Milestones checklist

Children grow at their own pace. These are things most children (75% or more) can do by each age. Tick what your child does.

Choose your child's age

2 months
4 months
6 months
9 months
1 year
15 months
18 months
2 years
2½ years
3 years
4 years
5 years

By 2 months

Social and emotionalCalms down when spoken to or picked upLooks at your faceSeems happy to see you when you walk upSmiles when you talk to or smile at them

Language and talkingMakes sounds other than cryingReacts to loud sounds

Learning and thinkingWatches you as you moveLooks at a toy for several seconds

Movement and bodyHolds head up when on tummyMoves both arms and both legsOpens hands briefly

Talk to Dr. Mandal if your child:

Has lost skills they once had
Does not respond to sounds or to your voice
Seems unusually clumsy or stumbles a lot

Or if your child cannot do several of the things above, or you are worried for any reason. Don't wait.

Call the clinic WhatsApp

By 4 months

Social and emotionalSmiles on their own to get your attentionChuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make them laughLooks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention

Language and talkingMakes sounds like “oooo”, “aahh” (cooing)Makes sounds back when you talk to themTurns head towards the sound of your voice

Learning and thinkingIf hungry, opens mouth when they see breast or bottleLooks at their hands with interest

Movement and bodyHolds head steady without support when you are holding themHolds a toy when you put it in their handUses their arm to swing at toysBrings hands to mouthPushes up onto elbows or forearms when on tummy

Talk to Dr. Mandal if your child:

Cannot hold head up
Does not follow moving objects with eyes
Does not make eye contact
Does not play with own hands
Has lost skills they once had
Does not respond to sounds or to your voice
Seems unusually clumsy or stumbles a lot

Or if your child cannot do several of the things above, or you are worried for any reason. Don't wait.

Call the clinic WhatsApp

By 6 months

Social and emotionalKnows familiar peopleLikes to look at themselves in a mirrorLaughs

Language and talkingTakes turns making sounds with youBlows “raspberries” (sticks tongue out and blows)Makes squealing noises

Learning and thinkingPuts things in their mouth to explore themReaches to grab a toy they wantCloses lips to show they don’t want more food

Movement and bodyRolls from tummy to backPushes up with straight arms when on tummyLeans on hands to support themselves when sitting

Talk to Dr. Mandal if your child:

Cannot roll over
Has lost skills they once had
Does not respond to sounds or to your voice
Seems unusually clumsy or stumbles a lot

Or if your child cannot do several of the things above, or you are worried for any reason. Don't wait.

Call the clinic WhatsApp

By 9 months

Social and emotionalIs shy, clingy, or fearful around strangersShows several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry, and surprisedLooks when you call their nameReacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you, or cries)Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo

Language and talkingMakes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa”Lifts arms up to be picked up

Learning and thinkingLooks for objects when dropped out of sight (like a spoon or toy)Bangs two things together

Movement and bodyGets to a sitting position by themselvesMoves things from one hand to the other handUses fingers to “rake” food towards themselvesSits without support

Talk to Dr. Mandal if your child:

Cannot sit without support
Has lost skills they once had
Does not respond to sounds or to your voice
Seems unusually clumsy or stumbles a lot

Or if your child cannot do several of the things above, or you are worried for any reason. Don't wait.

Call the clinic WhatsApp

By 1 year

Social and emotionalPlays games with you, like pat-a-cake

Language and talkingWaves “bye-bye”Calls a parent “mama” or “dada” or another special nameUnderstands “no” (pauses briefly or stops when you say it)

Learning and thinkingPuts something in a container, like a block in a cupLooks for things they see you hide, like a toy under a blanket

Movement and bodyPulls up to standWalks, holding on to furnitureDrinks from a cup without a lid, as you hold itPicks things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small bits of food

Talk to Dr. Mandal if your child:

Cannot stand without support
Cannot pick up small things with thumb and finger
Does not babble
Does not use gestures like waving or pointing
Has lost skills they once had
Does not respond to sounds or to your voice
Seems unusually clumsy or stumbles a lot

Or if your child cannot do several of the things above, or you are worried for any reason. Don't wait.

Call the clinic WhatsApp

By 15 months

Social and emotionalCopies other children while playingShows you an object they likeClaps when excitedHugs a soft toy or dollShows you affection (hugs, cuddles, or kisses you)

Language and talkingTries to say one or two words besides “mama” or “dada”Looks at a familiar object when you name itFollows directions given with both a gesture and wordsPoints to ask for something or to get help

Learning and thinkingTries to use things the right way, like a phone, cup, or bookStacks at least two small objects, like blocks

Movement and bodyTakes a few steps on their ownUses fingers to feed themselves some food

Talk to Dr. Mandal if your child:

Cannot walk alone
Has lost skills they once had
Does not respond to sounds or to your voice
Seems unusually clumsy or stumbles a lot

Or if your child cannot do several of the things above, or you are worried for any reason. Don't wait.

Call the clinic WhatsApp

By 18 months

Social and emotionalMoves away from you, but looks to make sure you are close byPoints to show you something interestingPuts hands out for you to wash themLooks at a few pages in a book with youHelps you dress them by pushing an arm through a sleeve or lifting a foot

Language and talkingTries to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada”Follows one-step directions without any gestures, like giving you the toy when you say, “Give it to me.”

Learning and thinkingCopies you doing chores, like sweeping with a broomPlays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car

Movement and bodyWalks without holding on to anyone or anythingScribblesDrinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimesFeeds themselves with their fingersTries to use a spoonClimbs on and off a couch or chair without help

Talk to Dr. Mandal if your child:

Has trouble seeing or hearing
Does not say a single word
Does not point, wave or use gestures
Does not follow simple commands
Does not enjoy eye contact or cuddles
Is not walking alone
Strongly prefers using only one hand
Has lost skills they once had
Does not respond to sounds or to your voice
Seems unusually clumsy or stumbles a lot

Or if your child cannot do several of the things above, or you are worried for any reason. Don't wait.

