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Every child is unique. Yet, there are certain similarities that children share with each other. With the help of experts in the field, we have put together different Stages of Development milestones.

Birth to Six Months

  • Sleeps an average of 15 hours per day
  • Able to track objects by sight and sound
  • Begins to smile, later laughs out loud
  • Loves bright and contrasting colors
  • Able to lift head; later able to support head on own
  • Rolls over on own
  • Primary source of nutrition is breast milk or formula
  • Reaches and touches things
  • Makes babbling or gurgling sounds

Six to Nine Months

  • May sleep through the night
  • Sits up on own
  • Begins on solid foods
  • Begins to crawl
  • Enjoys interactive games, such as peek-a-boo
  • Puts thing in mouth
  • Teething may begin
  • Loves finger games and songs
  • Enjoys playing with and mouthing soft toys

Nine Months to One Year

  • May get onto a more regular sleep schedule, with one morning and one afternoon nap
  • Begins to drink from a cup and is able to feed self with finger foods
  • Pulls him/herself up from sitting to standing position
  • Begins to cruise (walking while holding onto things)
  • Likes to be around other children, beginning to be more social
  • Laughs out loud frequently
  • Claps hands together, responds to music by dancing
  • May have a special blanket or toy
  • Realizes when he is separate from parent
  • May develop stranger anxiety, a fear of new people

One Year to Two Years, Nine Months

  • Still napping during the day
  • Begins to acquire more body control, becomes aware of body and self
  • Stands up by oneself and begins to take steps
  • Able to feed self on more regular basis
  • May develop picky eating habits
  • Watches and imitates behavior of others
  • Speech and language development are very important – first in single words, later simple sentences
  • May develop irrational fears and anxieties
  • Learns to run and jump
  • May begin toilet-learning
  • Learns self-help skills
  • Testing of limits that are set around behavior or safety – says no a lot
  • Wants control over surroundings
  • Loves routines and consistency
  • Relatively short attention span; goes from one activity to another quickly
  • May show frustration through temper tantrums

Two Years, Nine Months to Five Years

  • May still nap during the day (for shorter periods of time)
  • Gains much more body control; becomes fully toilet-trained
  • Better able to express him/herself through words
  • Able to play cooperatively with other children
  • Starts to have more self-control over behavior
  • Develops close attachments or best friends
  • Still not able to differentiate between fantasy and reality
  • Acts out fears and anxieties; nightmares may occur
  • Still needs control, may have set ideas of what to wear or eat