Your Child’s Milestones

You can expect to see specific milestones of development at certain stages of your child’s life.

Childhood is a time of tremendous growth and development. The term "milestones" is used to describe skills a child achieves over time. You can expect to see specific milestones of development at certain stages of life. If you have any questions about your child's progress, be sure to bring them up during routine visits with your child’s healthcare provider. Below are specific milestone expectations for the first few years of your child’s life, with links to more information.

Hearing milestones

Hearing is vital to your child’s development. It affects how your child speaks, learns, and communicates. When comparing your child’s development to the milestones, keep in mind that each child develops at a different rate. Trust your instincts when it comes to your child. If you suspect a problem or are concerned, talk to your child’s healthcare provider.

Speech milestones

It is important to remember that not every child is the same, and children reach milestones at different ages. Consult your child's doctor if you suspect that your child is not developing speech and language skills correctly. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and other experts list age-appropriate speech and language milestones for babies and young children.

Vision milestones

Vision problems may be suspected in children who are not responding to their environment properly. It is important to remember that not every child is the same, and some children may reach milestones at different ages. Consult your child's doctor if you suspect that your child is not seeing correctly or is having other vision problems.