Infant Growth and Development

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Physical Development Milestones – Infants and Toddlers

2 Months :

  • Holds head up when on tummy
  • Makes smoother movements with arms and legs
  • Relaxes hands from fists for short periods
  • Grasps adult finger
  • Kicks legs and wave arms while on back
  • Primitive reflexes present, including the rooting and sucking reflex

4 Months :

  • Holds head steady without support
  • Brings hands to midline when laying on back
  • Holds and shakes toys; swings at dangling toys
  • Brings hands to mouth
  • Pushes up on elbows when lying on tummy

6 Months :

  • Rolls from tummy to back & may begin rolling from back to tummy
  • Pushes arms straight when on tummy
  • Begins to sit with support
  • Supports weight on legs when standing with support
  • Holds a toy in both hands at once

9 Months :

  • Sits without support
  • Moves into sitting position without support
  • Transfers items from one hand to another
  • Stands, holding on to adult or furniture for support
  • Squats to pick up a toy while holding onto furniture.
  • Picks up a toy using fingertips and thumb (pincer grasp)

12 Months :

  • Pulls up to stand and walks along furniture for support (“cruising”)
  • May take a few steps without support of an adult or furniture
  • May stand alone
  • Throws a ball with forward arm motion
  • Drinks from a cup without a lid with adult support
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Language Development Milestones – Infants and Toddlers

0 to 3 months :

  • Smiling 
  • Turning their head toward different sounds
  • Seeming to recognize your voice 

4 to 6 months :

  • Laughing 
  • Using their voice to express happiness or displeasure
  • Babbling and gurgling, even when alone 
  • Apparent mimicking of sounds they hear

7 to 10 months :

  • Understanding basic words like “no” and “bye-bye” 
  • Using a wider range of consonants and vowels 
  • Copying gestures and sounds 
  • Making sounds like “bababa” “mamama”

10 to 12 months :

  • Responding to simple requests like “stop”
  • Following simple instructions like “come here” 
  • Saying a few words, like “mama,” “dada,”
  • Recognizing simple words for objects 
  • Immediately imitating sounds
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Emotional Development Milestones – Infants and Toddlers

Month 1 :

  • Makes eye contact
  • Cries for help
  • Responds to parents' smiles and voices

Month 2 :

  • Begins to develop a social smile
  • Enjoys playing with other people and may cry when play stops
  • Prefers looking at people rather than objects
  • Studies faces
  • Gurgles and coos in response to sounds around him/her
  • First begins to express anger

Month 3 :

  • Starts a "conversation" by smiling at you and gurgling to get your attention
  • Smiles back when you smile at him. The big smile involves his whole body -- hands open wide, arms lift up, legs move
  • Can imitate some movements and facial expressions

Month 4 :

  • Is intrigued by children. Will turn toward children's voices in person or on TV
  • Laughs when tickled and when interacting with others
  • Cries if play is disrupted

Month 5 :

  • Becomes increasingly assertive
  • Can differentiate between family members (parents and siblings) and strangers
  • Likes to play during meals

Month 6 :

  • May quickly tire of a toy but will never tire of your attention
  • Temperament becomes increasingly apparent. You'll see whether he/she tends to be easy-going or easily upset; gentle or active
  • Recognizes his/her own name
  • Coos for pleasure and cries with displeasure
  • Can make noises like grunts and squeals; clicks his tongue

Month 7 :

  • Starts to understand the meaning of "no"
  • Enjoys social interaction
  • Expresses anger more strongly
  • Tries to mimic adult sounds

Month 8 :

  • Can differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar
  • May become shy or anxious with strangers
  • Cries in frustration when he can't reach a toy or do something he wants to do

Month 9 :

  • Imitates gestures that other people make
  • Looks at correct picture when an image is named
  • Smiles and kisses own image in the mirror
  • Likes to play near parent (i.e., in kitchen while Mom is cooking)
  • May be more sensitive to the presence of other children

Month 10 :

  • Separation anxiety may begin
  • Self-esteem begins to develop
  • Responds to positive recognition such as clapping
  • Becomes cautious of heights
  • Shows moods such as sad, happy, and angry

Month 11 :

  • Tries to gain approval and avoid disapproval
  • Can be uncooperative

Month 12 :

  • May have temper tantrums
  • Can fluctuate between being cooperative and uncooperative
  • Shows a developing sense of humour
  • May cling to parents or one parent in particular
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