The CDC milestone checklist, 2 months to 5 years

😊 Social/Emotional

• Calms down when spoken to or picked up
• Looks at your face
• Seems happy to see you when you walk up to them
• Smiles when you talk to or smile at them

🗣️ Language/Communication

• Makes sounds other than crying
• Reacts to loud sounds

🧠 Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Watches you as you move
• Looks at a toy for several seconds

🤸 Movement/Physical Development

• Holds head up when on tummy
• Moves both arms and both legs
• Opens hands briefly

😊 Social/Emotional

• Smiles on their own to get your attention
• Chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make them laugh
• Looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention

🗣️ Language/Communication

• Makes sounds like “oooo”, “aahh” (cooing)
• Makes sounds back when you talk to them
• Turns head towards the sound of your voice

🧠 Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• If hungry, opens mouth when they see breast or bottle
• Looks at their hands with interest

🤸 Movement/Physical Development

• Holds head steady without support when you are holding them
• Holds a toy when you put it in their hand
• Uses their arm to swing at toys
• Brings hands to mouth
• Pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy

😊 Social/Emotional

• Knows familiar people
• Likes to look at themselves in a mirror
• Laughs

🗣️ Language/Communication

• Takes turns making sounds with you
• Blows “raspberries” (sticks tongue out and blows)
• Makes squealing noises

🧠 Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Puts things in their mouth to explore them
• Reaches to grab a toy they want
• Closes lips to show they don’t want more food

🤸 Movement/Physical Development

• Rolls from tummy to back
• Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
• Leans on hands to support themselves when sitting

😊 Social/Emotional

• Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers
• Shows several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry, and surprised
• Looks when you call their name
• Reacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you, or cries)
• Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo

🗣️ Language/Communication

• Makes different sounds like “mamamama” and “babababa”
• Lifts arms up to be picked up

🧠 Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Looks for objects when dropped out of sight (like their spoon or toy)
• Bangs two things together

🤸 Movement/Physical Development

• Gets to a sitting position by themselves
• Moves things from one hand to their other hand
• Uses fingers to “rake” food towards themselves
• Sits without support

😊 Social/Emotional

• Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake

🗣️ Language/Communication

• Waves “bye-bye”
• Calls a parent “mama” or “dada” or another special name
• Understands “no” (pauses briefly or stops when you say it)

🧠 Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Puts something in a container, like a block in a cup
• Looks for things they see you hide, like a toy under a blanket

🤸 Movement/Physical Development

• Pulls up to stand
• Walks, holding on to furniture
• Drinks from a cup without a lid, as you hold it
• Picks things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small bits of food

😊 Social/Emotional

• Copies other children while playing, like taking toys out of a container when another child does
• Shows you an object they like
• Claps when excited
• Hugs stuffed doll or other toy
• Shows you affection (hugs, cuddles, or kisses you)

🗣️ Language/Communication

• Tries to say one or two words besides “mama” or “dada,” like “ba” for ball or “da” for dog
• Looks at a familiar object when you name it
• Follows directions given with both a gesture and words. For example, they give you a toy when you hold out your hand and say, “Give me the toy.”
• Points to ask for something or to get help

🧠 Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Tries to use things the right way, like a phone, cup, or book
• Stacks at least two small objects, like blocks

🤸 Movement/Physical Development

• Takes a few steps on their own
• Uses fingers to feed themselves some food

😊 Social/Emotional

• Moves away from you, but looks to make sure you are close by
• Points to show you something interesting
• Puts hands out for you to wash them
• Looks at a few pages in a book with you
• Helps you dress them by pushing arm through sleeve or lifting up foot

🗣️ Language/Communication

• Tries to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada”
• Follows one-step directions without any gestures, like giving you the toy when you say, “Give it to me.”

