Milestones in Babies and Toddlers: A Simple Guide for New Parents

As a new parent, watching your little one grow and develop is an exciting journey! Every smile, step, and word marks a significant moment in their development. These moments are known as milestones, and while every child develops at their own pace, having a general guideline can help you track progress, celebrate each stage, and highlight any possible areas of concern for early intervention.

What Are Milestones?

Milestones are key developmental achievements that children typically reach within a specific age range. They are categorized into four main areas:

• Motor Skills: Movements like rolling, sitting, crawling, and walking.

• Cognitive Skills: Problem-solving, memory, and understanding concepts.

• Social & Emotional Skills: Interacting with others and expressing emotions.

• Language & Communication: Making sounds, saying words, and understanding speech.

To make tracking easier, here’s a simple checklist of common milestones by age range. Parents can also refer to their health record books (in WA, this is commonly known as the Purple Book) for additional guidance.

Milestone Checklist by Age

0-3 Months

✅ Lifts head briefly when on tummy
✅ Responds to loud sounds
✅ Smiles in response to faces
✅ Follows moving objects with eyes
Suggested Activities: Tummy time to strengthen neck muscles—our play mats provide a comfortable and safe surface—talking and singing to your baby, using high-contrast toys for visual tracking.

4-6 Months

✅ Rolls over from tummy to back
✅ Reaches for and grabs objects
✅ Laughs and babbles
✅ Shows recognition of familiar people
Suggested Activities: Encourage reaching by placing toys slightly out of reach, play peek-a-boo to strengthen social development, and provide textured toys for sensory exploration.

7-9 Months

✅ Sits without support
✅ Moves objects from one hand to another
✅ Starts crawling or attempting to move
✅ Responds to name
Suggested Activities: Place toys just out of reach to encourage movement, provide stacking cups or soft blocks for hand coordination, and read books with repetitive sounds to enhance language skills.

10-12 Months

✅ Pulls to stand and may take first steps
✅ Uses simple gestures like waving
✅ Says “mama” or “dada” with meaning
✅ Shows curiosity and explores objects
Suggested Activities: Provide push toys to assist walking, encourage clapping and waving, introduce simple picture books, and allow safe exploration of different household objects—our sensory trays can be a great tool for this stage.

12-18 Months

✅ Walks independently
✅ Points to objects of interest
✅ Tries to use words beyond “mama” and “dada”
✅ Starts imitating daily activities
Suggested Activities: Offer crayons and paper for early scribbling, engage in pretend play with dolls or toy kitchens, and use simple puzzles to develop problem-solving skills—our play mats offer a comfy, easy-to-clean surface for these activities.

18-24 Months

✅ Runs and climbs
✅ Uses 10-20 words
✅ Shows interest in pretend play
✅ Begins following simple instructions
Suggested Activities: Encourage active play with climbing and obstacle courses, sing nursery rhymes to enhance vocabulary, and play with toy animals or figurines to support imaginative play—our sensory trays can help create themed small-world play experiences.

2-3 Years

✅ Uses short phrases and sentences
✅ Jumps with both feet
✅ Shows independence in play
✅ Begins recognizing colours and shapes
Suggested Activities: Play simple matching and sorting games, introduce playdough for fine motor skills, engage in role-play activities, and read interactive books to support language growth—our school memory book can be a great way to document these early learning moments.

Every Child Develops at Their Own Pace

While this checklist provides a general guideline, remember that every child is unique. Some may reach milestones earlier, while others take more time—and that’s completely normal! If you ever have concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to your paediatrician for guidance.

Enjoy every little moment—before you know it, your baby will be running, talking, and exploring the world with endless curiosity!