Birth to 3 Years Old: Is My Child Meeting Developmental Milestones?

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As a parent or caregiver, it can be difficult to know what milestones your child should be meeting. All children develop at different rates, as many factors play into your child’s development. If you have any questions or concerns about your child, present these concerns to your pediatrician at your child’s upcoming well-check visit. Your pediatrician can determine if a referral for occupational therapy (OT) or physical therapy (PT) is warranted.

Below is a list of “typically” developing milestones that your child should be meeting between the ages of birth to 12 months old and between the ages of 1 to 3 years old.

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Milestones for Birth to 12 months old:

Fine Motor Skills:

1. Rakes tiny objects
2. Claps hands
3. Pokes with index finger
4. Uses thumb and index finger to pick up Cheerios
5. Reaches and grasps objects
6. Keeps hands open most of the time
7. Releases objects voluntarily
8. Transfers objects from one hand to the other
9. Puts objects in container
10. Places rings on a stack
11. Removes socks

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Gross Motor Skills:

1. Holds head up and moves it in both directions
2. Rolls over in both directions (front to back, back to front)
3. When lying on stomach, pushes up to elbows
4. Tolerates lying on stomach up to 30 minutes
5. Sits without support
6. Pulls to stand
7. Stands holding on
8. Crawls
9. Cruises; may take steps

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Milestones for 1 to 3 years old:

Fine Motor Skills:

1. Scribbles spontaneously
2. Turns thick pages in a book
3. Imitates vertical and horizontal strokes
4. Builds a tower of 10 blocks
5. Inserts large wooden puzzle pieces into puzzle board
6. Snips the edge of paper with scissors
7. Imitates performing simple household chores
8. Dresses self with assistance
9. Eats using a spoon
10. Drinks from a cup

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Gross Motor Skills:

1. Stands and walks alone (18 months)
2. Squats while playing
3. May run
4. Walks backward
5. Kicks a ball forward
6. Throws and catches a ball
7. Walks up and down stairs holding on
8. Jumps 2 inches off the floor

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**It is important to remember that your child does not necessarily have a developmental delay if they appear to be falling behind on meeting milestones.**

If you and your pediatrician are concerned about your child's physical development, then a referral will be sent and an evaluation will be completed by an OT and/or PT (depending on your specific concerns). Pediatric therapy sessions are play-based and work on your child gaining those fine motor and gross motor milestones!

-Molly Kincheloe, MS, OTR/L