The Truth About
Toddler Developmental Milestones

Your toddler’s developmental milestones can be charted through their behaviors. That is why it is so important to monitor the development of your toddler. Between the pediatrician and the parent a potential problem, for example autism in toddlers can be detected early. This is why hitting milestones can be so important.

These milestones are behaviors that emerge over time, and form the building blocks for growth and continued learning. Some of the categories within which these behaviors are seen include:

• Gross Motor - controlling the head, sitting and walking
• Fine motor - -holding a spoon, picking up a piece of cereal between thumb and finger
• Sensory - seeing, hearing, tasting, touching and smelling
• Language - being able to talk and be understood, and understanding what parents and other children say
• Social - the ability to play with family members and other children

Developmental Milestones Age One:

By their first birthday, most babies should be able to:

• Crawl
• Pull self up to stand
• Walk holding onto furniture, and possibly a few steps without help
• Say dada and mama
• Use exclamations, such as oh-oh!
• Responds to no when you tell them
• Shakes head no and waves bye-bye
• Throws toys and sippy cups. Bangs everything on high chair or tables
• Begins to drink from a cup correctly and can use a toddler fork ans spoon correctly as well
• When you name an item they will find the item correctly
• Sit
• Get into hands-and-knees position

Developmental Milestones Age Two:

• Uses 10 to 20 words, including names
• Combines two words like mommy bye- bye
• Waves good-bye and plays pat-a-cake
• Makes the "sounds" of familiar animals
• Gives a toy to you when asked
• Uses words such as "more" to make wants known
• Points to his or her toes, eyes, and nose
• Brings object from another room when asked
• Walks alone
• Pull toys behind them while walking
• Can carry a large toy or several toys while walking
• Beginning to start to run
• Kicks a ball
• Climb on and off furniture without help
• Walk up and down stairs while holding on to support
• Scribbles with a crayon
• Recognize names of familiar people, objects and body parts
• Say several single words (by 15 to 18 months)
• Use simple phrases (by 18 to 24 months)
• Use two- to four-word sentences
• Can follow simple instructions
• Begin to sort objects by shapes and colors
• Begin to play make-believe
• Imitates behavior of others (Be careful even the negative behaviors...)
• Understands what no means

Developmental Milestones Age Three:

• Identifies body parts
• Understands simple time concepts: yesterday, tomorrow
• Refers to self as "me" rather than by name
• Tries to get adult attention: "Look at me Mommy!
• Likes to hear same story repeated, or repeat the same game you are playing together
• May say "no" when the actually mean "yes"
• Talks to other children and adults
• Can answer your questions
• Names common pictures and things
• Carries on 'conversation' with self and stuffed animals or “friends as my son calls them
• Asks "what's that?" And "where's my?"
• Uses 2-word negative phrases such as "no want". My son also will say “I wanna hold you” when really he wants me to hold him, it is so cute.
• Forms some plurals by adding "s"; book, books
• Gives first name, holds up fingers to tell age
• Combines nouns and verbs
• Uses short sentences like "me want more"
• Matches 3-4 colors, knows big, from little

Remember that is why it is so important to monitor what your children are exposed to. They are like little sponges absorbing what they see and hear. It is learned behavior. You want them to be in a positive environment. Make this a priority parents, please. If your child hears manners then as they learn to talk, they will use manners as well. It is the same with their actions. They will follow you, so keep that in mind with the decisions you make.

You just want a healthy child. This is why their development is so important. Every milestone in their little life is important. Development however gets top priority in my opinion.

** I am not a Doctor or Licensed Professional in the field of developmental milestones with your toddler. I am a stay at home Mom passing on tips, advice and information that are based on my opinions. Always remember to consult your pediatrician with serious questions concerning your child and their development. Some of the information on this page was obtained by our family pediatrician.**

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