Age & Milestones/Suggestions & Tips

2 Months Milestones: 

• Holds head up when on tummy
• Moves both arms and both legs
• Opens hands briefly

2 Months Suggestions & Tips:

• Spend time cuddling and holding your baby.
• Lay your baby on their tummy when they are awake and put toys at eye level in front of them.

4 Months Milestones: 

• Holds head steady without support
• Holds a toy in their hand U
• ses their arm to swing at toys
• Brings hands to mouth
• Pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy

4 Months Suggestions & Tips:

• Provide safe opportunities for your baby to reach for toys, kick at toys, and explore what is around them.
• Allow your baby to put safe things in his mouth to explore them.
• Give your baby safe toys to play with that are easy to hold, like rattles or cloth books with colorful pictures for their age.
• Give your baby opportunities for tummy time.

6 Months Milestones: 

• Rolls from tummy to back
• Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
• Leans on hands to support themselves when sitting

6 Months Suggestions & Tips:

• Hold your baby up while they sit. Let them look around and give them toys to look at while they learn to balance them self.
• Hold your baby with both of your hands securely under her arms and let them stand.
• Encourage rolling over by guiding your child’s legs when they attempt to roll.
• Play on the floor with your child.

9 Months Milestones: 

• Sits by them self
• Moves things from one hand to other hand
• Uses fingers to “rake” food towards himself
• Sits without support

9 Months Suggestions & Tips:

• Place toys on the ground or on a play mat a little out of reach and encourage your baby to crawl, scoot, or roll to get them.
• Play games, such as peek-a-boo.
• When your baby drops things. Hand the item back to them so they can drop it again.

1 Year Milestones: 

• Pulls up to stand
• Walks, holding onto furniture
• Drinks from a cup without a lid, as you hold it
• Picks things up between thumb and pointer finger

1 year Suggestions & Tips:

• Give your baby safe places to explore. Baby-proof your home.
• Play together with blocks and other toys that encourage your baby to use their hands.
• Let your baby push things around, such as empty boxes, a “kiddie chair,” or “push toys,” so they can practice walking.

15 Months Milestones: 

• Takes a few steps on his own
• Uses fingers to feed them self some food

15 Months Suggestions & Tips:

• Find ways to let your child help with everyday activities.
• Allow your child to attempt to feed themself with finger foods.
• Encourage your child to play with blocks. You can stack the blocks and they can knock them down.
• Encourage walking by calling your child to you when they are holding on to a secure surface.

18 Months Milestones: 

• Walks without holding on
• Scribbles Drinks from a cup without a lid
• Feeds themself with fingers
• Tries to use a spoon
• Climbs on and off a couch or chair

18 Months Suggestions & Tips:

• Let your child use a cup without a lid for drinking and practice eating with a spoon.
• Allow your child to explore scribbling with chunky crayons on blank paper.
• Give toys that your child can push or pull safely.
• Give your child a spoon and encourage them to feed them self with it.

2 Years Milestones: 

• Kicks a ball
• Runs Walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help
• Eats with a spoon

2 Years Suggestions & Tips:

• Have your child get ready for mealtime by carrying plastic cups or napkins to the table.
• Give your child balls to kick, roll, and throw.
• Give your child crayons or put some finger paint on paper and let them explore by spreading it around and making dots.
• Monitor your child using the stairs and assist them as needed.

30 Months Milestones: 

• Uses hands to twist things
• Takes some clothes off by themself
• Jumps off the ground with both feet
• Turns book pages, one at a time, when being read to

30 Months Suggestions & Tips:

• Encourage “free play,” by following your child’s interests, trying new things, and using things in new ways.
• Let your child “draw” with crayons on paper, shaving cream on a tray, or chalk on a sidewalk.
• Encourage your child to help put on their clothes.
• Play with your child outside.
• Read books together and allow your child to turn the pages.

3 Years Milestones: 

• Strings items together, like large beads or macaroni
• Puts on some clothes by them self
• Uses a fork

3 Years Suggestions & Tips:

• Let your child help with making meals.
• Give them simple tasks, such as washing fruits and vegetables or stirring .
• Allow your child plenty of time to choose what and how they want to play.
• Allow your child to use a fork during meal time.

4 Years Milestones: 

• Catches a large ball
• Serves them self food / pours water
• Unbuttons some buttons
• Holds crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not a fist)

4 Years Suggestions & Tips:

• Eat meals with your child when possible.
• Give your child choices that are simple and healthy. Let them choose what to wear, play, or eat for a snack. Limit choices to 2 or 3.
• Teach your child to play outdoor games with friends, such as tag, follow the leader, and hide and seek.
• Encourage using a crayon for drawing/writing.

5 Years Milestones: 

• Buttons some buttons
• Hops on one foot

5 Years Suggestions & Tips:

• Try to make time for active play each day.
• Let your child do things for themself, even if they don’t do it perfectly. For example, let them make their bed, button their shirt, or pour water into a cup.
• Encourage your child to pretend play. Help your child find items she can use to play dress up, school, or house.
• Keep a box of crayons, paper, paint, child scissors, and glue for creative play.