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Developmental Milestones Checklist

Wondering if your child is developing typically?

Every child develops differently… but sometimes there are signs that extra support may help. Explore milestones by age and discipline below. If you have concerns, our team offers free screenings to help guide you.

Therapy Type	Most children this age may:	Possible Red Flags:	Link
Physical Therapy	Lifts and holds head up while lying on tummy Moves arms and legs off of surface when excited Able to move fists from closed to open	Does not lift head at all when placed on tummy Arms or legs appear stiff or very floppy Does not move both arms and both legs equally Head always falls to one side (possible torticollis)	Book a Free PT Screening
Occupational Therapy	Visually tracks a moving toy from side to side while on back Able to calm with rocking, gentle touch, and soft sounds Enjoys a variety of gentle movements	Does not respond to or calm with soothing touch or sound Extreme sensitivity to light, sounds, or handling Does not make eye contact or fix gaze on faces Does not visually follow a moving object	Book a Free OT Screening
Speech Therapy	Quiets or smiles in response to sound or voice Shows interest in faces Makes eye contact Cries differently for different needs (e.g., hungry vs. tired) Begins to coo and smile	Does not respond to loud sounds Does not smile at familiar faces by 2 months Does not make any sounds other than crying Does not make eye contact	Book a Free Speech Screening

Therapy Type	Most children this age may:	Possible Red Flags:	Link
Physical Therapy	Uses hands to support self while sitting Rolls from back to tummy and tummy to back Keeps head upright when supported in sitting or standing Reaches for toys while on tummy Pushes up on straight arms while on tummy Reaches both hands to play with feet while on back	Not rolling in either direction Unable to bear weight on legs when held standing Head still lags significantly when pulled to sitting Does not reach for or grasp objects	Book a Free PT Screening
Occupational Therapy	Uses both hands to explore toys Brings hands and objects to mouth Looks at people and objects	Does not use both hands to explore Does not bring hands or objects to mouth Does not look at or track moving objects Avoids touch or shows extreme distress with handling	Book a Free OT Screening
Speech Therapy	Listens and responds when spoken to Reacts to sudden noises or sounds Uses babbling sounds to get attention Makes different sounds to express different feelings Begins to giggle or laugh	Does not babble or make consonant sounds Does not react to sudden loud noises Does not laugh or giggle Does not try to communicate through sounds or gestures	Book a Free Speech Screening

Therapy Type	Most children this age may:	Possible Red Flags:	Link
Physical Therapy	Sits without support Sits and reaches for toys without falling Moves from tummy or back into sitting Starts to creep or crawl with alternate arm and leg movement Picks up small objects with thumb and fingers Transfers a toy from one hand to the other Imitates others in simple play	Cannot sit independently Not beginning to crawl or creep Strong preference for using one hand only Unable to transfer objects between hands	Book a Free PT Screening
Occupational Therapy	Explores and examines objects using both hands and mouth Turns several pages of a chunky board book Experiments with the amount of force needed to pick up objects Focuses on objects near and far Investigates shapes, sizes, and textures of toys Explores environment from a variety of positions (back, tummy, sitting, with assistance)	Does not use both hands together to explore objects Overly sensitive or avoidant of textures and touch Does not look at or reach for objects Seems uninterested in exploring surroundings	Book a Free OT Screening
Speech Therapy	Combines consonants and vowels in different ways (e.g., ahhh-b, mmm-uuuh) Looks at familiar objects and people when named Recognizes the sound of their own name Participates in back-and-forth communication Shows recognition of commonly used words Uses simple gestures (e.g., raises hands to be picked up)	No babbling with consonant sounds Does not respond to their own name Does not use gestures (reaching, raising arms) No two-way social interaction or turn-taking	Book a Free Speech Screening

