Milestones and Abilities
What are Milestones?
Milestones are behavioral or physical checkpoints in children’s development as they grow. All of our developmental milestones are validated by American Academy of Pediatrics findings. These are the core skills all children should be reaching.
What are Abilities?
Abilities are additional skills your child should be developing. These are important skills that look at your child’s overall behavior to gauge their progress.
What to Remember:
Be sure to adjust for prematurity. If your child is missing any milestones, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider.
Missing one or two abilities should not cause alarm, as every child develops differently. However, if they are missing multiple abilities, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider.
Use our checklists to track your baby’s development and discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider.
Motor
Key Motor Milestones:
- While lying on tummy, pushes up on arms
- While lying on tummy, lifts and holds head up
- Able to move fists from closed to open
- Able to bring hands to mouth
- Moves legs and arms off of surface when excited
Act early by talking to your healthcare provider if your child:
- Difficulty lifting head
- Stiff legs with little or no movement
- Keeps hands fisted and lacks arm movement
- Pushes back with head while lying on back
Motor Milestones to Look For at 0-3 Months
The 0-3 months motor milestones video shows parents and caregivers examples of motor milestones baby should reach by 3 months old.
Sensory
Key Sensory Milestones:
- While lying on back, attempts to reach for a toy held above their chest
- While lying on back, visually tracks a moving toy from side to side
- While lying on back, keeps head centered to watch faces or toys
- Able to calm with rocking, touching, and gentle sounds
- Enjoys a variety of movements
Act early by talking to your healthcare provider if your child:
- Does not follow an object with their eyes
- Frequently resists being held
- Fists remain closed most of the time
- Does not enjoy different types of movement
Sensory Milestones to Look For at 0-3 Months
The 0-3 months sensory milestones video shows parents and caregivers examples of sensory milestones baby should reach by 3 months old.
Communication
Key Communication Milestones:
- Quiets or smiles in response to sound or voice
- Turns head towards sound or voice
- Shows interest in faces
- Makes eye contact
- Cries differently for different needs (e.g. hungry vs. tired)
- Coos and smiles
Act early by talking to your healthcare provider if your child:
- Does not cry when hungry or uncomfortable
- Does not notice or respond to loud sounds
- Does not make eye contact or smile at caregiver
Communication Milestones to Look For at 0-3 Months
The 0-3 months sensory milestones video shows parents and caregivers examples of sensory milestones baby should reach by 3 months old.
Feeding
Key Feeding Milestones:
- Latches onto nipple or bottle
- Tongue moves forward and back to suck
- Drinks 2 oz. to 6 oz. of liquid per feeding, 6 times per day
- Sucks and swallows well during feeding
At this stage, baby has very little neck and head control. They need to be supported while being fed milk or formula and they cannot digest any other types of food.
Act early by talking to your healthcare provider if your child:
- Unable to latch on while nursing or bottle feeding
- Loses a lot of breast milk or formula out of side of mouth while feeding
Feeding Milestones to Look For at 0-3 Months
The 0-3 months feeding milestones video shows parents and caregivers examples of feeding milestones baby should reach by 3 months old.
Play and Social Skills
Key Abilities:
- Enjoys playful face-to-face interaction with people
- Coos in response to playful interaction
- Notices and responds to sounds
Coordination
Key Abilities:
- Moves legs and arms off of surface when excited
- Uses vision to follow black and white or brightly colored objects
- Is able to open and shut hands
- Is able to bring hands to mouth
- Is able to be on tummy for short bursts of time
Daily Activities
Key Abilities:
- Is able to latch on while nursing or bottle feeding
- Is able to calm during car rides when not tired or hungry
- Enjoys bath time
- Is usually able to tolerate diaper changing without crying
Self-Expression
Key Abilities:
- Is able to be comforted by cuddling or a parent’s touch
- Is not upset with everyday sounds
- Is usually happy when not hungry or tired
- Enjoys varied playful movement experiences, e.g. bouncing on knees
- Is able to calm with experiences, such as rocking, touching, and calm sounds
- Does not demonstrate frequent or long bouts of being upset