Developmental Milestones
Track your child's growth and development from birth to 5 years with expert guidance
Understanding Your Child's Development
Every child develops at their own pace, but there are general milestones that most children reach within certain age ranges. These milestones help us understand how your child is growing physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally.
🔍 Important to Remember
- Children develop at different rates - some may reach milestones earlier or later
- Focus on overall progress rather than exact timing
- If you have concerns, discuss them with Dr. Kawali during your child's visits
- Early intervention can be very helpful if developmental delays are identified
Newborn Development (0-2 months)
Your baby's first weeks are filled with rapid changes and new discoveries
🏃Physical Development
- Lifts head briefly when on tummy
- Moves arms and legs actively
- Opens and closes hands
- Brings hands near face
- Follows objects with eyes
- Focuses on faces 8-12 inches away
🧠Cognitive Development
- Recognizes familiar voices
- Responds to loud sounds
- Begins to track moving objects
- Shows preference for human faces
- Startles at sudden noises
💬Communication
- Makes cooing sounds
- Cries differently for different needs
- Quiets when spoken to or picked up
- Makes eye contact
- Responds to familiar voices
❤️Social & Emotional
- Begins to smile socially (around 6-8 weeks)
- Enjoys being held and cuddled
- Calms when comforted
- Shows interest in faces
- May imitate facial expressions
⚠️When to Be Concerned
Contact Dr. Kawali if your baby:
- Doesn't respond to loud sounds
- Doesn't follow things with their eyes
- Doesn't smile at people by 2 months
- Can't hold head up when on tummy
- Doesn't bring hands to mouth
💡Ways to Support Development
Tummy Time
Start with short periods (2-3 minutes) several times a day to strengthen neck and shoulder muscles.
Talk and Sing
Your voice is soothing and helps with language development. Narrate your activities.
Eye Contact
Make eye contact during feeding, diaper changes, and play time to build connection.
Gentle Movement
Rock, sway, or gently move your baby's arms and legs during play time.
Infant Development (2-12 months)
A time of incredible growth, mobility, and personality development
🏃Physical Development
- Rolls over (4-6 months)
- Sits without support (6-8 months)
- Crawls or scoots (7-10 months)
- Pulls to standing (8-12 months)
- Takes first steps (9-15 months)
- Picks up small objects with thumb and finger
- Transfers objects between hands
- Claps hands
🧠Cognitive Development
- Recognizes familiar people and objects
- Responds to their name (6-9 months)
- Understands "no" (8-12 months)
- Looks for hidden objects (8-12 months)
- Imitates actions and sounds
- Shows curiosity about surroundings
- Explores objects by mouthing, shaking
💬Communication
- Babbles with different sounds (4-6 months)
- Says "mama" or "dada" (8-12 months)
- Responds to simple requests
- Uses gestures like waving bye-bye
- Points to things they want
- Understands simple words
- Makes different sounds to get attention
❤️Social & Emotional
- Smiles and laughs regularly
- Shows stranger anxiety (6-12 months)
- Shows separation anxiety (8-12 months)
- Plays peek-a-boo
- Shows affection to familiar people
- May be clingy with familiar adults
- Shows a range of emotions
⚠️When to Be Concerned
Contact Dr. Kawali if by 12 months your baby:
- Doesn't crawl or show interest in moving
- Can't stand when supported
- Doesn't search for hidden objects
- Doesn't say single words like "mama" or "dada"
- Doesn't use gestures like waving or pointing
- Doesn't respond to their name
- Loses skills they once had
💡Ways to Support Development
Safe Exploration
Baby-proof your home and let them explore safely. Curiosity drives learning.
Read Together
Look at picture books, point to objects, and name things you see.
Responsive Play
Follow your baby's lead in play. Imitate their sounds and actions.
Routine & Consistency
Establish predictable routines for meals, naps, and bedtime.
