Developmental Milestones from Infancy to Adolescence

INFANT

Birth - 12 months

Growth (Infant)

Weight: +5-7 oz/week, doubles by 6 months, triples by 12 months; Height: +1 inch/month for first 6 months; Grows in spurts

Reflexes (Infant)

Primitive: Grasp, Rooting, Sucking, Tonic Neck, Moro, Babinski, Stepping; Disappear by 4-6 months (except Babinski)

Motor Milestones (Infant)

2-3 mo: Grasps objects; 4 mo: Rolls front to back; 6 mo: Sits unsupported, begins crawling; 7 mo: Transfers objects hand-to-hand; 9 mo: Pulls to stand, plays peek-a-boo; 10 mo: Waves bye-bye, pincer grasp; 11 mo: Walks with help; 12 mo: Walks alone, says 1-2 words

Social & Cognitive (Infant)

Stranger anxiety (~6 mo); Separation anxiety (~8 mo); Play: Solitary, sensorimotor

Nutrition (Infant)

Exclusive breastmilk/formula for 6 months; Introduce solids at 4-6 months: rice cereal first, then fruits/vegetables; Avoid honey & cow's milk until 1 year

Sleep (Infant)

9-11 hrs/night by 3-4 months, naps vary; 'Back to Sleep' campaign to reduce SIDS

Safety (Infant)

Rear-facing car seat until 2 years or max height/weight; No bottle propping, monitor temperature

TODDLER

1-3 years

Growth (Toddler)

Slower growth: +4-6 lb/year, +3 in/year; Quadruples birth weight by 2.5 years; Anterior fontanel closes by 18 mo

Motor Milestones (Toddler)

15 mo: Uses spoon/cup, 3-block tower; 18 mo: Throws ball; 24 mo: Walks up/down stairs, 7-block tower

Language (Toddler)

1 yr: One-word sentences; 2 yr: Multi-word sentences

Social (Toddler)

Independence, temper tantrums, negativism; Parallel play

Toilet Training (Toddler)

Begin when child shows readiness

Nutrition (Toddler)

Physiologic anorexia common; Limit juice, monitor for food jags

Safety (Toddler)

Childproofing home, supervision, rear-facing car seat

PRESCHOOL

3-5 years

Motor Milestones (Preschool)

3 yr: Tricycle, copies circle, dresses with help; 4 yr: Skips, hops, uses scissors, draws square; 5 yr: Draws person, balances 10 sec, prints letters

Cognitive & Language (Preschool)

Magical thinking, improved causality; Rapid language development: full sentences, questioning

Play (Preschool)

Associative play, imaginative play, role-playing

Health (Preschool)

20 deciduous teeth by age 2; First dentist visit by 12 mo

Sleep (Preschool)

12 hrs/night, limit screen time

Safety (Preschool)

Helmet use, street safety, limit exposure to dangers

SCHOOL-AGE

6-12 years

Growth (School-Age)

+2.5 in/year, +5-7 lb/year; Permanent teeth begin at 6 years; Peer influence increases

Milestones (School-Age)

Bike riding, hobbies, organized sports; Conscience development, gender consistency

Health Promotion (School-Age)

Address obesity risks, encourage activity; Promote sleep, hygiene, balanced diet; Injury prevention: car safety, sports gear

Stressors (School-Age)

Bullying, media, family/school pressures

ADOLESCENT

13-18 years

Physical Changes (Adolescent)

Final 20-25% of height gained; Puberty: breast buds (girls), testicular enlargement (boys); Peak height: girls ~11-12, boys ~13-14

Psychosocial (Adolescent)

Identity formation, peer importance, privacy needs; Risk-taking behaviors; Mood swings, self-esteem issues

Milestones (Adolescent)

Early: sexual curiosity, peer focus; Mid-late: independence, abstract thought

Health Promotion (Adolescent)

Immunizations, STD education, healthy nutrition; Mental health screening; Substance abuse prevention; Encourage physical activity & sleep

Eating Disorders (Adolescent)

Watch for signs of anorexia, bulimia; Promote body positivity

Safety (Adolescent)

Motor vehicle safety; Address violence, suicide risk, online safety