9.4: Cognitive Milestones

Milestones of Cognitive Development

Definition: Milestone

Milestones represent what most children can do by specific ages

Represent the developmental abilities most children (75% or more) can do by specific ages

Infants and toddlers are constantly learning about the world as they experience it and actively engage with it during the first three years of life. Milestones represent what most children (75% or more) can do by specific ages. The Chart below represents the new and improved milestone charts provided by the CDC in 2022 with substantial evidence-based updates. These milestone charts are meant to prompt surveillance and conversation and, if needed, identification and early intervention. The CDC adopts a proactive stance—we should take action early when developmental concerns arise rather than the perspective of waiting to see if a child “catches up”. While children do develop at individual paces, being proactive during these critical early years is essential (Morgan et al., 2021; Noritz et al., 2013). The chart below lists milestones that, if children are not achieving by specific ages, caregivers should encourage parents to communicate with their family’s pediatrician. Most caregivers are not professionally trained to officially assess the developmental abilities of children; however, caregivers have the ability to track developmental progress and are often the first to notice developmental concerns. Here is a table of cognitive milestones for infants and toddlers.

Milestones of Cognitive Development

Age	What Most Children Can Do By Each Age
2 months	Watch you as you move Look at a toy for several seconds
4 months	If hungry, open their mouth when they see the breast or a bottle Look at their hands with interest
6 months	Put things in their mouth to explore them Reach to grab a toy they want Close their lips to show they do not want more food
9 months	Look for objects when dropped out of sight (like a spoon or toy) Bang two things together
12 months	Put something in a container, like a block in a cup Look for things they see you hide, like a toy under a blanket
15 months	Try to use things the right way, like a phone, cup, or book Stack at least two small objects, like blocks
18 months	Copy you doing chores, like sweeping with a broom Play with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car
24 months	Hold something in one hand while using the other hand; for example, holding a container and taking the lid off Try to use switches, knobs, or buttons on a toy Play with more than one toy at the same time, like putting toy food on a toy plate
30 months	Use things to pretend, like feeding a block to a doll as if it were food Show simple problem-solving skills, like standing on a small stool to reach something Follow two-step instructions like, “Put the toy down and close the door.” Show they know at least one color, like pointing to a red crayon when you ask, “Which one is red?”
36 months	Draw a circle, when you show them how Avoid touching hot objects, like a stove, when you warn them

Attributions

• ^[1] CDC’s Developmental Milestones by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is in the public domain.