Therapy Type	Most children this age may:	Possible Red Flags:	Link
Physical Therapy	Pulls to stand and cruises along furniture Moves in and out of various positions to explore environment Releases objects into a container with a large opening Uses thumb and pointer finger to pick up tiny objects (pincer grasp) Regularly crawls with alternating arm and leg movement	Not pulling to stand or bearing weight on legs Not crawling or using any form of mobility Unable to pick up small objects using fingers Strong preference for one side of body	Book a Free PT Screening
Occupational Therapy	Explores toys with hands, fingers, and mouth Developing depth perception	Does not explore toys using hands and fingers Does not notice height differences or show awareness of depth Extreme sensitivity to textures, sounds, or movement Does not engage with a variety of toys or materials	Book a Free OT Screening
Speech Therapy	Meaningfully uses ‘mama’ or ‘dada’ Imitates speech sounds Babbling has sounds and rhythms similar to speech Pays attention to where caregiver is looking and pointing Responds to ‘no’ Begins using hand movements to communicate (reaches out to give/take objects)	No use of ‘mama’ or ‘dada’ meaningfully Not imitating sounds or gestures Not responding to simple words or ‘no’ No pointing, waving, or showing objects to others	Book a Free Speech Screening

Therapy Type	Most children this age may:	Possible Red Flags:	Link
Physical Therapy	Stands alone and takes several independent steps Claps hands Walks independently and seldom falls Squats to pick up a toy Climbs on low furniture	Not standing independently by 12 months Not attempting any independent steps by 15 months Not walking independently by 18 months Frequent falling or very unsteady gait Consistent toe-walking	Book a Free PT Screening
Occupational Therapy	Stacks two or more objects or blocks Shows interest in pictures in books Finger feeds self Consistently gets a utensil to their mouth Helps with getting dressed and undressed Helps wash hands	Unable to stack any objects Does not attempt to feed self with fingers Extreme aversion to food textures or mealtime Strong resistance to dressing, grooming, or self-care routines Extreme sensitivity to water, soap, or clothing textures	Book a Free OT Screening
Speech Therapy	Points at familiar objects and people in pictures when named Uses 1 or 2 words other than ‘mama’ or ‘dada’ Follows simple directions (e.g., ‘Come here’) Points to objects they want Imitates simple words and actions Says 3 or more words and can say their own name Uses gestures and words during pretend play	No words other than mama/dada by 12 months Fewer than 3 words by 18 months Not following simple 1-step directions Loss of previously acquired words or skills Not imitating sounds, words, or actions	Book a Free Speech Screening

Therapy Type	Most children this age may:	Possible Red Flags:	Link
Physical Therapy	Runs Goes up and down stairs with support Pulls toys behind them while walking Stands on tiptoes Kicks a large ball	Not running or attempting to run Cannot navigate stairs even with support Frequent falling during walking or running Cannot kick a ball	Book a Free PT Screening
Occupational Therapy	Sorts shapes and colors Takes toys apart and puts them back together Uses crayons, pens, or markers to make marks on paper Stacks 5 or more small blocks or toys Drinks from a cup with one hand Uses a spoon	Unable to stack more than 2 objects Does not attempt to scribble with crayons Extreme meltdowns with textures, sounds, or transitions Not able to use a spoon or drink from a cup	Book a Free OT Screening
Speech Therapy	Begins to use 2-word phrases Uses simple pronouns (me, you, my) Consistently imitates new words Names objects and pictures Understands new words quickly Can identify 1–2 body parts when named	Not using 2-word combinations by 24 months Vocabulary of fewer than 50 words Not following 2-step related directions Significant regression in language or communication	Book a Free Speech Screening

Therapy Type	Most children this age may:	Possible Red Flags:	Link
Physical Therapy	Kicks a ball Runs Walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help Jumps with both feet leaving the ground	Not running or kicking a ball Cannot walk up stairs even with support Frequent falling or very unsteady gait Not jumping at all by age 2	Book a Free PT Screening
Occupational Therapy	Holds something in one hand while using the other (e.g., opening a container) Tries to use switches, knobs, or buttons on a toy Plays with more than one toy at the same time Eats with a spoon Able to twist things with hands (e.g., doorknobs)	Cannot use both hands together for simple tasks Unable to manage a spoon independently Does not show interest in manipulating toys or objects Extreme meltdowns with textures, foods, or transitions	Book a Free OT Screening
Speech Therapy	Points to things in a book when asked (e.g., ‘Where is the bear?’) Says at least two words together (e.g., ‘More milk’) Points to at least two body parts when asked Uses more gestures than just waving and pointing (e.g., nodding yes) Uses at least 50 words	Not combining two words by 24 months Fewer than 50 words Not pointing to body parts or pictures when named Speech not understood by familiar caregivers most of the time	Book a Free Speech Screening