Toddler Development (1-3 years)
Independence, language explosion, and personality shine through
🏃Physical Development
- Walks independently (12-18 months)
- Runs and climbs (18-24 months)
- Kicks and throws balls
- Walks up and down stairs
- Jumps with both feet (by age 2)
- Pedals a tricycle (by age 3)
- Uses utensils to eat
- Scribbles and draws circles
🧠Cognitive Development
- Follows 2-step instructions
- Sorts shapes and colors
- Completes simple puzzles
- Pretend play becomes more complex
- Understands concepts like "big" and "small"
- Remembers where things belong
- Shows problem-solving skills
💬Communication
- Says 10-20 words (by 18 months)
- Combines 2 words (by 2 years)
- Uses 200+ words (by 2 years)
- Speaks in 3-4 word sentences (by 3 years)
- Asks "what" and "where" questions
- Names familiar objects and people
- Follows simple stories
❤️Social & Emotional
- Shows independence ("me do it")
- Plays alongside other children
- Shows defiant behavior (normal!)
- Shows affection openly
- Shows pride in accomplishments
- Imitates adults and friends
- Shows concern for crying friend
⚠️When to Be Concerned
Contact Dr. Kawali if by 2 years your toddler:
- Doesn't walk by 18 months
- Doesn't use 2-word phrases by 2 years
- Doesn't know what familiar objects are for
- Doesn't imitate actions or words
- Doesn't follow simple instructions
- Can't push a wheeled toy
- Loses skills they once had
💡Ways to Support Development
Language Rich Environment
Talk throughout the day, read books, sing songs, and expand on their words.
Encourage Independence
Let them try things themselves, even if it takes longer or gets messy.
Set Clear Boundaries
Consistent, loving limits help toddlers feel secure while exploring independence.
Active Play
Provide opportunities for running, climbing, and physical activity every day.
Preschool Development (3-5 years)
School readiness, complex thinking, and social skills flourish
🏃Physical Development
- Hops and stands on one foot
- Climbs well and goes up/down stairs alternating feet
- Catches a bounced ball
- Uses scissors to cut paper
- Draws a person with 2-4 body parts
- Copies circles and squares
- Dresses and undresses independently
- Uses fork and spoon well
🧠Cognitive Development
- Counts 10 or more objects
- Names at least 4 colors
- Understands time concepts (today, tomorrow)
- Follows 3-part commands
- Remembers parts of a story
- Understands same/different
- Engages in fantasy play
- Shows interest in letters and numbers
💬Communication
- Speaks in complete sentences (4-5 words)
- Tells simple stories
- Asks many questions
- Uses future tense
- Says first and last name
- Strangers can understand most speech
- Knows some basic rules of grammar
❤️Social & Emotional
- Plays cooperatively with other children
- Shows concern and sympathy for others
- Follows rules and takes turns
- Shows independence from parents
- Expresses emotions with words
- Distinguishes fantasy from reality
- Shows pride in accomplishments
⚠️When to Be Concerned
Contact Dr. Kawali if by 4 years your child:
- Can't jump in place or ride a tricycle
- Has trouble scribbling or using crayons
- Shows no interest in interactive games
- Ignores other children or doesn't respond to people outside family
- Doesn't use sentences of more than 3 words
- Can't retell a favorite story
- Loses skills they once had
💡Ways to Support Development
School Readiness
Practice letters, numbers, and following multi-step directions. Read together daily.
Social Skills
Arrange playdates and teach sharing, taking turns, and problem-solving with friends.
Creative Expression
Provide art supplies, dress-up clothes, and encourage imaginative play.
Emotional Intelligence
Help them name feelings and develop coping strategies for big emotions.
Additional Resources & Support
🏥 When to Contact Dr. Kawali
- You have concerns about your child's development
- Your child loses skills they previously had
- You notice significant delays in multiple areas
- Your child's teacher or daycare provider expresses concerns
📚 Helpful Resources
- CDC Milestone Tracker App: Track your child's milestones
- Zero to Three: Early childhood development resources
- American Academy of Pediatrics: HealthyChildren.org
- Local Early Intervention: Services for children with delays
🎯 Remember
- Every child develops at their own pace
- Some children may be advanced in one area and typical in another
- Cultural and environmental factors can influence development
- Early identification and intervention lead to better outcomes
Questions About Your Child's Development?
Dr. Kawali is here to support your child's growth and development. Don't hesitate to discuss any concerns during your regular visits or schedule a consultation.