Your Child's Development

Taking a first step, waving “bye-bye,” and pointing to something interesting are all developmental milestones, or things most children can do by a certain age. Children reach many milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move. Developmental monitoring and screening are ways to look for your child’s developmental milestones.

Developmental Monitoring

WHO: You — parents, grandparents, other caregivers
WHAT: Look for developmental milestones
WHEN: From birth to 5 years
WHY:
To help you:

celebrate your child’s development
talk about your child’s progress with doctors and child care providers
learn what to expect next
identify any concerns early

HOW: With easy, free checklists – get yours at www.cdc.gov/Milestones

Developmental Screening

WHO: Healthcare provider, early childhood teacher, or other trained provider
WHAT: Look for developmental milestones
WHEN: Developmental Screening at 9, 18, and 30 months of age Autism Screening at 18 and 24 months of age
WHY:
To find out:

if your child needs more help with development, because it is not always obvious to doctors, child care providers, or parents
if more developmental evaluations are recommended

HOW: With a formal, validated screening tool – learn more at www.hhs.gov/WatchMeThrive

All young children need both developmental monitoring and developmental screening.
The best person to track your child’s development is you! Use free milestone checklists and go over them with the doctor at every well-child visit. To see Milestones in Action visit www.cdc.gov/Milestones.
What if your child is not reaching milestones as expected? You know your child best. If you are concerned about your child’s development, talk with your child’s doctor about your concerns and ask about developmental screening. For more information, go to www.cdc.gov/Concerned.