Every child is unique. However, all children follow basic patterns of growth and development, from infancy and early childhood through middle childhood and adolescence. Most parents want to know if their baby or toddler is developing ?normally?. The following is a basic guide as to what you might expect for the first four years of life. Each heading gives an idea about what a baby or child will usually do at that age. There will be individual differences, and the differences in the way you care for your child can sometimes have an effect on what your child does. A delay in these areas does not always indicate a medical problem.
To support healthy growth and development throughout childhood and in later years, propernutrition, adequate rest and physical activity are essential.
However, among the most important things parents and other caring adults can do as children grow and develop is to provide them with plenty of attention and unconditional support at every stage of their development.
0 - 3 months
Relationships and feelings (often called social and emotional development):
?can feel, but not yet able to think ? will pick up your feelings
?watches parent?s face when being talked to by 4-8 weeks
?smiles by 5-7 weeks
?starts to laugh aloud by 3 months.
Out of step?
No social smile by 8 weeks.
Does not usually calm down, at least for a little while, when picked up.
Doing, seeing and hearing (often called motor skills, vision and hearing):
when cheek is touched, turns to that side to suck from birth
blinks at sudden noises such as hand claps or door slamming from birth
may open eyes to normal speech sounds just as she is dozing off from birth
startled by loud sounds by 1 month
begins to notice sudden long sounds when they start and stop (eg vacuum cleaner) by 1 month
lifts head when lying on tummy by 4-8 weeks (do not leave baby alone on tummy)
kicks both legs strongly by 2 months
arms, fingers and legs automatically move, bend, straighten and bend again
follows a moving light with eyes by 1 month
both eyes move together most of the time by 6 weeks
watches a moving face by 2-3 months
sucks well at the breast or from a bottle
Out of step?
Baby is unusually stiff.
An arm and leg on one side is obviously different in muscle tone or strength to the other side.
Fingers are always held in a tight fist.
Baby is not watching faces by 3 months.
Baby is not startled by sudden noise.
Seems unusually ?good? and not demanding compared to other babies.
Learning to talk (often called speech and language development):
watches the face. makes other sounds besides crying by 2 months
starts to make sounds and ?talk back? by 7-8 weeks
appears to listen to parent?s voice and
Out of step?
Not watching the person?s face when being spoken to by 3 months.
This is a time of rapid change. Your baby is on the move full of energy and curiosity discovering the world. Parenting becomes demanding because you have to think about safety and setting limits as well as caring for your toddler. In this year your toddler is learning to be a separate person from you. The one-year-old sees everything and everyone being there for them alone. This self-centredness will continue through this year. This is a year of firsts ? first steps, first words, moving freely, running, climbing and exploring actively.
By 18 months:
explores the environment around her, touching, pulling whatever she can see and reach
shows different feelings and easily moves from happy to sad to angry
is likely to be afraid of strangers
shows a strong attachment to parents or main carer
shows distress when left by a parent ? is often clingy when the parent returns.
Out of step?
Does not show a preference for people she knows well.
Does not seem to like cuddles.
By 2 years:
plays near other children, but not yet with other children (unless the other children are older and able to adapt their play to fit the 2-year-old)
unable to share or take turns
gets upset by separating.
Out of step?
Does not show awareness of different people.
Doesn?t seem interested in surroundings or in people.
Doing
By 12 months can usually:
pull self up on a lounge chair
side step around the chair whilst holding on
push a small trolley along in a straight line ? but can?t turn corners.
By 18 months can usually:
walk, at first with feet wide apart, but as her balance improves so her feet get closer and straighter
fall over if she tries to run
climb onto low furniture
push a wheeled toy such as a trolley
place one object such as a block deliberately onto another
start to scribble with a pencil
pick up small objects.
Out of step?
Not yet walking.
Cannot hold a spoon and get food to her mouth.
Cannot pick up small objects.
By 2 years a toddler can usually:
start to explore more widely, opening doors and drawers and pushing buttons
run fast without falling over when turning corners or stopping
squat steadily to pick up objects from the floor
bring a small chair to the table and sit on the chair at the table
walk backwards pulling a toy or trolley
get up without using her hands.
Out of step?
Not walking steadily by 2 years, especially if there is a limp.
Learning to talk
By 18 months a toddler can usually:
babble loudly to self and others, as though having a conversation
listen to things said and understand some things such as "No" or "stop"
follow a few simple instructions such as "Get your shoes"
identify a few familiar objects when they are named such as "Show me the ball" or "Where is the spoon?"
knows and uses 6 or more words (the words may be quite unclear, but the parent or carer can tell what is meant by the sound).
Out of step?
Not babbling much.
Not starting to use some meaningful words.
Not listening when others speak to him.
By 2 years a toddler can usually:
use 20 to 50 recognizable words
listen to things that are said to him
start to put 2 words together such as "Daddy?s car"
join in with familiar songs e.g. nursery rhymes
babble while playing, with a few recognizable words in the babble
tells you most of what he wants with words, e.g. "outside", "milk", "want more" or "go away".
Out of step?
Is still mostly silent while playing.
Does not respond when others talk to him.
Is not able to point to objects when they are named.
Uses signs, grunts or gestures but not words when he wants something.
This is a time of challenge ? when toddlers really want to find out about themselves and what they want and don?t want. Their determination, tantrums and struggle for independence are all part of normal development. They have new skills and behaviors to learn and remember, feelings to grapple with, and these can be overwhelming. They can wait a little while ? but not for long. They can hold strong feelings inside a little, but these can burst out in a rush. Losing control of such feelings can be frightening ? they need lots of physical contact and reassurance that they are lovable.
Relationships and feelings
By 21/2 years can usually:
try hard to be independent, say "No" a lot, or "Me do" (but still very dependent on parents)
not be able to control his feelings ? tantrums are common especially when tired or frustrated
not be able share with others or take turns
start to play imaginative games, such as putting a doll to bed, driving a car around on the floor or ?feeding? toys.
Out of step?
Is having tantrums very often.
Does not play with adults or older children.
By 3 years, children can usually:
try to copy adults, and may be able to be helpful eg help put toys away
play games using lots of imagination and start to join in with other children?s play.
Out of step?
Not playing imaginative games or using toys the way they are ?meant? to be used e.g. pushing a car along a road rather than just playing with the wheels.
Mostly ?in his own world? rather than interacting with others.
Doing
By 21/2 years can usually:
climb on and off furniture
run smoothly and climb on play equipment
kick a large ball gently but not necessarily where she wants it to go
throw a ball more or less where she wants it to go
climb up stairs
feed herself with a spoon and drink from an open cup
help to dress and undress
Out of step?
Cannot run smoothly, especially if there is a limp.
Cannot safely climb stairs or onto low furniture.
Is far more active or less active than other children of the same age.
Is not yet managing to feed herself most of the time.
By 3 years can usually:
push or pull large toys around to where she wants them
walk alone up and down stairs
push the pedals on a pedal toy
kick a ball forcefully
throw a ball and catch one with outstretched arms
undress and put on some simple clothes
eat with spoon and fork
manage toilet training (some children will not manage this until they are nearly 4).
Out of step?
Not able to run as smoothly as other children of the same age.
Not climbing skilfully.
Learning to talk
By 21/2 years can usually:
understand a lot more than he can talk about
use well over 100 recognisable words, but many of the words will be unclear, as he cannot say all of the sounds in the words
put the words into short sentences eg "Look Mummy dog"
talk during play
let people know what he wants using words rather than signs
This site does not provide medical or any other health care advice, diagnosis or treatment. The site and its services, including the information above, are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment. Do not delay seeking or disregard medical advice based on information on this site.
