Brochure

Track Your Child’s
Developmental
Milestones

Learn the Signs. Act Early.

The journey of your child’s early

years includes many developmental
milestones for how he or she plays,
learns, speaks, and acts.
Look inside to learn what to look for
in your child. Talk with your child’s
doctor about these milestones.
Not reaching these milestones, or
reaching them much later than
other children, could be a sign of
a developmental delay.

For more information about your child’s
development and what to do if you have
a concern, visit:

www.cdc.gov/ActEarly

You Know Your ChilD BesT.

If you are concerned about your child’s
development, talk to your child’s doctor.
If you or the doctor is still concerned,
ask the doctor for a referral to a
specialist and call 1-800-CDC-INFO to
learn how to get connected with your
state’s early childhood system to get
the help your child might need.

Don’T waiT.

Or Call:

1-800-CDC-INFO

to request a FREE “Learn the Signs. Act
Early.” Parent Kit or to get help finding
resources in your area.
Developmental milestones adapted from Caring for Your Baby and
Young Child: Birth to Age 5 (AAP, 2009) and Bright Futures: Guidelines
for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents (AAP, 2008).

Your child’s early development is a
journey. Use this map of milestones to
know what to look for along the way.
For parents of children from birth to 4 years
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention

www.cdc.gov/ActEarly
1-800-CDC-INFO

Acting early can make a real difference!

Learn the Signs. Act Early.
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Your Child’s early Development is a Journey

Check off the milestones your child has reached and share your child’s progress with the doctor at every visit.

q Copies sounds
q Begins to sit without
support

3sTarT here
q

q Likes to play with
others, especially
parents
q Responds to own name

q Uses simple gestures
such as shaking head for
“no” or waving “bye bye”
q Copies gestures

q Strings vowels
together when
babbling (“ah,”
“eh,” “oh”)

q Responds to
simple spoken
requests

q Says “mama”
and “dada”

q Follows simple
instructions

q Says sentences
with 2 to 4 words
q Gets excited when
with other children

e
q Says several singl
words
q Walks alone

ry
q Knows what ordina
r
things are for; fo
example, telephone,
brush, spoon

d,
q Plays simple pretendoll
a
g
in
ed
fe
such as
hers
q Points to show ot sting
re
te
in
something

q Pulls up to
stand

q Kicks a ball

q Points to things
or pictures when
they’re named

q Copies adults
and friends
(like running
when other
children run)

q Carries on a
conversation using
2 to 3 sentences
q Climbs well

q Plays make-believe with
dolls, animals and people
q Shows affection
for friends without
prompting

q Hops and stands on
one foot for up to
2 seconds

q Would rather play
with other children
than alone
q Tells stories

q Draws a person
with 2 to 4 body
parts
q Plays cooperatively

These are just a few of many important milestones to look for. For more complete checklists by age visit www.cdc.gov/ActEarly or call 1-800-CDC-INFO.