Child Development Timeline

  • 1 CE

    Newborn-6 months

    Physical: Lifting head and shoulders, straightening out legs, less jerky movements and hand movement.

    Cognitive: Can distinguish between colors, learning object permanence.
    Language: Coos and makes “conversation” with babble and word imitation. Different tone cries for different things.
    Social/emotional: Smiles, laughing and giggling. Being calmed by familiar people.
  • 1 CE

    Newborn-6 months

    Toys: Sound and Movement.
    Food: Breastmilk and formula.
    Vaccinations: HepB, RV, DTaP, Hib, PCV13, IPV, Influenza.
    Sleeping schedule: 8 hours at night, 15 hours with nap
  • 2

    6 months-1 year

    Physical: Sit up without help, finer hand mother skills. Is able to crawl. Hold onto furniture to try and walk
    Cognitive: Voice recognition and object recognition. Can see all colors.

    Language: Fully developed sound processing, changes tone in babble. Can say “mama” and “dada”
    Social/emotional: Mirror recognition, feelings of companionship with other babies.
  • 2

    6 months-1 year

    Toys: Dangly and touchy toys.
    Food: Breastmilk, formula, pureed stuff.
    Vaccinations: HepB, RV, PCV13, IPV, Influenza.
    Sleeping schedule: 11 hours at night, 14 hours with nap
  • 3

    1 year-18 months

    Physical: Some walk, most can stand by themselves.
    Cognitive: Respond to simple directions. Intro to potty training.
    Language: Can say upto six words give or take.
    Social/emotional: Temper Tantrums, looks for validation
  • 3

    1 year-18 months

    Toys: Teething toys, Bright colors and high contrast patterns.
    Food: Finger Foods, mashed fruit.
    Vaccinations: HepB, RV, IPV, Influenza, MMR, Varicella, HepA.
    Sleeping schedule: 11 hours at night, 13 hours with nap
  • 4

    18 months-2 years

    Physical: Walking
    Cognitive: Potty training readiness, feed themselves, matches shapes
    Language: Up to 20 words
    Social/emotional: Plays with other children, fears things like sudden loud noises
  • 4

    18 months-2 years

    Toys: Cubes, cause and effect toys.
    Food: Chunky food, cubed.
    Vaccinations: HepB, RV, IPV, Influenza.
    Sleeping schedule: 11 hours at night, 12 hours with nap
  • 5

    2 years-30 months

    Physical: can undress themselves, walk up/down stairs, build block towers
    Cognitive: sense of humor, understands concept of amounts, names common objects
    Language: vocab of 100-250 words, 2-3 word phrases, explains things
    Social/emotional: may throw tantrums, plays with other kids, enjoys playing pretend
  • 5

    2 years-30 months

    Toys: simple instruments, dress up clothes, play-dough
    Food: PB&J, carrots, milk
    Vaccinations: yearly influenza vaccine, Hepatitis A
    Sleeping schedule: 11-13 hours of nighttime sleep, 2-3 hour nap
  • 6

    30 months-3 years

    Physical: can copy a circle, dresses/undresses, walk up stairs with alternating feet
    Cognitive: knows full name and age, can count 3 objects, does simple puzzles
    Language: is understood most of the time, asks “why”, understands spatial words
    Social/emotional: can name a friend, plays make believe, takes turns
  • 6

    30 months-3 years

    Toys: puzzles, creative toys, “play pretend” toys
    Food: “adult” food in small portions, may be picky
    Vaccinations: yearly influenza vaccine
    Sleeping schedule: sleep becomes unpredictable, 10-12 hours of nighttime sleep, 1-3 hour nap
  • 7

    3-4 years

    Physical: serves food/pours water with supervision, unbuttons some buttons, holds crayon/pencil between fingers
    Cognitive: names colors of items, tells what comes next in a story, draws a person
    Language: can tell about their day, uses 4+ word sentences, answers simple questions
    Social/emotional: comforts others, likes to be a “helper”, alters behavior based on place
  • 7

    3-4 years

    Toys: stuffed animals, puzzles, bubbles
    Food: “adult” food in small portions, may be picky
    Vaccinations: DTaP, IPV, MMR, Varicella, and yearly influenza vaccine
    Sleeping schedule: 10-12 hours nighttime sleep, 0-2 hour nap
  • 8

    4-5 years

    Physical: buttons some buttons, hops on one foot, accurately mimics movement
    Cognitive: counts to 10, pays attention for 5-10 minutes, writes some letters
    Language: tells a made up story, keeps conversation going, recognizes simple rhymes
    Social/emotional: follows rules, sings/dances/acts, does simple chores
  • 8

    4-5 years

    Toys: scooter, puzzles, building games
    Food: “adult” food in small portions
    Vaccinations: DTaP, IPV, MMR, Varicella, and yearly influenza vaccine
    Sleeping schedule: 10-12 hours nighttime sleep, 0-2 hour nap