While our Interactive Child Development Milestone Tracker helps you comprehensively monitor your child’s progress in their early years, this guide helps parents differentiate between natural developmental variation and areas where early intervention may be required. If you observe any of the following signs (only top 3 included per age range), we recommend consulting a qualified medical professional.
By 3 Months
- Does not quiet when picked up or fails to establish eye contact with caregivers.
- There is no response to sounds.
- Inability to keep head steady when held at the shoulder.
By 6 Months
- Inability to hold the head steady while in a supported sitting position.
- Does not laugh or vocalize in response to speech.
- Does not reach for or grasp objects purposefully.
By 12 Months
- Cannot get into a sitting position without assistance or cannot stand momentarily.
- Does not respond to simple verbal requests like “no-no” or has not begun to babble with adult-like inflection.
- Fails to use a pincer grasp (thumb and finger) to pick up small objects.
By 18 Months
- The child is not yet walking without support.
- Has an expressive vocabulary of fewer than 8-10 meaningful words.
- Does not identify themselves in a mirror or show anxiety when separated from a primary caregiver.
By 24 Months
- Speech is significantly less than 65% intelligible or vocab is fewer than 15–20 words.
- Cannot identify at least three body parts or follow simple commands.
- Cannot jump in place with both feet or run fairly well.
By 36 Months
- Not using short three-word sentences or giving their full name on request.
- Inability to walk down stairs alternating feet or hold a pencil with an adult-like grasp.
- Does not participate in interactive games or show progress in daytime toilet control.
Disclaimer: This summary is not a diagnostic instrument. If concerns arise, always consult a qualified medical professional.