months

By the time your child is around six months old, they should:

● Laugh.

● Look at themselves in the mirror (IE, a child should react positively if you hold them up to the mirror and say, “Who is that?”)

● Take turns making sounds with you if prompted.

● Roll from their stomach to their back.

● Recognize familiar people.

● Put objects in their mouth.

● Reach to grab a toy that they want.

● Make “squealing” noises.

9 months

By the time your child is around nine months old, they should:

● Sit up on their own/get into a sitting position without support.

● Look at you when you say their name.

● React when a primary caregiver/parent leaves (through crying, reaching for you, or looking your way).

● Lift their arms upwards when they want to be picked up.

● Smile and laugh when you play peek-a-boo.

● Show several facial expressions (IE, surprise, happiness, sadness).

1 year

By around one year of age, a child should start to:

● Wave goodbye.

● Play simple games, such as “patty cake.”

● Identify their parent(s) verbally with a special name (IE, “mama”).

● Walk while holding on to furniture.

● Pull themselves up to stand (IE, a child may hold onto the edge of a couch and pull themselves up).

● Look for items that you hide during play.

1.5 years

By around one and a half years of age (or 18 months), a child should start to:

● Walk without assistance

● Scribble with pens, crayons, or pencils

● Feed themselves with their fingers.

● Climb on and off a couch or chair without assistance.

● Attempt to use a spoon.

2 years

By around two years of age, a child should start to:

● Point to objects in a book when asked. For example, if you say, “where is the apple?”

● Say at least two words together in a sentence. For example, “more juice.”

● Use more gestures outside of waving and pointing (such as blowing a kiss).

● Take notice when others appear hurt or upset (IE, if someone else begins to cry).

● Walk up a couple of stairs without assistance.

● Attempt to use switches, knobs, and/or buttons on toys.

● Eat with a spoon.

3 years

By around three years of age, a child should start to:

● Notice other children and join them in play.

● Ask who/what/why/when/where questions. For example, “Where’s the kitty?”

● Tell people their first name or introduce themselves when asked.

● Speak clearly enough that others understand most of the time.

● Put some clothes on by themselves (IE, a jacket).

● Avod touching hot objects (IE, a stove or kettle) when warned not to.

● Feel calm within about 10 minutes when dropped off by a primary caregiver (for daycare, at a family member's house, and so on).

4 years

By around four years of age, a child should start to:

● Pretend to be someone or something else during play. For example, the child may pretend that they're a dog or a doctor as a game.

● Ask to play with friends and/or other children.

● Change behavior based on where they are and what’s appropriate for the situation. For example, they may act differently at the store vs. at home.

● Enjoy helping. For example, they may want to help cook dinner.

● Say sentences that include four words or more. For example, “Can I please go outside?”

● Be able to express something that happened during their day when asked. For example, “We went to the park.”

● Pour water or serve themselves food independently.

● Unbutton at least some buttons (IE, on a coat).

5 years

By around five years of age, a child should:

● Engage in simple chores.

● Follow rules and take turns when playing with other children.

● Recognize simple rhyming words. For example, “cat” and “hat.”

● Count to the number 10.

● Use words that describe time, such as “yesterday” or “tomorrow.”

● Sing, act, or dance for you.

● Hop on one foot.

If You’re Concerned

What can you do if you are concerned with the pace of your child’s development? If your child is not meeting the expected milestones, starts to regress and loses skills they previously had, or you have another concern, talk with your child’s pediatrician. Experts suggest that parents act fast and consult with a medical professional as soon as they notice a delay or setback in development. In some cases, if a child is slightly delayed when it comes to a particular milestone, it could be because they met another milestone sooner and are solidifying another skill. When you talk with their pediatrician, share your concerns and ask about a developmental screening. If applicable, they may be able to pinpoint the cause and in some cases will be able to provide suggestions to help your child get on track. If nothing else, it can give you peace of mind.