INFANCY AND TODDLER FACT SHEET

Physical Developmental Milestones

During 0-4 months, infants are able to lift their heads, keep them steady, and turn towards a familiar
voice. They can hold a toy in their hands. While on their backs they can thrust their arms and legs to
play. During 4-8 months, infants can turn from back to side and later rolls from back to front. Infants can
sit steady with help and then alone towards the end of this stage. During 8-12 months, they can pull
themselves up to stand and are soon able to walk on their own. They can sit in a chair and use spoon
and cup. During 12-18 months, toddlers can stack blocks, dress and undress themselves, and can climb
stairs. During 18-24 months, toddlers point to objects to communicate, make marks on paper, and shape
clay. During the last stage, 24-36 months, toddlers are able to do a great deal of new things such as:
use scissors, do simple puzzles, and paint with fingers, throw and kick balls, climb, slide and jump.

Language Developmental Milestones

During this stage infants may startle if they hear a sound. Infants can hear differences in sounds and are
taking in a lot of information about the world. Infants cry when they are hungry, tired, or uncomfortable.
By 2 months of age babies have different cries for hunger and pain. During 4-8 months infants begin to
babble at first with one consonant and then by combining two consonants. By the end of the 12-18
months stage the toddler will be pointing to engage adults and will combine words to communicate.
During the 24-36 month stage the toddlers understand more complex directions and remember words to
shore songs and finger-plays. They begin to ask "why?
Cognitive Developmental Milestones
During this stage infants may startle if they hear a sound. Infants can hear differences in sounds and can
follow moving objects. They cry to bring an adult to comfort or feed them. Infants begin to reach for toys
and bring objects to their mouths. During 4-8 months infants like to examine toys, imitate adult
expressions and gestures, and turn toward a sound to see where it came from. During 8-12 months
infants like toys that do something when you touch them, pull them or bang them. They point to objects,
knowing someone else can also see them. At 12-18 months, toddlers use tools such as keys or
telephones in their pretend play. They are also interested with spatial toys such as pegboards and
puzzles. At 24-36 months, older toddlers begin to understand concepts such as color, size, shape, time,
and weight. They can create new stories in pretend play or new structures in block building, becoming
more imaginative and creative.
One sign that may signal atypical development during this period of development is delay in motor and
cognitive development due to vision impairments. "On average, blind infants do not reach for and
manipulate objects until 12 months, crawl until 13 months, or walk until 19 months" (Berk, 2013, Chapter
4, Page 162)
One strategy that families can use to influence their childrens learning and development during this
period of development is to provide play opportunities that promote comparison of sizes, weights, colors,
shapes, and quantities.

Reference: Berk, L. E. (2013).Child development. (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Pearson.

Developmental Milestones Typical Development

Physical
Makes smoother
movements with arms
and legs
Pulls up to stand, walks
holding on to furniture (1
years old)

Cognitive
Pays attention to
faces

Social-Emotional
Begins to smile at 2
months

Language
Coos and makes gurgling
sounds

Finds hidden things

easily (1 years old)

Is shy or nervous with

strangers (1 years old)

Makes sounds with changes

in tone (1 years old)

Reasoning
Begins to act bored
and will cry if activity
doesnt change
Begins to show
sensitivity to others
(2 years old)

Atypical Patterns
Act early by talking to your childs doctor if your child:
1.
2.

At 1 year old Does not crawl, cant stand when supported, doesnt say words like mama or
dada
At 3 years old Falls down a lot or has trouble with stairs, Doesnt make eye contact, Loses
skills he once had

Social Influences Studies have found that being a toddler of low socioeconomic status can actually
prevent a child from realizing his or her genetically-endowed cognitive potential. Also, exposure to toxic
substances, microbes, environmental stimuli, stressors, etc. can affect development. (Entin, 2015)
Cultural Influences Culture can influence language development and vocabulary depending on how
much communication is being made and what topics are being discussed.