🧠 Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Copies you doing chores, like sweeping with a broom
• Plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car

🤸 Movement/Physical Development

• Walks without holding on to anyone or anything
• Scribbles
• Drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes
• Feeds themselves with their fingers
• Tries to use a spoon
• Climbs on and off a couch or chair without help

😊 Social/Emotional

• Notices when others are hurt or upset, like pausing or looking sad when someone is crying
• Looks at your face to see how to react in a new situation

🗣️ Language/Communication

• Points to things in a book when you ask, like “Where is the bear?”
• Says at least two words together, like “More milk.”
• Points to at least two body parts when you ask them to show you
• Uses more gestures than just waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes

🧠 Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Holds something in one hand while using the other hand; for example, holding a container and taking the lid off
• Tries to use switches, knobs, or buttons on a toy
• Plays with more than one toy at the same time, like putting toy food on a toy plate

🤸 Movement/Physical Development

• Kicks a ball
• Runs
• Walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help
• Eats with a spoon

😊 Social/Emotional

• Plays next to other children and sometimes plays with them
• Shows you what they can do by saying, “Look at me!”
• Follows simple routines when told, like helping to pick up toys when you say, “It’s clean-up time.”

🗣️ Language/Communication

• Says about 50 words
• Says two or more words together, with one action word, like “Doggie run”
• Names things in a book when you point and ask, “What is this?”
• Says words like “I,” “me,” or “we”

🧠 Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Uses things to pretend, like feeding a block to a doll as if it were food
• Shows simple problem-solving skills, like standing on a small stool to reach something
• Follows two-step instructions like “Put the toy down and close the door.”
• Shows they know at least one color, like pointing to a red crayon when you ask, “Which one is red?”

🤸 Movement/Physical Development

• Uses hands to twist things, like turning doorknobs or unscrewing lids
• Takes some clothes off by themselves, like loose pants or an open jacket
• Jumps off the ground with both feet
• Turns book pages, one at a time, when you read to them

😊 Social/Emotional

• Calms down within 10 minutes after you leave them, like at a childcare drop off
• Notices other children and joins them to play

🗣️ Language/Communication

• Talks with you in conversation using at least two back-and-forth exchanges
• Asks “who,” “what,” “where,” or “why” questions, like “Where is mommy/daddy?”
• Says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like “running,” “eating,” or “playing”
• Says first name, when asked
• Talks well enough for others to understand, most of the time

🧠 Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Draws a circle, when you show them how
• Avoids touching hot objects, like a stove, when you warn them

🤸 Movement/Physical Development

• Strings items together, like large beads or macaroni
• Puts on some clothes by themselves, like loose pants or a jacket
• Uses a fork

😊 Social/Emotional

• Pretends to be something else during play (teacher, superhero, dog)
• Asks to go play with children if none are around, like “Can I play with Alex?”
• Comforts others who are hurt or sad, like hugging a crying friend
• Avoids danger, like not jumping from tall heights at the playground
• Likes to be a “helper”
• Changes behavior based on where they are (place of worship, library, playground)

🗣️ Language/Communication

• 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 their day, like “I played soccer.”
• Answers simple questions like “What is a coat for?” or “What is a crayon for?”

🧠 Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Names a few colors of items
• Tells what comes next in a well-known story
• Draws a person with three or more body parts

🤸 Movement/Physical Development

• Catches a large ball most of the time
• Serves themselves food or pours water, with adult supervision
• Unbuttons some buttons
• Holds crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not a fist)

😊 Social/Emotional

• Follows rules or takes turns when playing games with other children
• Sings, dances, or acts for you
• Does simple chores at home, like matching socks or clearing the table after eating

🗣️ Language/Communication

• Tells a story they heard or made up with at least two events. For example, a cat was stuck in a tree and a firefighter saved it
• Answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it to them
• Keeps a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchanges
• Uses or recognizes simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall)

🧠 Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Counts to 10
• Names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to them
• Uses words about time, like “yesterday,” “tomorrow,” “morning,” or “night”
• Pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities. For example, during story time or making arts and crafts (screen time does not count)
• Writes some letters in their name
• Names some letters when you point to them

🤸 Movement/Physical Development

• Buttons some buttons
• Hops on one foot