Infant and Baby Developmental Milestones – Birth to 3

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Jump to topics on this page:

• Infant Developmental Milestones: Birth to 1 Year
• Baby Developmental Milestones: 1 to 3 Years
• Premature Infants
• Suggested Links to Additional Resources
   

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Developmental milestones help you know what most children will do at different ages. These include holding a cup, sitting up on their own, holding a fork, making eye contact and saying words. Each milestone usually happens in a certain age range.

Talk with your child’s doctor about a developmental exam if your child is under 3 years old and not meeting the milestones described on this page. Delays in development or certain physical traits or behaviors may be signs that more evaluation is needed. You can contact Texas Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)  for an assessment.

Red Flags for Genetics lists signs that may be helpful to bring up with the doctor.
 

Infant Developmental Milestones: Birth to 1 Year

In the first year, a typically developing child changes quickly. In their first days, they might just be working to develop the ability to suck milk so they can eat, responding to light, and learning to smile. But, as time passes, they will develop physical skills like lifting their head while on their belly, rolling over, and sitting up independently; they will learn language skills like babbling or making hand signals. ECI has some detailed milestones to know where your child should be.

Contact your doctor if, by 1 year, your child:

• Doesn’t crawl.
• Can’t stand when supported.
• Doesn’t search for things that she sees you hide.
• Doesn’t say single words like “mama” or “dada.”
• Doesn’t learn gestures like waving or shaking head.
• Doesn’t point to things.
• Loses skills they once had.

Baby Developmental Milestones: 1 to 3 Years

Age 1 to 3 years can be a really fun time for parents, as a typically developing child will pick up more skills to play and talk with you.

• From 1 year to 18 months, they should learn at least 8 words and start walking.
• Between 1 and 2 years old, they should start copying their friends, learn to use 2- to 4-word sentences, point to things in a book, and kick and throw a ball.
• By 3 years old, they should start showing concern for a crying friend, follow 2- to 3-step directions, do simple puzzles, pedal a tricycle, and play make-believe.

Call your doctor if, by 3 years old, your child:

• Falls down a lot or has trouble with stairs.
• Drools or has very unclear speech.
• Can’t work simple toys (such as peg boards, simple puzzles, or turning a handle).
• Doesn’t speak in sentences.
• Can’t follow simple instructions.
• Doesn’t play pretend or make-believe.
• Doesn’t want to play with other children or toys.
• Doesn’t make eye contact.
• Loses skills they once had.

Premature Infants

Children who were born prematurely might meet their developmental milestones later than children who were full-term infants. When generally looking at development, parents and physicians should use an adjusted age for a child who was a premature infant.

To get your child’s adjusted age, begin counting their age from their actual due date, rather than their birth date. For example, if a child who was born 5 weeks early is now 6 months old, the adjusted age would be just under 5 months old, and he or she should be compared to 5-month milestones instead.