By age 2 months, most babies…

• Smile when happy, cry when upset.
• Look at and follow another person’s face with their eyes.
• Startle and turn towards voices or other familiar sounds.
• Make “cooing” noises (vowel sounds), and do so in a “reciprocal” way – meaning if you coo at them

By age 4 months, most babies…

• Opens hands, then…
• Reaches for & grasps objects (bringing them to mouth).
• Starting to roll over (one direction)
• Lift head easily and have good head control
• Respond appropriately to facial expressions.
• Recognizes parents (responds differently to strangers vs. familiar people).

By age 6 months, most babies…

• Passes objects hand-to-hand.
• Are at least trying to sit up.
• Bears some weight on legs when held (under arms) in standing position.
• Blow “Raspberries” or “Bronx Cheers”.

By age 9 months, most babies…

• Sit without support and can get from lying down to sitting up on their own without help.
• Make consonant sounds and babbling noises like “ga-ga” or “ma-ma” (no meaning yet).
• Stops or pauses to the word “No”.
• Grasp objects between thumb and index finger (pincer grasp).
• Hold their own cup or bottle.
• Look for toys or other objects when they go out of sight
• Enjoys “peek-a-boo” or “pat-a-cake” games.
• With “partner” looks back & forth – from object to person to object or person-object-person (shared or “joint” attention).

By age 12 months, most babies…

• Have a few meaningful words (usually mama, dada, and at least one other)
• Pull to stand.
• Are “cruising” (moving around furniture standing up, holding on).
• Wave “bye-bye”.
• Point to objects to get another person’s attention.
• Will follow simple one step commands with a gesture.
• Swallow soft solid foods without gagging.

By age 15 months, most toddlers…

• Have 5 – 10 meaningful words (which may not be pronounced right).
• Use gestures and facial expressions to engage others in play.
• Initiates “peek-a-boo” or “pat-a-cake” games.
• Follow simple one-step directions without need for a gesture.
• Drink from a cup and are starting to use a spoon.
  Walk independently.

By age 18 months, most toddlers…

• Walk with confidence, climb things, starting to run.
• Say 10 – 20 words and at least one two-word phrase.
• Know a few body parts.
• Takes off shoes.
• Uses a spoon to successfully bring food to mouth.
• Points to objects to indicate intention/desires.

By their 2nd birthday, most children…

• Say more than 50 words and speak in 3-5 word sentences, although often not grammatically correct or fully understandable by strangers
• Follow a 2-step verbal command
• Point to pictures in a book and can point to at least one body part
• Can scribble and use utensils
• Can run and climb
• Develop fantasy play and often imitate adults
• Show increasing enthusiasm about being with other children

By their 3rd birthday, most children…

• Speak in longer sentences, use pronouns and are mostly understandable to strangers
• Can tell stories and answer simple questions
• Are developing an understanding of time (“before” and “after”) and place (“under”, “behind”)
• Can build a tower of 4 blocks and may start to use one hand more than the other
• Know most body parts, some colors, and can sing songs.
• Can jump, throw a ball and climb stairs independently

By their 4th and 5th birthday, most children…

• Speak in long sentences and can hold a conversation
• Can climb a ladder, pedal a bike and use the swings
• Can dress/undress themselves and can usually care for their own toilet needs
• Understands the concepts of time, know most colors and are starting to count
• Draw circles and squares, use scissors and can draw a person with 2-4 body parts
• Are more independent, interested in new experiences and cooperate with other children

Tips to improve language development in toddlers

• Talk slightly louder than normal, in a high pitched voice, with exaggerated intonation.
• Use short simple sentences.
• Narrate concrete day to day events.
• Praise or reward any utterance by the child.
• Provide the child with listening experiences (e.g., reading aloud, telling stories).
• Ask lots of questions and label everything.
• Discourage others from speaking for the child.