In this section you'll read about your child's development through the first
five years.
First birthday milestones
Babies grow and change a lot in their first year. By their first
birthday, most babies can:
- Crawl
- Pull themselves up to stand
- Take a few steps holding onto furniture
- Eat finger foods by themselves
- Understand "no" and react to simple requests
- Use a cup and other objects
- Say "mama" and a few other simple words
- Shake their heads no and wave
Doctor visits
During regular "well baby" checkups, your doctor will monitor your
baby's growth and development. Your baby also will receive scheduled
immunizations (shots) to protect against disease. At each visit, the doctor
will:
- Measure baby's length and weight, recording measurements on a growth
chart.
- Check that eyes, ears, heart and lungs are functioning normally.
- Ask you questions about development: Can baby roll over? Sit up? Pick
up objects? What's her reaction to strangers?
- Discuss eating habits and when to introduce solid foods.
- Talk about safety measures such as using car seats and installing
safety locks as your baby becomes more mobile at home.
Young toddlers
At 1 and 2 years old, toddlers begin doing more things for themselves
and discovering the world around them. Now is time to establish good eating
habits and to make sure the environment is safe for exploring. Between the
ages of 1 and 2 babies begin to:
- Walk alone
- Climb stairs, furniture
- Drink from a cup rather than a bottle
- Eat more table food
- Stack blocks, scribble with a crayon
- Use simple phrases and short sentences
- Follow simple instructions
Doctor visits
"Well baby" checkups are usually scheduled at 12, 15, 18 and 24 months.
Your doctor will continue to monitor your child's growth and development.
Immunizations will be given at some visits. At each visit, the doctor will:
- Measure your child's height and weight, recording measurements on a
growth chart.
- Check that eyes, ears, heart and lungs are functioning normally.
- Ask you questions about development: Is your child walking? Saying a
few words? Following simple instructions?
- Discuss eating habits.
- Talk about safety measures such as using car seats and "baby proofing"
your house.
Twos and threes
At 2 and 3 years old, toddlers are busily discovering what's around
them and learning new skills. They need less sleep and their appetites can
be up one day and down the next. By their third birthday, toddlers can:
- Run easily, kick a ball
- Climb well
- Ride a tricycle
- Use 4 and 5 word sentences; say their name and age
- Respond to a multi-part command or request
- "Write" with a pencil or crayon; make vertical, horizontal and circular
strokes
- Sort objects; do simple puzzles
Doctor visits
Toddlers still need regular checkups with your doctor, but unless your
child gets sick, your doctor visits will be less frequent.
- Your doctor will continue to check your child's height and weight to
make sure growth is normal.
- Good nutrition, exercise and plenty of sleep are important for healthy
growth.
Fours and fives
Four- and 5-year-olds are very active physically, but they're able to
concentrate more than when they were younger. Children at this age:
- Continue to develop gross motor skills (controlling the large movements
of their arms and legs).
- Improve fine motor skills, using hands and fingers for smaller
movements like picking up objects.
- Do well in creative play, such as drawing, painting, musical games,
playing "pretend."
Doctor visits
Fours and fives still need regular checkups with the doctor, but unless
they get sick, not so often as when they were babies.
- Your doctor will continue to monitor height and weight to make sure
growth is continuing normally.
- Good nutrition, exercise and plenty of sleep are important for healthy
growth.
Last modified
04/22/08
