Normal Developmental Milestones Till 3 Years of Age
The first three years of life are a period of rapid and remarkable growth. Children move from newborn reflexes to walking, talking, socialising, imagining and problem-solving. Development happens at different speeds for every child, but international guidelines—from institutions such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)—highlight common developmental milestones that most children achieve within expected age ranges. Understanding these milestones helps parents observe growth, celebrate progress, and identify early concerns if needed.
Birth to 12 Months: The Foundation Year
Physical & Motor Development
- Gains head control by 3–4 months
- Rolls over by 4–6 months
- Sits without support around 6–8 months
- Crawls and pulls to stand by 9–12 months
- Starts cruising along furniture
Communication & Language
- Coos and babbles by 4–6 months
- Responds to name by 7–9 months
- Uses gestures such as pointing or waving by 10–12 months
- Says first meaningful words around 12 months
Social & Emotional Development
- Smiles socially by 6–8 weeks
- Enjoys face-to-face play
- Shows preference for familiar caregivers
- Exhibits separation anxiety around 9–12 months
Cognitive & Play Skills
- Looks for hidden objects (object permanence)
- Explores using hands and mouth
- Transfers objects between hands
- Bangs toys together
12 to 24 Months: Rapid Learning Stage
Physical & Motor Development
- Walks independently by 12–15 months
- Climbs stairs with support
- Scribbles and uses simple grasp
- Stack 2–4 blocks around 18 months
- Begins running and jumping by 2 years
Communication & Language
- Uses 10–50 words by 18 months
- Follows simple commands (“Give me the ball”)
- Uses two-word sentences by 24 months
- Points to body parts when named
Social & Emotional Development
- Shows strong attachment to caregivers
- Plays beside other children (parallel play)
- Engages in simple pretend play (feeding doll, talking on toy phone)
- Expresses a variety of emotions and may show tantrums
Cognitive & Play Skills
- Identifies familiar objects in books
- Matches shapes and colours
- Enjoys simple problem-solving toys (shape sorters)
- Begins understanding routines and daily structure
24 to 36 Months: Independence and Exploration
Physical & Motor Development
- Climbs well and pedals a tricycle
- Jumps from low heights
- Uses fingers for more precise tasks (turning pages, beading)
- Begins drawing circles and simple lines
Communication & Language
- Vocabulary expands to 200–300+ words
- Uses 2–3 word sentences consistently
- Asks simple questions (“What’s that?”)
- Follows two-step instructions
Social & Emotional Development
- Plays cooperatively for short periods
- Shows empathy (comforting others)
- Understands turn-taking with guidance
- Demonstrates independence (choosing clothes, feeding self)
Cognitive & Play Skills
- Engages in more complex pretend play
- Sorts objects by size, colour or shape
- Completes simple puzzles
- Begins understanding time-related concepts (morning/night)
Every child develops at their own pace, but knowing typical milestones helps families track growth confidently. If a child is missing key milestones—especially in communication, social interaction or motor development—international guidelines recommend consulting a paediatrician for early support.