Developmental Checklists Birth to 36 months

DEVELOPMENTAL CHECKLIST - 1 TO 3 MONTHS

MOVEMENT
ü Raises head and cheek when lying on stomach (3 mos.)
ü Supports upper body with arms when lying on stomach (3 mos.)
ü Stretches legs out when lying on stomach or back (2-3 mos.)
ü Opens and shuts hands (2-3 mos.)
ü Pushes down on his legs when his feet are placed on firm surface (3 mos.)

VISUAL
ü Watches face intently (2-3 mos.)
ü Follows moving objects (2 mos.)
ü Recognizes familiar objects and people at a distance (3 mos.)
ü Starts using hands and eyes in coordination (3 mos.)

HEARING AND SPEECH
ü Smiles at the sound of voice (2-3 mos.)
ü Cooing noises; vocal play (begins at 3 mos.)
ü Attends to sound (1-3 mos.)
ü Startles to loud noise (1-3 mos.)

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL
ü Begins to develop a social smile (1-3 mos.)
ü Enjoys playing with other people and may cry when playing stops (2-3 mos.)
ü Becomes more communicative and expressive with face and body (2-3 mos.)
ü Imitates some movements and facial expressions

DEVELOPMENTAL RED FLAGS (1 TO 3 MONTHS)
ü Doesn’t seem to respond to loud noises
ü Doesn’t follow moving objects with eyes by 2 to 3 months
ü Doesn’t smile at the sound of your voice by 2 months
ü Doesn’t grasp and hold objects by 3 months
ü Doesn’t smile at people by 3 months
ü Cannot support head well at 3 months
ü Doesn’t reach for and grasp toys by 3 to 4 months
ü Doesn’t bring objects to mouth by 4 months
ü Doesn’t push down with legs when feet are placed on a firm surface by 4 months
ü Has trouble moving one or both eyes in all directions
ü Crosses eyes most of the time (occasional crossing of the eyes is normal in these first months)

DEVELOPMENTAL CHECKLIST - 4 TO 7 MONTHS

MOVEMENT
ü Pushes up on extended arms (5 mos.)
ü Pulls to sitting with no head lag (5 mos.)
ü Sits with support of his hands (5-6 mos.)
ü Sits unsupported for short periods (6-8 mos.)
ü Supports whole weight on legs (6-7 mos.)
ü Grasps feet (6 mos.)
ü Transfers objects from hand to hand (6-7 mos.)
ü Uses raking grasp (not pincer) (6 mos.)

VISUAL
ü Looks for toy beyond tracking range (5-6 mos.)
ü Tracks moving objects with ease (4-7 mos.)
ü Grasps objects dangling in front of him (5-6 mos.)
ü Looks for fallen toys (5-7 mos.)

LANGUAGE
ü Distinguishes emotions by tone of voice (4-7 mos.)
ü Responds to sound by making sounds (4-6 mos.)
ü Uses voice to express joy and displeasure (4-6 mos.)
ü Syllable repetition begins (5-7 mos.)

COGNITIVE
ü Finds partially hidden objects (6-7 mos.)
ü Explores with hands and mouth (4-7 mos.)
ü Struggles to get objects that are out of reach (5-7 mos.)

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL
ü Enjoys social play (4-7 mos.)
ü Interested in mirror images (5-7 mos.)
ü Responds to other people’s expression of emotion (4-7 mos.)

DEVELOPMENTAL RED FLAGS (4 TO 7 MONTHS)
ü Seems very stiff, tight muscles
ü Seems very floppy, like a rag doll
ü Head still flops back when body is pulled to sitting position
(by 5months still exhibits head lag)
ü Shows no affection for the person who cares for them
ü Doesn’t seem to enjoy being around people
ü One or both eyes consistently turn in or out
ü Persistent tearing, eye drainage, or sensitivity to light
ü Does not respond to sounds around them
ü Has difficulty getting objects to mouth
ü Does not turn head to locate sounds by 4 months
ü Doesn’t roll over (stomach to back) by 6 months
ü Cannot sit with help by 6 months (not by themselves)
ü Does not laugh or make squealing sounds by 5 months
ü Does not actively reach for objects by 6 months
ü Does not follow objects with both eyes
ü Does not bear some weight on legs by 5 months

DEVELOPMENTAL CHECKLIST - 8 TO 12 MONTHS

MOVEMENT

ü Gets to sitting position without assistance (8-10 mos.)
ü Crawls forward on belly
ü Assumes hand and knee position
ü Creeps on hands and knees
ü Gets from sitting to crawling or prone (lying on stomach) position (10-12 mos.)
ü Pulls self up to standing position
ü Walks holding on to furniture
ü Stands momentarily without support
ü May walk two or three steps without support

HAND AND FINGER SKILLS
ü Uses pincer grasp (grasp using thumb and index finger) (7-10 mos.)
ü Bangs two one-inch cubes together
ü Puts objects into container (10-12 mos.)
ü Takes objects out of container (10-12 mos.)
ü Pokes with index finger
ü Tries to imitate scribbling

COGNITIVE
ü Explores objects in many different ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping) (8-10 mos.)
ü Finds hidden objects easily (10-12 mos.)
ü Looks at correct picture when image is named
ü Imitates gestures (9-12 mos.)

LANGUAGE MILESTONES
ü Responds to simple verbal requests
ü Responds to “no”
ü Makes simple gestures such as shaking head for no
ü Babbles with inflection (8-10 mos.)

