Developmental Milestones Matter

Early detection and intervention of developmental issues are key to your child’s future success. Small milestones can offer clues to your child’s development. These are some of the milestones to look for while watching your child grow.

If you notice any developmental delays, ask your child’s pediatrician for a referral to Heartspring or contact our Outpatient Services team at 316-634-8701 to schedule a free developmental questionnaire.

Download Our Milestones Guide

2 Months

  • Begins to smile at people
  • Tries to look at their parent(s)
  • Turns head towards sounds
  • Begins to follow objects with their eyes and can recognize people at a distance
  • Can hold head up and begins to push up while lying on tummy
  • Makes smoother movements with arms and legs

4 Months

  • Smiles spontaneously
  • Starts copying movements and facial expressions
  • Begins to babble
  • Reaches for toys with one hand
  • Uses hands and eyes together
  • Watches faces closely
  • Holds head steady, unsupported
  • Pushes down on legs when feet are on a hard surface
  • May be able to roll over from tummy to back

6 Months

  • Knows familiar faces
  • Likes to look at themselves in the mirror
  • Responds to sounds by making noises
  • Strings vowels together while babbling
  • Begins to say constant sounds
  • Brings things to their mouth
  • Shows curiosity about things and tries to get things that are out of reach
  • Begins to pass things from one hand to another
  • Rolls over both directions
  • Begins to sit without support
  • When standing, supports weight with their legs and might bounce

9 Months

  • May be afraid of strangers
  • Makes a lot of different sounds like “mama” and “baba baa”
  • Uses fingers to point at things
  • Looks for things they see you hide
  • Plays peek-a-boo
  • Can pick up things like cereal between thumb and index finger
  • Stands, holding on
  • Sits without support
  • Pulls up to stand
  • Crawls

1 Year

  • Cries when mom or dad leaves
  • Repeats sounds or actions to get attention
  • Responds to simple spoken requests
  • Uses simple, "no-no"
  • Tries to say words you say
  • Explores things in different ways like shaking, banging, and throwing
  • Looks at the right picture or object when it’s named
  • Copies gestures
  • Bangs 2 things together
  • Walks holding onto furniture
  • May take a few steps without holding on
  • May stand alone

18 Months

  • Likes to hand things to others as play
  • Shows affection to familiar people
  • Says several single words
  • Says and shakes their head, “no”
  • Points to show someone what they need
  • Scribbles on their own
  • Can follow 1-step verbal commands
  • Walks alone
  • May walk up steps and run
  • Pulls toys while walking
  • Eats with a spoon

2 Years

  • Plays simple pretend, such as feeding dolls
  • Knows names of familiar people and body parts
  • Repeats words heard in conversation
  • Can say sentences with 2-4 words
  • Kicks a ball
  • Jumps up and/or forward
  • Drinks from an open cup

3 Years

  • Takes turns in games
  • Understands the idea of “mine”
  • Dresses themselves
  • Follows instructions
  • Says first name, age, and sex
  • Carries on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences
  • Copies a circle with a pencil
  • Turns pages of books one at a time
  • Screws or unscrews lids to jars
  • Climbs well
  • Runs easily
  • Pedals a tricycle
  • Walks up and down stairs

4 Years

  • Is creative with make-believe
  • Would rather play with other children than with themselves
  • Cooperates with other children
  • Can sing simple songs by memory
  • Can say first and last name
  • Can name 4 colors
  • Uses scissors
  • Understands counting
  • Can hop or stand on one foot
  • Can catch a ball

5 Years

  • Likes to sing, dance, and act
  • Is aware of gender
  • Is sometimes demanding and sometimes cooperative
  • Speaks clearly
  • Can tell a simple story using full sentences
  • Uses future tense
  • Counts 10 or more things
  • Can print some letters and numbers
  • Copies geometric shapes
  • Can do a somersault
  • Can use the toilet on their own
  • Can skip

Developmental Milestones Matter

Early detection and intervention of developmental issues are key to your child’s future success. Small milestones can offer clues to your child’s development. These are some of the milestones to look for while watching your child grow.

If you notice any developmental delays, ask you child’s pediatrician for a referral to Heartspring or contact out Outpatient Services team at 316-634-8701 to schedule a free developmental questionnaire.

Download Our Milestones Guide

  • 2 Months

    • Begins to smile at people
    • Tries to look at their parent(s)
    • Turns head towards sounds
    • Begins to follow objects with their eyes and can recognize people at a distance
    • Can hold head up and begins to push up while lying on tummy
    • Makes smoother movements with arms and legs

  • 4 Months

    • Smiles spontaneously
    • Starts copying movements and facial expressions
    • Begins to babble
    • Reaches for toys with one hand
    • Uses hands and eyes together
    • Watches faces closely
    • Holds head steady, unsupported
    • Pushes down on legs when feet are on a hard surface
    • May be able to roll over from tummy to back

  • 6 Months

    • Knows familiar faces
    • Likes to look at themselves in the mirror
    • Responds to sounds by making noises
    • Strings vowels together while babbling
    • Begins to say constant sounds
    • Brings things to their mouth
    • Shows curiosity about things and tries to get things that are out of reach
    • Begins to pass things from one hand to another
    • Rolls over both directions
    • Begins to sit without support
    • When standing, supports weight with their legs and might bounce

  • 1 Year

    • Cries when mom or dad leaves
    • Repeats sounds or actions to get attention
    • Responds to simple spoken requests
    • Uses simple, "no-no"
    • Tries to say words you say
    • Explores things in different ways like shaking, banging, and throwing
    • Looks at the right picture or object when it’s named
    • Copies gestures
    • Bangs 2 things together
    • Walks holding onto furniture
    • May take a few steps without holding on
    • May stand alone

  • 18 Months

    • Likes to hand things to others as play
    • Shows affection to familiar people
    • Says several single words
    • Says and shakes their head, “no”
    • Points to show someone what they need
    • Scribbles on their own
    • Can follow 1-step verbal commands
    • Walks alone
    • May walk up steps and run
    • Pulls toys while walking
    • Eats with a spoon

  • 2 Years

    • Plays simple pretend, such as feeding dolls
    • Knows names of familiar people and body parts
    • Repeats words heard in conversation
    • Can say sentences with 2-4 words
    • Kicks a ball
    • Jumps up and/or forward
    • Drinks from an open cup

  • 3 Years

    • Takes turns in games
    • Understands the idea of “mine”
    • Dresses themselves
    • Follows instructions
    • Says first name, age, and sex
    • Carries on a conversation using 2 to 3 sentences
    • Copies a circle with a pencil
    • Turns pages of books one at a time
    • Screws or unscrews lids to jars
    • Climbs well
    • Runs easily
    • Pedals a tricycle
    • Walks up and down stairs

  • 4 Years

    • Is creative with make-believe
    • Would rather play with other children than with themselves
    • Cooperates with other children
    • Can sing simple songs by memory
    • Can say first and last name
    • Can name 4 colors
    • Uses scissors
    • Understands counting
    • Can hop or stand on one foot
    • Can catch a ball

  • 5 Years

    • Likes to sing, dance, and act
    • Is aware of gender
    • Is sometimes demanding and sometimes cooperative
    • Speaks clearly
    • Can tell a simple story using full sentences
    • Uses future tense
    • Counts 10 or more things
    • Can print some letters and numbers
    • Copies geometric shapes
    • Can do a somersault
    • Can use the toilet on their own
    • Can skip