As parents we are always asking ourselves if our children are growing and developing properly. But instead of telling you all the fun milestones they will be doing, I want to give you a resource for when to speak with your pediatrician.

Speak to your doctor if your child:

2 months milestones: 

• Doesn’t respond to loud sounds.
• Doesn’t watch things as they move.
• Doesn’t bring hands to their mouths. 
• Can’t hold their head up when pushing up on their tummy.

4 months milestones:

• Doesn’t smile at people
• Can’t hold head steady.
• Doesn’t coo or make sounds.
• Doesn’t push down when feet are placed on a hard surface.
• Has trouble moving one or both eyes in all directions.

6 months milestones:

• Doesn’t reach for objects that are in reach.
• Shows no affection for caregivers.
• Doesn’t respond to sounds around him.
• Doesn’t roll in either direction.
• Doesn’t laugh or squeal.
• Seems stiff with tight muscles.
• Seems floppy like a rag doll.
• Doesn’t make vowel sounds (“ah”, “eh”, “oh”)

9 months milestones:

• Doesn’t bear weight on legs with support.
• Doesn’t sit with help
• Doesn’t babble (“mama”, “baba”, “dada”).
• Doesn’t respond to own name.
• Doesn’t recognize familiar people.
• Doesn’t look where you point.
• Doesn’t transfer toys between hands. 

12 months milestones:

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

18 months milestones:

• Doesn’t point to show things to others.
• Can’t walk.
• Doesn’t copy others.
• Doesn’t gain new words.
• Doesn’t have at least 6 words.
• Doesn’t notice when a caregiver leaves or returns.
• Loses skills he once had. 

2 years milestones:

• Doesn’t use 2-word phrases.
• Doesn’t know what common things are for, like a brush, phone, fork, spoon.
• Doesn’t copy actions and words. 
• Doesn’t follow simple instructions. 
• Doesn’t walk steady. 
• Loses skills they once had. 

3 years milestones:

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

4 years milestones:

• Can’t jump in place
• Has trouble scribbling.
• Shows no interest in interactive games or make- believe.
• Ignores other children or doesn’t respond to people outside the family.
• Resists dressing, sleeping, and using the toilet.
• Can’t retell a favorite story.
• Doesn’t understand “same” and “different”.
• Doesn’t use “me” and “you” correctly.
• Speaks unclearly.
• Loses skills they once had.

5 years milestones:

• Doesn’t show wide range of emotions.
• Shows extreme behaviors (unusually fearful, aggressive, shy, or sad).
• Unusually withdrawn.
• Is easily distracted, cannot focus on one activity for more than 5 minutes.
• Doesn’t respond to people.
• Can’t tell the difference between what’s real and make-believe.
• Can’t give first and last name.
• Doesn’t draw pictures.
• Can’t brush teeth, wash and dry hands, or get undressed without help.
• Loses skills they once had. 

These are simply guidelines on when to talk to your doctor. Even if your child is doing some of them it is not necessarily a sign of a problem.

CDC Developmental Milestones Link