Health Topics for Child Health and Development

UI Children's Hospital

UI Family Care Centers

Divisions Within the Department of Pediatrics

Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders

Development milestones: birth to 3 years

The years between birth and 3 years of age are a time of dramatic growth and development. Although children develop at their own pace, certain stages of development happen in basically the same order for all children.

The following are some general developmental milestones for children from birth through the age of 3 years. Development of premature children should be measured starting with their expected birth date, rather than their actual birth date.

Beginning at birth, a full-term baby learns to use muscles voluntarily. He or she learns first to control the head, then the arms, trunk, and legs. Newborns also begin crying at birth as a method of communicating. Other forms of communication, such as smiling and imitating sounds from others, follow as the baby's brain is able to know what sights and sounds mean.

During infancy, usually a child concentrates on only one skill at a time, often forgetting something that has already been learned. However, the child re-learns that skill later, as more skills can be remembered at the same time.

By 6 months, most infants can:

• lift up their heads and chests when lying on their stomach
• follow moving objects with their eyes
• reach for objects with one or both hands
• grasp objects
• transfer objects from one hand to another
• put objects into the mouth and
• turn their heads in the direction of a sound

By 9 months, a child is usually ready to:

• crawl
• sit without support
• pull up to a standing or sitting position
• walk when supported
• manipulate objects with both hands
• understand the word "no"
• look for objects that are shown, then hidden
• imitate hand clapping and
• wave good-bye

In addition, children at this stage are usually shy with strangers.

At around 1 year of age, most children can:

• sleep through most nights without crying
• walk while holding on to furniture, or walk alone
• grasp and release small objects
• throw, drop, and place objects in a box or basket
• understand how someone feels by responding to laughter, anger, or other emotions
• show affection with a familiar adult
• understand simple concepts, like where a ball goes when it drops out of sight
• babble and possibly speak 2 or 3 words

At around 18 months, a child should be able to:

• run
• crawl backwards down stairs
• walk with feet closer together
• walk upstairs holding the hand of an older child or adult
• stoop to pick up an object
• speak with a vocabulary of 6 to 20 words
• use spoons and cups and
• take shoes and socks off unassisted

Children at this age are likely to be independent, self-oriented, and unreasonable. They enjoy pushing the limits by repeatedly doing something they should not be doing. They may cling to a parent one day and seek independence the next. They also have a smaller appetite than during infancy, which is normal for this age group.

Around the age of 2 years, a child's language development blossoms. The vocabulary may include 30 to 50 single words, and short sentences. Walking becomes steadier, and posture begins to straighten. The child may be ready to take an interest in toilet training. In addition, the child:

• can identify his or her own body parts, as well as the body parts of other people
• likes to play with food at mealtimes
• may hold his or her breath to get attention and
• may try inserting objects into all areas of the body

Two-year-old children may be negative and clingy and are often afraid of strangers, relatives, and doctors.

Most 3-year olds can:

• speak clearly with few errors
• run with more control
• climb
• throw and kick a ball
• ride a tricycle
• dress and undress themselves
• eat with a fork and spoon
• control their bladder and bowel functions during the day and sometimes at night
• play imaginatively with toys and
• show affection to younger brothers or sisters

A 3-year-old may also begin using rude words, lying, and stealing in order to taunt parents and test limits.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File CHIL4327.RF2 VRS# 4327 Data Version 7.0 Copyright 2000 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.