17 Developmental Milestones You Definitely Must Track as a Parent
We know exactly how you are feeling. From their first smile to their first steps, every developmental milestone moment feels monumental.
You want to capture every moment and are worried that you might miss out if you aren’t constantly looking. To top it off, your friend’s child or the other child in your neighbourhood seems to be already ahead. It feels like a constant race against time, right?
So, which developmental milestones do you track, and which do you let pass? Is it okay that your child isn’t showing a milestone like that other child? With so much happening, how do you know which makes a difference?
We have got you covered. Here are 17 key developmental milestones you can keep an eye on without stressing.
1. That first smile (around 6-8 weeks)
The moment they smile at you for the first time is pure magic. This is their way of saying, “Hey, I see you, and I like you!”
It’s a sign they are starting to recognize faces and connect emotionally.
What to do: Talk, coo, and smile back. Your baby loves your face more than any toy, so smile back at them more often.
2. Head control (by 3-4 months)
Remember how their heads used to just wobble or the times when they were mostly floppy newborns unable to keep their heads straight on their own?
By the time they are 3 or 4 months old, they will start holding their head steady on their own, especially when you lift them up. It’s their first big step towards controlling their body.
This is an important developmental milestone for them as it shows that they are also ready for gross motor skill development.
What to do: Increase their tummy time. Lay them on their tummy for a few minutes every day (supervised, of course), and watch their muscles grow stronger with every little lift.
3. Rolling over (around 4-6 months)
By the time they have moved onto their infant stage from the time they were just a tiny little newborn, they will start to roll over. Suddenly, they are not where you left them!
Rolling over is a sign of growing strength and coordination. Some babies roll front-to-back first, while others go the other way, and both are perfectly fine. It is also a sign that they are growing gross motor skills.
What to do: Create a safe, open space for them to practice. Cheer them on—it’s a big workout for those tiny muscles and a significant developmental milestone achievement.
4. Grasping (around 3-4 months)
When they start reaching out and grabbing anything, especially your hair, understand that they are ready to explore the world around them.
This is a sign that they are building hand-eye coordination, and this developmental milestone is an important marker for their growing curiosity about discovering their environment and strengthening those tiny fingers.
What to do: Offer safe, colourful toys they can easily grip. Think soft rattles, textured rings, or even your finger can become their favourite thing to hold. You can check these infant-friendly Montessori toys for your little one to play with.
5. Sitting up (around 6-8 months)
Before you know it, your little one is sitting up on their own and spending more time sitting without support.
When they start sitting up on their own, it’s a whole new world for them (and for you!). This developmental milestone is all about balance and muscle strength.
What to do: Surround them with cushions or let them sit between your legs. Offer toys at eye level to encourage them to stay upright.
6. Babbling (around 6-10 months)
Hearing those “ma-ma” and “da-da” sounds? The time when they start saying their first words is a moment of delight.
It’s the cutest (and maybe loudest) sign that they’re learning how to communicate. Around this time, they will also start recognising and responding to when being called by their names.
What to do: Talk to them constantly—even if it feels like you’re narrating your life. Repeat their sounds, add new words, and watch them light up. This is an important developmental milestone for them, and encouraging them will help them learn the language faster. Read this blog to learn about how to develop language skills through their babbling and screeching.
7. Crawling (around 7-10 months)
Crawling is your baby’s first real adventure into independence, allowing them to explore the world on their own terms. Whether they’re army crawling, scooting, or using all fours, it’s a sign of growing strength and coordination. Crawling also helps develop spatial awareness and strengthens muscles for later milestones like standing and walking.
What to do: Create a safe space with plenty of room for movement. Place toys just out of reach to encourage them to move forward. Celebrate every little crawl—it’s the beginning of their exciting journey toward mobility!
8. Clapping and waving (around 9-12 months)
As your little one grows, they start participating more in adult behaviour and mimicking the actions around them. Before becoming clearer and more concrete in these actions, they will try to do it as much as they can. This is a crucial phase, and you must encourage them.
When those tiny hands start clapping or waving “bye-bye,” it’s a sign your baby is learning social cues and motor coordination.
What to do: Clap and wave with them. Turn it into a fun game by cheering every time they mimic you.
9. Pincer grip (around 9-10 months)
That moment when they pick up a tiny piece of food between their thumb and forefinger? It’s not just cute—it’s a huge developmental milestone in fine motor skills.
Encouraging this milestone will help them develop a more confident grip and is essential for tasks like self-feeding, writing, and buttoning clothes as they grow older.
What to do: Offer safe finger foods like soft fruits or puffs. Let them explore at their own pace. It’s messy, but worth it!
10. Walking (around 12-18 months)
This is the big one. Wobbly steps turn into confident strides, and before you know it, you’re chasing them all over the house.
