Your child's experiences in the early months and years of life affect her health,
well-being, and coping skills for the rest of her life. Your caring, nurturing, and safe
parenting help ensure your baby's optimal development. During the toddler years, your child
will grow and learn rapidly. Many experts describe child development as five areas: physical,
social, emotional, cognitive, and language. The stages of child development described here are
guidelines only, not a set of rules. Learning about child development can guide your parenting.
If you have any concerns, talk to your family doctor or public health nurse.
From Birth to 3 Months
Recognizes parents' voices, right from birth
Discovers his or her own voice
Enjoys eye contact, smiles at people and studies faces
Cries as a way of communicating needs
Coos and gurgles happily when given attention
Startles at noise and responds to sounds in time
Stretches or moves arms and legs
Lifts head when lying on tummy
Holds head up closer to three months of age
Rolls over to one side
Discovers feet and hands and holds objects
Eyes follow moving objects
From 3 to 6 Months
Lifts head about 90 degrees
Sits with some support
Stands up with help
Rolls over
Reaches for and lets go of objects
Responds to his or her name
Enjoys social interaction
Shows interest in colours
Recognizes faces and shows a preference for familiar people
Babbles, laughs and squeals when happy
If a toy is moved from sight, thinks it no longer exists
From 6 to 12 Months
Recognizes his or her name
Responds to some words, such as 'Mommy' or 'Daddy'
Says or repeats sounds, or babbles
Mimics simple actions and other children or people
Shows strong feelings and emotions about likes and dislikes or
being happy or sad
Sits steadily without help for longer periods
Stands firmly with help or when held
Can move or shuffle on belly and then crawl
Takes first steps and walks alone, between 8 and 18 months of age
Enjoys crawling and walking
Loves being the centre of attention
Gets scared around strangers and cries when parents leave
Throws toys or objects on purpose
Plays social games, such as 'peekaboo' or 'patty cake'
With all the exciting changes in his or her life, your child may have trouble sleeping
From 12 to 18 Months
Has lots of energy and wants to explore everything
Can feed self using fingers or a spoon
Can drink from a cup
May climb out of the crib
Walks alone and walks upstairs one step at a time
Speaks in short phrases, such as "Where mama go?"
Understands basic sentences and uses one word - for example, says "more" for "I want more"
Names pictures in a book
Follows simple directions
Understands much more than she can say
Enjoys being the centre of attention
Plays best by herself and unlikely to share toys
Cooperates or resists limits parents set
Gets frustrated easily, is impatient and wants things now
Cries less but whines more
Favourite word is 'No'
May have a special toy or blanket
Has a short memory and does actions again even if you tell her not to do so
May do the opposite of what you tell her to do
From 18 to 36 Months
Uses two or three-word sentences
Asks for help using words or actions
Can count and use new words
Understands shapes and sizes
Shows emotions and has mood swings or tantrums
Knows and responds to others' feelings
Wants approval and needs praise
Asks a lot of questions
Responds to requests, such as 'Get your coat'
Gradually uses one hand more than the other
Can walk up and down stairs
Can learn to ride a tricycle
Can run, climb, kick, and throw a ball
Loves dancing to music
Tells stories, sings songs, and plays
Tries to do more independently
Helps with simple household chores
Has trouble sharing and says 'no' or 'mine'
Becomes familiar with routines
Recognizes and names familiar people
Shows interest in a new person, thing, or sound
Enjoys playing alone and near other children
Enjoys pretend play with others
Shows an increased attention span
Solves problems by trial and error
Participates in group activities
Shows affection openly, such as hugging
Uses social language, such as please and thank you
Copies adult behaviours
Gets frustrated sometimes because he wants to do more than he is able to do
Tries to be the boss but needs to know that parents set limits
Has a lot of fears and may have nightmares
For more information about child health and development, see the Best Chance website at www.bestchance.gov.bc.ca/
More HealthLink BC Files on child development series:
English