Therapy Type	Most children this age may:	Possible Red Flags:	Link
Physical Therapy	Strings items together (e.g., large beads or macaroni) Puts on some clothes by himself (e.g., loose pants or a jacket) Uses a fork Runs and changes direction with more control	Unable to string large beads or manage simple threading tasks Cannot put on any clothing independently Still unable to use a fork Significant difficulty with balance or coordination compared to peers	Book a Free PT Screening
Occupational Therapy	Draws a circle when shown how Avoids touching hot objects when warned Sorts objects by shape, color, or size Takes turns and manages transitions between activities with some support	Cannot draw any simple shapes even with demonstration Does not respond to safety warnings (e.g., touching hot things) Extreme difficulty with transitions or changes in routine Unable to manage basic self-care tasks (dressing, handwashing)	Book a Free OT Screening
Speech Therapy	Talks in conversation using at least two back-and-forth exchanges Asks ‘who,’ ‘what,’ ‘where,’ or ‘why’ questions Says what action is happening in a picture or book Says first name when asked Speech understood by others most of the time	Speech not understood by strangers most of the time Not asking simple questions Cannot say their first name when asked Not engaging in back-and-forth conversation	Book a Free Speech Screening

Therapy Type	Most children this age may:	Possible Red Flags:	Link
Physical Therapy	Catches a large ball most of the time Unbuttons some buttons Holds a crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not a fist) Serves herself food or pours water with adult supervision Hops on one foot (emerging skill)	Cannot catch a large ball Still holding pencil/crayon in a full fist grip Significant difficulty with buttons, zippers, or fasteners Poor balance or coordination compared to peers	Book a Free PT Screening
Occupational Therapy	Draws a person with three or more body parts Names a few colors of items Changes behavior based on setting (e.g., quieter at library vs. playground) Begins to manage simple self-care tasks more independently	Cannot draw recognizable shapes or figures Does not know any colors by name Extreme difficulty regulating behavior across different environments Very limited fine motor control for drawing, cutting, or dressing	Book a Free OT Screening
Speech Therapy	Says sentences with four or more words Says some words from a song, story, or nursery rhyme Talks about at least one thing that happened during the day Answers simple questions (e.g., ‘What is a coat for?’) Tells what comes next in a well-known story	Not using sentences of 4+ words Speech difficult for others to understand Cannot answer simple questions about familiar objects Does not talk about daily events or experiences	Book a Free Speech Screening

Therapy Type	Most children this age may:	Possible Red Flags:	Link
Physical Therapy	Hops on one foot Buttons some buttons Pumps legs on a swing Skips, gallops, and navigates playground equipment	Cannot hop on one foot Unable to button clothing independently Poor endurance or significantly limited participation in physical activities Difficulty with balance tasks compared to same-age peers	Book a Free PT Screening
Occupational Therapy	Writes some letters in their name Names some letters when pointed to Pays attention for 5–10 minutes during structured activities Does simple chores at home (e.g., clearing table, matching socks) Follows rules and takes turns when playing games	Cannot write any letters in their name Very short attention span even during preferred activities Extreme difficulty with fine motor tasks (writing, cutting, buttoning) Significant sensory sensitivities interfering with daily routines or school	Book a Free OT Screening
Speech Therapy	Tells a story with at least two connected events Answers simple questions about a book or story after reading Keeps a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchanges Uses or recognizes simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall) Uses words about time (e.g., yesterday, tomorrow, morning, night) Counts to 10	Cannot retell a simple story or sequence of events Difficulty maintaining a back-and-forth conversation Not yet recognizing rhymes or basic letter sounds Significant difficulty being understood by teachers or unfamiliar adults	Book a Free Speech Screening