Overview
The first two years of a child’s life are filled with rapid growth and development.
Understanding milestones, particularly in the first 2 years, can help parents/carers track their progress and ensure they are meeting their milestones
In this blog, we explore development milestones and also provide tips on how you can support your child at every stage of their journey.
What Exactly are Developmental Milestones?
Developmental Milestones track the progress of how your child is developing. as your child reaches a certain age. These milestones cover various areas such as physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development.
They help parents/carers and healthcare providers track a child’s growth and development, by providing a general guideline for the “typical progression” of a child’s development. In this case, what is considered “typical” is based on observations of what most children can do by a certain age.
However, it’s important to remember that every child is unique, and there is a wide range of what is typical when it comes to development. Some may reach certain milestones earlier or later than others - and that is OK.
Understanding Child Development
Child development relies on many different factors and involves physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Understanding child development is helpful for parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers to provide the best possible support and care for children. By recognising the various stages and milestones, you can better support your child’s development.
What are the Developmental Milestones to Expect in the First 2 Years?
Within the first 2 years of your baby’s life, you can expect to see changes happening in three different areas as babies reach various developmental milestones: physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development.
- Physical Development: Includes gross motor skills such as rolling, sitting, crawling, walking, running and fine motor skills like pinching, holding, gripping and grasping objects.
- Cognitive Development: Involves learning, problem-solving, and understanding concepts.
- Social and Emotional Development: Includes interacting with others, expressing emotions, and developing self-awareness
Milestones for Babies (3-12 Weeks)
Social/Emotional Milestones:
- 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 Milestones:
- Makes sounds other than crying
- Reacts to loud sounds
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving):
- Watches you as you move
- Looks at a toy for several seconds
Movement/Physical Development Milestones:
- Holds head up when on tummy
- Moves both arms and both legs
- Opens hands briefly
Social/Emotional Milestones:
- Smiles on their own to get your attention
- Giggles (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
- Makes sounds like “oooo”, “aahh” (cooing)
Language/Communication Milestones:
- Makes sounds back when you talk to them
- Turns head towards the sound of your voice
- Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving):
- If hungry, opens mouth when they see breast or bottle
- Looks at their hands with interest
Movement/Physical Development Milestones:
- 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 Milestones:
- Knows familiar people
- Likes to look at themself in a mirror
- Laughs
Language/Communication Milestones:
- Takes turns making sounds with you
- Blows “raspberries” (sticks tongue out and blows)
- Makes squealing noises
Cognitive Milestones (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 Milestones:
- Rolls from tummy to back
- Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
- Leans on hands to support themself when sitting
Social/Emotional Milestones:
- Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake
Language/Communication Milestones:
- Waves “bye-bye”
- Calls a parent “mama” or “dada” or another special name
- Understands “no” (pauses briefly or stops when you say it)
- Cognitive Milestones (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 Milestones:
- Pulls up to stand
- Walks, holding onto 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
- Child development milestones at 2 years
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 Milestones (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 Milestones
- Kicks a ball
- Runs Walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help
- Eats with a spoon
The Guide for Baby Map
The Guide for Baby Map video resource provides some information about different developmental age which might be helpful to consider when looking at your child’s development.
Physical Development
Physical development relates to the growth of your child’s body and includes the development of gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and overall physical health. Monitoring these milestones helps to supportyour child is developing the strength, coordination, and abilities needed for everyday activities.
Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skills involve the large muscle groups that help children to move, walk, run, and do any physical activities. These skills are important for your child’s physical development and independence. Here are some key milestones:
- Crawling: Most babies start crawling between 6-10 months old. Crawlinghelps your child to develop upper body strength, coordination, and balance. When infants start crawling, they begin to explore their environmentmore actively
- Walking: Children typically start walking independently between 12-18 months old. Walking is an important milestone in physical development, as it helps children to explore their environment and engage in physical activities. Learning to walk opens up a whole new world to explore and interact for your child
- Climbing: Children usually start climbing between 12-18 months old. Climbing is an important skill that helps children develop their upper body strength, coordination, and problem-solving skills. As they learn to climb, they gain confidence and improve their physical abilities.
Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills involve the small muscle groups that help children to do precise movements, such as grasping, manipulating objects, and using utensils. These skills are important for your child’s independence and ability to perform everyday tasks. Here are some key milestones:
- Grasping: Children typically develop their grasping skills between 4-6 months old. Grasping is an importantskill that helps children to hold and manipulate objects. This milestone is important for developing hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
- Using Utensils: Children usually start using utensils, such as spoons and forks, between 12-18 months old. Using utensils is an important skill that helps children develop their fine motor skills and independence. As they learn to feed themselves, they gain confidence and improve their coordination.
Cognitive Development
Cognitive development refers to the growthof your child’s brain and mental abilities. It includes the development of problem-solving skills, memory, attention, and language. These skills are important for your child’s ability to learn, think critically, and communicate well. Here are some key milestones:
- Problem-Solving Skills: Children typically develop their problem-solving skills between 6-12 months old. Problem-solving skills enable children to think critically and make decisions. Encouraging your child to explore and experiment helps support these skills.
- Memory: Memory skills help children to learn to recognise objects, people, and events. Engaging in activities that stimulate memory, such as playing memory games, can support this development.
- Language: Language skills help children to communicate with others. Reading books, talking to your child, and encouraging them to talk as well can support their language development.
By understanding these parts of child development, you can better support your child’s growth Remember, every child develops at their own pace, so it’s important to provide a nurturing and supportive environment to help them thrive.
How Do I Support My Baby’s Cognitive Development in the First 2 years?
The first thing you can consider doing is monitoring and tracking your childdevelopmental milestones. See your child and family health nurse or GP for advice on milestones for your child
Here are some helpful tips on tracking your child’s development
- Pay close attention to your baby’s behaviours and notice what they can do, and make note of any new skills or changes.
- You can use the Guide for Baby Map to become aware of typical milestones for each developmental stage.
- Make an appointment with your child and family health nurse to monitor their growth and development.
In addition to tracking, there are also a number of ways you can use to support your child development during the first two years, too. Some ways to supporttheir development can include:
- Create a Stimulating Environment: Provide a variety of toys and activities that encourage exploration and learning. This helps develop their cognitive and motor skills.
- Interactive Play: Spend time playing with your child to support their social and cognitive development. Playing together helps them understand social cues and develop problem-solving skills.
- Encourage Movement: Allow your child to move freely. Activities like crawling, walking, and playing with different textures and shapes help improve their motor skills.
- Read and Talk to Your Baby: Reading and talking to your child regularly helps develop their language and cognitive skills. Describe the world around them, read books, and engage in conversations.
- Provide Emotional Support: Respond to your child’s needs with empathy and understanding. A secure emotional environment supports overall development.
- Consistent Routines: Establish daily routines that include time for play, rest, and feeding. Consistency helps your child feel secure and understand what to expect.
Help Yourself, Help Your Baby
Remember, every child is unique, and baby's development occurs at their own pace.
Whether you are unsure about your child’s progress or what fits your situation, always remember that seeking help is an option at every stage of this important period of your child’s development. Understanding how you can track and nurture your child’s developmental milestones doesn’t have to be done alone. By seeking help, you provide your child with the best chance to reach their full potential while in a safe and supported environment.
For more information and support, schedule a developmental check-up with your child and family health nurse, or submit a referral to Karitane. We are here to help your baby thrive.
