hello little human

Baby milestones checker

The CDC's checklists of what most children (75% or more) do by each age, from 2 months to 2 years. Tick what you see. It's not a test, and you know your child best. No comparing with the baby down the street.

Act early

You know your child best. Don't wait. If your child is not meeting one or more milestones, has lost skills he or she once had, or you have other concerns, act early. Talk with your child's doctor, share your concerns, and ask about developmental screening. If your child is younger than 3, you can also contact your state or territory's early intervention program and ask for your child to be evaluated. A doctor's referral is not necessary.

Find your state's early intervention program

The AAP recommends developmental screening for all children during regular well-child visits at least at 9, 18 and 30 months, and autism screening at 18 and 24 months. If your baby was born early, use their corrected age: their age in weeks since birth minus the number of weeks they were born early (40 minus the gestational age at birth). For example, a baby born at 32 weeks who is 16 weeks old has a corrected age of 8 weeks (2 months). The AAP says that during the first 2 years, using corrected age gives a better idea of when to expect developmental milestones.

What these checklists are

The CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” checklists list things most children, 75% or more, do by a certain age. The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics revised them in 2022 so that each item is something most children can do, which makes a missing one a clearer reason to ask. They’re for watching your child’s development between checkups. They aren’t a screening test, and a missed item isn’t a diagnosis.

How to use them

  • Tick what you’ve seen your child do. Some days are better than others, so look over a week or two.
  • If your child isn’t doing some things on the list, has lost a skill, or you’re simply worried, talk to your child’s doctor. You don’t need to wait for the next checkup.
  • If your child is under 3, you can also contact your state’s early intervention program and ask for an evaluation. The evaluation is free, and you don’t need a doctor’s referral.

Babies born early

For babies born early, use corrected age, their age counted from the due date, during the first 2 years. Enter the due date above and the checker does it for you.

Sources

  1. CDC, “Milestones” and the checklists for each age. cdc.gov
  2. Zubler JM, et al. “Evidence-Informed Milestones for Developmental Surveillance Tools.” Pediatrics, 2022. doi.org
  3. CDC, “Developmental Monitoring and Screening.” cdc.gov
  4. CDC, “Early Intervention” and “Concerned About Your Child’s Development?” cdc.gov
  5. American Academy of Pediatrics, “Corrected Age for Preemies.” healthychildren.org