Ah! It seems like they have won a battle and are overjoyed at their achievement. Yes, being able to walk on their own is no less than winning a battle, and this is a crucial developmental milestone for them (and you).
Your baby can start walking at any stage, and the reason this is spread across a wide duration is that different children learn to walk at different periods. It will start with them trying to stand on their own and slowly start taking their first steps around their first birthday. Eventually, they will begin to walk confidently and climb to explore more.
It is an important sign for gross motor skill development, too.
What to do: Let them practice barefoot on a safe surface. Resist the urge to carry them everywhere—those tiny muscles need all the practice they can get.
11. Following simple instructions (around 12-15 months)
“Bring the ball!” or “Wave to Daddy!” When they start responding to these little requests, it shows that they are connecting language to action. This is an important developmental milestone because this is also a sign that they are improving their communication skills.
It is a sign your little one is developing listening, comprehension, and social skills. It also reflects that they are now able to connect words with actions and understand basic language.
What to do: Keep instructions simple and fun. Use a warm tone and lots of encouragement when they get it right (or even try).
12. Pointing (around 12-15 months)
Is that little index finger pointing at everything? It’s their way of asking questions and showing interest in the world. Every time your child is excited or curious about something, they will try to participate by pointing at it.
This is a precursor to language development and social engagement and is a sign that they are taking more interest in things around them.
What to do: Follow their point and name what they’re showing you: “Oh, that’s a tree!” It’s a simple way to build their vocabulary and help them become confident of their developmental milestone.
13. Imitating (around 12-18 months)
If they have started imitating the actions of adults or older children, then their curiosity has increased, and they are trying to learn about the world. From pretending to brush their hair to “talking” on the phone, they will be imitating every action you do.
What to do: Include them in your everyday tasks. Let them “help” with simple chores or give them safe tools to mimic your actions.
14. Pretend play (15-24 months)
As an extension of their imitating others, mixed with their imagination, you will soon find them indulging in pretend play. They will pretend to feed their child like you do, treat their dolls as patients and give them medicine, or cook for their imaginary friends.
Pretend play is a sign of their creativity, cognitive growth, and understanding of the world around them and is a significant developmental milestone you should be proud of.
What to do: Provide simple props like a toy kitchen or stuffed animals. Join in their imaginative world by pretending along—it’s a great way to bond.
15. Two-word phrases or simple sentences (18-24 months)
By the time your little one has turned into a full-fledged toddler, they will slowly increase their vocabulary. They typically know a few words by now and will start combining two-word phrases like “want cookie” or “go park” or simple sentences like “I want cookie.”
It is an important developmental milestone for their vocabulary and language building as their language skills start to blossom. It also shows they are learning how to express needs and thoughts.
What to do: Talk to them often, narrate activities, and repeat their phrases with slight elaboration (“Yes, you want a cookie!”). Keep it fun and encouraging!
16. Building a tower (18-24 months)
Stacking two or more blocks into a tower isn’t just play—it’s problem-solving and fine motor development in action. It also shows budding creativity and spatial awareness.
If your toddler has reached this developmental milestone, it means that they are ready for the next phase of their childhood.
What to do: Offer chunky, colourful blocks that are easy to grip. Cheer as they stack and rebuild if it tumbles—it’s all part of the learning! Check out our pink tower Montessori toy.
17. Sorting and categorising (18-24 months)
You will notice them starting to sort objects by colour, shape, or size—like putting all the blue blocks together or grouping toy animals.
This developmental milestone reflects logical thinking and cognitive development.
What to do: Offer sorting toys or everyday items like spoons and forks. Let them explore at their own pace while gently guiding them with simple cues. Check our sorting Montessori toys here.
Each developmental milestone is a tiny miracle, isn’t it? Watching your little one grow and learn is like seeing magic unfold in real life. Keep cherishing the journey—you’ve got this!
What was a recent developmental milestone your child achieved? Share your answers in the comments below.
Some common FAQs answered
Q: What is a developmental milestone?
A developmental milestone is a skill or ability most children achieve by a certain age, like walking, talking, or smiling.
Q: What are the 5 stages of development age?
The five stages are infancy (0-1 year), early childhood (1-5 years), middle childhood (6-12 years), adolescence (13-18 years), and adulthood.
Q: What are the 4 types of milestones?
The four types are physical (like crawling), cognitive (like problem-solving), social/emotional (like sharing), and language (like speaking).
Q: What are the five major milestones?
The five major milestones are rolling over, sitting up, crawling, walking, and talking.
Q: What are red flags in child development?
Red flags are signs that a child may not be meeting developmental milestones, such as not speaking by a certain age or difficulty interacting with others. But do not panic. Wait for some more months, but if still unsure, consult with your paediatrician.