Tools · Baby
Developmental Milestone Checklist by Age (CDC): 2 Months to 5 Years
Free developmental milestone checklist based on the CDC's ‘Learn the Signs. Act Early.’ program. Pick your child's age to see what most children do — from 2 months to 5 years — across social, language, cognitive, and movement skills.
Milestones from the CDC's “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program (2022, developed with the American Academy of Pediatrics). For general guidance only — this is not a diagnosis.
How to use this milestone checklist
Choose your child's age above to see the milestones the CDC lists for that age, grouped into four areas: social/emotional, language/communication, cognitive (learning and thinking), and movement/physical. Tick off the ones your child already does — your progress is saved on your device so you can come back to it.
These milestones come from the CDC's “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program, revised in 2022 together with the American Academy of Pediatrics. Each milestone is something most children (at least 75%) can do by that age — so it's a checkpoint, not a pass-or-fail test. Children develop at their own pace and a single unmet milestone is rarely a concern on its own.
What matters is the overall picture over time. If your child isn't doing several of the milestones for their age, seems to be losing skills they once had, or anything worries you, talk to your child's doctor and ask about developmental screening. Acting early — rather than waiting to see — gives your child the best chance to catch up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are developmental milestones?
Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age — like smiling, waving, taking first steps, or saying words. The CDC groups them into four areas: social/emotional, language/communication, cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving), and movement/physical development. The milestones in this checklist are the ones at least 75% of children reach by each age, based on the CDC's 2022 revision with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
What if my child hasn't reached a milestone?
A single missed milestone usually isn't a cause for alarm — children develop at their own pace. But milestones are a helpful checkpoint. If your child is missing several milestones for their age, has lost skills they used to have, or you feel something isn't right, talk to your child's doctor and ask about developmental screening. You know your child best, and it's always okay to ask.
What does “act early” mean?
“Act early” is the CDC's reminder not to take a wait-and-see approach if you're concerned about your child's development. Early support — through your doctor and, if needed, early intervention services — can make a real difference, because young children's brains are especially able to change. If you have concerns, the recommended step is to talk to your child's doctor promptly rather than waiting for the next check-up.
Should I use my premature baby's corrected age?
For babies born prematurely, many clinicians look at milestones using corrected (adjusted) age — your baby's age minus the weeks they were born early — usually until about 2 years. If your baby was premature, consider choosing the age closest to their corrected age here, and discuss their development with your pediatrician, who will take prematurity into account.
Weekly parenting tips, no spam
Evidence-based guidance for your child's stage — straight to your inbox.
Track Every Milestone with Whispie
Log growth, sleep, feeds, and milestones — and get gentle, expert-backed guidance as your baby grows.