The most widely used tool for screening proper development in a child for a long time was the Denver Developmental Screening Test (Denver scale), which suggests milestones according to the age. Even today the tool is used in many countries. However, it is a rather old tool and it is important to remember that these are just screening tests. If any problem is encountered, further evaluation is necessary, with many validated tests out in the market. In any case, you can find the Denver table below, as well as the CDC milestones that are somewhat similar (if you want, click in one of the links to go straight to the desired age: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, 18 months, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years or 5 years).

CDC MILESTONES:

The Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST), commonly known as the Denver Scale, is a developmental measure, and is a test for screening cognitive and behavioural problems in preschool children. It was developed by William K. Frankenburg and first introduced by him and Josiah.B. The Denver Developmental Screening Test was introduced in 1967 to identify young children, up to age six, with developmental problems. A revised version, Denver II, was released in 1992 to provide needed improvements. The purpose of the tests is to identify young children with developmental problems so that they can be referred for help.

2 MONTHS

Social and Emotional
Begins to smile at people
Can briefly calm himself (may bring hands to mouth and suck on hand)
Tries to look at parent

Language/Communication
Coos, makes gurgling sounds
Turns head toward sounds
Baby raising head and chest when lying on stomach

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Pays attention to faces
Begins to follow things with eyes and recognize people at a distance
Begins to act bored (cries, fussy) if activity doesn’t change

Movement/Physical Development
Can hold head up and begins to push up when lying on tummy
Makes smoother movements with arms and legs

4 MONTHS

Social and Emotional
Smiles spontaneously, especially at people
Likes to play with people and might cry when playing stops
Copies some movements and facial expressions, like smiling or frowning

Language/Communication
Begins to babble
Babbles with expression and copies sounds he hears
Cries in different ways to show hunger, pain, or being tired baby on floor with toy

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Lets you know if she is happy or sad
Responds to affection
Reaches for toy with one hand
Uses hands and eyes together, such as seeing a toy and reaching for it
Follows moving things with eyes from side to side
Watches faces closely
Recognizes familiar people and things at a distance

Movement/Physical Development
Holds head steady, unsupported
Pushes down on legs when feet are on a hard surface
May be able to roll over from tummy to back
Can hold a toy and shake it and swing at dangling toys
Brings hands to mouth
When lying on stomach, pushes up to elbows

6 MONTHS

Social and Emotional
Knows familiar faces and begins to know if someone is a stranger
Likes to play with others, especially parents
Responds to other people’s emotions and often seems happy
Likes to look at self in a mirror

Language/Communication
Responds to sounds by making sounds
Strings vowels together when babbling (“ah,” “eh,” “oh”) and likes taking turns with parent while making sounds
Responds to own name
Makes sounds to show joy and displeasure
Begins to say consonant sounds (jabbering with “m,” “b”) mother enjoying 7 month old infant

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Looks around at things nearby
Brings things to mouth
Shows curiosity about things and tries to get things that are out of reach
Begins to pass things from one hand to the other

Denver Developmental Screening Test Age

Movement/Physical Development
Rolls over in both directions (front to back, back to front)
Begins to sit without support
When standing, supports weight on legs and might bounce
Rocks back and forth, sometimes crawling backward before moving forward

9 MONTHS

Social and Emotional
May be afraid of strangers
May be clingy with familiar adults
Has favorite toys

Language/Communication
Understands “no”
Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa”
Copies sounds and gestures of others
Uses fingers to point at things
Doctor holding little boy

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Watches the path of something as it falls
Looks for things he sees you hide
Plays peek-a-boo
Puts things in her mouth
Moves things smoothly from one hand to the other
Picks up things like cereal o’s between thumb and index finger

Movement/Physical Development
Stands, holding on
Can get into sitting position
Sits without support
Pulls to stand
Crawls

1 YEAR

Social and Emotional
Is shy or nervous with strangers
Cries when mom or dad leaves
Has favorite things and people
Shows fear in some situations
Hands you a book when he wants to hear a story
Repeats sounds or actions to get attention
Puts out arm or leg to help with dressing
Plays games such as “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake”

Language/Communication
Responds to simple spoken requests
Uses simple gestures, like shaking head “no” or waving “bye-bye”
Makes sounds with changes in tone (sounds more like speech)
Says “mama” and “dada” and exclamations like “uh-oh!”
Tries to say words you say
Toddler sitting with mom playing xylophone

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Explores things in different ways, like shaking, banging, throwing
Finds hidden things easily
Looks at the right picture or thing when it’s named
Copies gestures
Starts to use things correctly; for example, drinks from a cup, brushes hair
Bangs two things together
Puts things in a container, takes things out of a container
Lets things go without help
Pokes with index (pointer) finger
Follows simple directions like “pick up the toy”

Movement/Physical Development
Gets to a sitting position without help
Pulls up to stand, walks holding on to furniture (“cruising”)
May take a few steps without holding on
May stand alone

18 MONTHS

Social and Emotional
Likes to hand things to others as play
May have temper tantrums
May be afraid of strangers
Shows affection to familiar people
Plays simple pretend, such as feeding a doll
May cling to caregivers in new situations
Points to show others something interesting
Explores alone but with parent close by
Toddler eating you from a blue bowl

Language/Communication
Says several single words
Says and shakes head “no”
Points to show someone what he wants

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
Knows what ordinary things are for; for example, telephone, brush, spoon
Points to get the attention of others
Shows interest in a doll or stuffed animal by pretending to feed
Points to one body part
Scribbles on his own
Can follow 1-step verbal commands without any gestures; for example, sits when you say “sit down”

Movement/Physical Development
Walks alone
May walk up steps and run
Pulls toys while walking
Can help undress herself
Drinks from a cup