Baby & Child Milestone Tracker

Where these milestones come from

This tracker follows the checklists published by the CDC's Learn the Signs. Act Early. program, significantly revised in 2022 after a review of the latest research and expert consensus. That revision changed how milestones are worded: each one now describes what about 75% of children — roughly 3 in 4 — typically do by a given age, rather than an average or a strict deadline. It also added two new checkpoints (15 and 30 months) to catch changes earlier, and removed a few milestones, like crawling, that turned out to vary too much to be useful as a checkpoint (many healthy babies skip crawling entirely and move straight to scooting, rolling, or pulling to stand).

The four areas of development

Every checklist below is organized into the same four areas clinicians use to track development as a whole, not just one skill in isolation:

• Social/Emotional — how your child relates to others, expresses feelings, and responds to people around them
• Language/Communication — understanding others and expressing themselves, from early cooing through full sentences
• Cognitive — thinking, learning, and problem-solving, like object permanence, cause-and-effect, and later counting or storytelling
• Movement/Physical — both large movements (rolling, walking, running) and small ones (a pincer grip, holding a crayon)

A child can be ahead in one area and right on track — or a little behind — in another. That unevenness is normal and expected, not a red flag on its own.

Why milestone ranges are wide

Development varies between children, and individual skills can emerge at different times within the typical range. A difference in exactly when one skill appears doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong — looking at your child's overall progress over time, and raising any concerns with a healthcare professional, matters more than any single milestone on its own.

Developmental screening: what it is and when it happens

Separate from milestone checklists, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends formal developmental screening — a more structured, validated questionnaire — at the 9, 18, and 30-month checkups, with screening specifically for autism at 18 and 24 months. These are recommended checkpoints for every child, not just children with a concern, and screening can also happen at any other age if you or your doctor notice something worth a closer look.

Getting extra support early

If your child isn't meeting several milestones, or has lost a skill they once had, early intervention services can help — and evidence shows starting early often means a child needs less support later on. Most countries offer publicly funded early intervention or child health services, and you typically don't need a doctor's referral to request a free evaluation. In the US, call your state's early intervention program directly (find the number at cdc.gov/FindEI) if your child is under 3, or contact your local public school's early childhood special education coordinator if they're 3 or older. Elsewhere, your pediatrician or a local child health service is usually the fastest way to find out what's available where you live.

When to talk to your doctor

Mention it at your next check-up if your child hasn't reached several milestones from an earlier age bracket. If your child loses a skill they previously had, that's different — contact your pediatrician or family doctor promptly rather than waiting for your next scheduled visit. Most of the time a closer look leads to reassurance, but your doctor can properly evaluate anything genuinely worth checking — this tool can't replace that.

Tracking growth alongside development? Try the growth percentile calculator, check wake windows by age, or browse feeding tips for the stage your child is at now.

Frequently Asked Questions