LANGUAGE MILESTONES (cont)
ü Babbles “dada” and “mama” (8-10 mos.)
ü Says “dada” and “mama” for specific person (11-12 mos.)
ü Uses exclamations such as “oh-oh”

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL
ü Shy or anxious with strangers (8-12 mos.)
ü Cries when mother or father leaves (8-12 mos.)
ü Enjoys imitating people in his play (10-12 mos.)
ü Shows specific preferences for certain people and toys (8-12 mos.)
ü Prefers mother and/or regular care provider over all others (8-12 mos.)
ü Repeats sounds or gestures for attention (10-12 mos.)
ü Finger-feeds himself (8-12 mos.)
ü Extends arm or leg to help when being

DEVELOPMENTAL RED FLAGS (8 TO 12 MONTHS)
ü Does not crawl
ü Drags one side of body while crawling (for over one month)
ü Cannot stand when supported
ü Does not search for objects that are hidden (10-12 mos.)
ü Says no single words (“mama” or “dada”)
ü Does not learn to use gestures such as waving or shaking head
ü Does not sit steadily by 10 months
ü Does not show interest in “peek-a-boo" or "patty cake” by 8 mos.
ü Does not babble by 8 mos. (“dada,” “baba,” “mama”) dressed

DEVELOPMENTAL CHECKLIST - 12 TO 24 MONTHS

MOVEMENT
ü Walks alone (12-16 mos.)
ü Pulls toys behind him while walking (13-16 mos.)
ü Carries large toy or several toys while walking (12-15 mos.)
ü Begins to run stiffly (16-18 mos.)
ü Walks into ball (18-24 mos.)
ü Climbs onto and down from furniture unsupported (16-24 mos.)
ü Walks up and down stairs holding on to support (18-24 mos.)

HAND AND FINGER SKILLS
ü Scribbles spontaneously (14-16 mos.)
ü Turns over container to pour out contents (12-18 mos.)
ü Builds tower of four blocks or more (20-24 mos.)

LANGUAGE
ü Points to object or picture when it’s named for them (18-24 mos.)
ü Recognizes names of familiar people, objects, and body parts (18-24 mos.)
ü Says several single words (15-18 mos.)
ü Uses two-word sentences (18-24 mos.)
ü Follows simple, one-step instructions (14-18 mos.)
ü Repeats words overheard in conversations (16-18 mos.)

COGNITIVE
ü Finds objects even when hidden under 2 or 3 covers
ü Begins to sort shapes and colors (20-24 mos.)
ü Begins make-believe play (20-24 mos.)

SOCIAL
ü Imitates behavior of others, especially adults and older children (18-24 mos.)
ü Increasingly enthusiastic about company or other children (20-24 mos.)
ü Demonstrates increasing independence (18-24 mos.)
ü Begins to show defiant behavior (18-24 mos.)
ü Episodes of separation anxiety increase toward midyear, then fade

DEVELOPMENTAL RED FLAGS (12 TO 24 MONTHS)
ü Cannot walk by 18 months
ü Fails to develop a mature heel-toe walking pattern after several months of walking, or
walks exclusively on toes
ü Does not speak at least 15 words by 18 months
ü Does not use two-word sentences by age 2
ü By 15 months does not seem to know the function of common household objects
(brush, telephone, bell, fork, spoon)
ü Does not imitate actions or words by 24 mos.
ü Does not follow simple one-step instructions by 24 mos.


DEVELOPMENTAL CHECKLIST - 24 TO 36 MONTHS

MOVEMENT
ü Climbs well (24-30 mos.)
ü Walks down stairs alone, placing both feet on each step (26-28 mos.)
ü Walks up stairs alternating feet with support (24-30 mos.)
ü Swings leg to kick ball (24-30 mos.)
ü Runs easily (24-26 mos.)
ü Pedals tricycle (30-36 mos.)
ü Bends over easily without falling (24-30 mos.)

HAND AND FINGER SKILLS
ü Makes vertical, horizontal, circular strokes with pencil or crayon (30-36 mos.)
ü Turns book pages one at a time (24-30 mos.)
ü Builds a tower of more than 6 blocks (24-30 mos.)
ü Holds a pencil in writing position (30-36 mos.)
ü Screws and unscrews jar lids, nuts, and bolts (24-30 mos.)
ü Turns rotating handles (24-30 mos.)

LANGUAGE
ü Recognizes and identifies almost all common objects and pictures (26-32 mos.)
ü Understands most sentences (24-40 mos.)
ü Understands physical relationships (on, in, under) (30-36 mos.)
ü Can say name, age, and sex (30-36 mos.)
ü Uses pronouns (I, you, me, we, they) (24-30 mos.)
ü Strangers can understand most of words (30-36 mos.)

COGNITIVE
ü Makes mechanical toys work (30-36 mos.)
ü Matches an object in hand or room to a picture in a book (24-30 mos.)
ü Plays make-believe with dolls, animals, and people (24-36 mos.)
ü Sorts objects by color (30-36 mos.)
ü Completes puzzles with 3 or 4 pieces (24-36 mos.)
ü Understands concept of “two” (26-32 mos.)

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL
ü Separates easily from parents (by 36 mo.)
ü Expresses a wide range of emotions (24-36 mos.)
ü Objects to major changes in routine (24-36 mos.)

DEVELOPMENTAL RED FLAGS (24 TO 36 MONTHS)
ü Frequent falling and difficulty with stairs
ü Persistent drooling or very unclear speech
ü Inability to build a tower of more than 4 blocks
ü Difficulty manipulating small objects
ü Inability to copy a circle by 3 years old
ü Inability to communicate in short phrases
ü No involvement in pretend play
ü Failure to understand simple instructions
ü Little interest in other children
ü Extreme difficulty separating from primary caregiver