Call the clinic WhatsApp

By 2 years

Social and emotionalNotices when others are hurt or upset, like pausing or looking sad when someone is cryingLooks at your face to see how to react in a new situation

Language and talkingPoints to things in a book when you ask, like “Where is the bear?”Says at least two words together, like “More milk.”Points to at least two body parts when you askUses more gestures than just waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes

Learning and thinkingHolds something in one hand while using the other hand, like holding a container and taking the lid offTries to use switches, knobs, or buttons on a toyPlays with more than one toy at the same time, like putting toy food on a toy plate

Movement and bodyKicks a ballRunsWalks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without helpEats with a spoon

Talk to Dr. Mandal if your child:

Does not see or hear properly
Does not run or climb stairs
Is not using two words together
Shows little emotion
Does not play pretend
Does not copy actions
Does not scribble
Has lost skills they once had
Does not respond to sounds or to your voice
Seems unusually clumsy or stumbles a lot

Or if your child cannot do several of the things above, or you are worried for any reason. Don't wait.

Call the clinic WhatsApp

By 2½ years

Social and emotionalPlays next to other children and sometimes plays with themShows you what they can do by saying, “Look at me!”Follows simple routines when told, like helping to pick up toys when you say, “It’s clean-up time.”

Language and talkingSays about 50 wordsSays two or more words together, with one action word, like “Doggie run”Names things in a book when you point and ask, “What is this?”Says words like “I,” “me,” or “we”

Learning and thinkingUses things to pretend, like feeding a block to a doll as if it were foodShows simple problem-solving skills, like standing on a small stool to reach somethingFollows two-step instructions like “Put the toy down and close the door.”Shows they know at least one colour, like pointing to a red crayon when you ask, “Which one is red?”

Movement and bodyUses hands to twist things, like turning doorknobs or unscrewing lidsTakes some clothes off by themselves, like loose pants or an open jacketJumps off the ground with both feetTurns book pages, one at a time, when you read to them

Talk to Dr. Mandal if your child:

Is not using two words together
Does not play pretend
Does not run or climb stairs
Has lost skills they once had
Does not respond to sounds or to your voice
Seems unusually clumsy or stumbles a lot

Or if your child cannot do several of the things above, or you are worried for any reason. Don't wait.

Call the clinic WhatsApp

By 3 years

Social and emotionalCalms down within 10 minutes after you leave, like at a childcare drop-offNotices other children and joins them to play

Language and talkingTalks with you in conversation using at least two back-and-forth exchangesAsks “who,” “what,” “where,” or “why” questionsSays what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like “running,” “eating,” or “playing”Says first name, when askedTalks well enough for others to understand, most of the time

Learning and thinkingDraws a circle, when you show them howAvoids touching hot objects, like a stove, when you warn them

Movement and bodyStrings items together, like large beads or macaroniPuts on some clothes by themselves, like loose pants or a jacketUses a fork

Talk to Dr. Mandal if your child:

Cannot run or keep balance
Cannot dress themselves at all
Has lost skills they once had
Does not respond to sounds or to your voice
Seems unusually clumsy or stumbles a lot

Or if your child cannot do several of the things above, or you are worried for any reason. Don't wait.

Call the clinic WhatsApp

By 4 years

Social and emotionalPretends to be something else during play (teacher, superhero, dog)Asks to go play with children if none are aroundComforts others who are hurt or sad, like hugging a crying friendAvoids danger, like not jumping from tall heights at the playgroundLikes to be a “helper”Changes behaviour based on where they are (place of worship, library, playground)

Language and talkingSays sentences with four or more wordsSays some words from a song, story, or nursery rhymeTalks about at least one thing that happened during the dayAnswers simple questions like “What is a coat for?” or “What is a crayon for?”

Learning and thinkingNames a few colours of itemsTells what comes next in a well-known storyDraws a person with three or more body parts

Movement and bodyCatches a large ball most of the timeServes themselves food or pours water, with adult supervisionUnbuttons some buttonsHolds a crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not a fist)

Talk to Dr. Mandal if your child:

Cannot use crayons or scissors
Has lost skills they once had
Does not respond to sounds or to your voice
Seems unusually clumsy or stumbles a lot

Or if your child cannot do several of the things above, or you are worried for any reason. Don't wait.

Call the clinic WhatsApp

By 5 years

Social and emotionalFollows rules or takes turns when playing games with other childrenSings, dances, or acts for youDoes simple chores at home, like matching socks or clearing the table after eating

Language and talkingTells a story they heard or made up with at least two eventsAnswers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell itKeeps a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchangesUses or recognises simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall)

Learning and thinkingCounts to 10Names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to themUses words about time, like “yesterday,” “tomorrow,” “morning,” or “night”Pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities (screen time does not count)Writes some letters in their nameNames some letters when you point to them

Movement and bodyButtons some buttonsHops on one foot

Talk to Dr. Mandal if your child:

Cannot button a shirt
Has lost skills they once had
Does not respond to sounds or to your voice
Seems unusually clumsy or stumbles a lot

Or if your child cannot do several of the things above, or you are worried for any reason. Don't wait.

Call the clinic WhatsApp

Your ticks are saved only on this phone.

This checklist is not a test. Only a doctor can assess your child's development.

Milestones: “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), available free at cdc.gov. Use does not imply endorsement by CDC.

Warning signs: Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Guidelines for Parents on normal development.