Your child.
is right on time.
❤️ Social Emotional
How your baby connects, expresses feelings, and responds to people around them.
- Calms down when spoken to or picked up
- Looks at your face
- Seems happy to see you when you walk up
- Smiles when you talk to or smile at them
💬 Language/Communication:
Early signs of listening, understanding, and communicating through sounds and expressions.
- Makes sounds other than crying
- Reacts to loud sounds
🧠 Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem Solving):
How your baby explores, learns, pays attention, and understands the world.
- Watches you as you move
- Looks at a toy for several seconds
🤸 Movement/Physical:
Milestones that show growing strength, coordination, and physical abilities.
- Holds head up when on tummy
- Moves both arms and both legs
- Opens hands briefly
When to act early (2 months)
🚩 Talk to your doctor if your baby doesn't respond to loud sounds, doesn't watch things as they move, doesn't smile at people, or can't hold head up when on tummy.
How to use:
Milestones are guides, not a pass/fail test. cChildren vary, and many Indian children grow up multilingual, so a child may mix words from two languages or favour one, which is normal.
If you have concerns:
Talk to your pediatrician and ask about developmental screening. Acting early helps. In India you can also seek a District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) under the RBSK programme, or a developmental pediatrician.
Source: CDC's Developmental Milestones, "Learn the Signs. Act Early." (updated 2022). Ages 6–8 entries are general developmental/school-readiness expectations, not part of the official CDC checklist.
❤️ Social Emotional
How your baby connects, expresses feelings, and responds to people around them.
- Smiles on their own to get your attention
- Chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make them laugh
- Looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention
💬 Language/Communication:
Early signs of listening, understanding, and communicating through sounds and expressions.
- Makes sounds like 'oooo', 'aahh' (cooing)
- Makes sounds back when you talk to them
- Turns head towards the sound of your voice
🧠 Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem Solving):
How your baby explores, learns, pays attention, and understands the world.
- If hungry, opens mouth when sees breast or bottle
- Looks at their hands with interest
🤸 Movement/Physical:
Milestones that show growing strength, coordination, and physical abilities.
- Holds head steady without support when held
- Holds a toy when you put it in their hand
- Uses arm to swing at toys
- Brings hands to mouth
- Pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy
When to act early (4 months)
🚩 Talk to your doctor if your baby doesn't watch things as they move, doesn't smile at people, can't hold head steady, doesn't coo, or doesn't bring things to mouth.
How to use:
Milestones are guides, not a pass/fail test; children vary, and many Indian children grow up multilingual, so a child may mix words from two languages or favour one, which is normal.
If you have concerns:
Talk to your pediatrician and ask about developmental screening. Acting early helps. In India you can also seek a District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) under the RBSK programme, or a developmental pediatrician.
Source: CDC's Developmental Milestones, "Learn the Signs. Act Early." (updated 2022). Ages 6–8 entries are general developmental/school-readiness expectations, not part of the official CDC checklist.
❤️ Social Emotional
How your baby connects, expresses feelings, and responds to people around them.
- Knows familiar people
- Likes to look at self in a mirror
- Laughs
💬 Language/Communication:
Early signs of listening, understanding, and communicating through sounds and expressions.
- Takes turns making sounds with you
- Blows 'raspberries' (sticks tongue out and blows)
- Makes squealing noises
🧠 Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem Solving):
How your baby explores, learns, pays attention, and understands the world.
- Puts things in their mouth to explore them
- Reaches to grab a toy they want
- Closes lips to show they don't want more food
🤸 Movement/Physical:
Milestones that show growing strength, coordination, and physical abilities.
- Rolls from tummy to back
- Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
- Leans on hands to support self when sitting
When to act early (6 months)
🚩 Talk to your doctor if your baby doesn't try to reach for things, shows no affection for caregivers, doesn't respond to sounds around them, or seems very stiff or very floppy.
How to use:
Milestones are guides, not a pass/fail test; children vary, and many Indian children grow up multilingual, so a child may mix words from two languages or favour one, which is normal.
If you have concerns:
Talk to your pediatrician and ask about developmental screening. Acting early helps. In India you can also seek a District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) under the RBSK programme, or a developmental pediatrician.
Source: CDC's Developmental Milestones, "Learn the Signs. Act Early." (updated 2022). Ages 6–8 entries are general developmental/school-readiness expectations, not part of the official CDC checklist.
❤️ Social Emotional
How your baby connects, expresses feelings, and responds to people around them.
- Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers
- Shows several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry, surprised
- Looks when you call their name
- Reacts when you leave (looks, reaches, or cries)
- Smiles or laughs during peek-a-boo
💬 Language/Communication:
Early signs of listening, understanding, and communicating through sounds and expressions.
- Makes different sounds like 'mamamama' and 'babababa'
- Lifts arms up to be picked up
🧠 Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem Solving):
How your baby explores, learns, pays attention, and understands the world.
- Looks for objects when dropped out of sight (like a spoon)
- Bangs two things together
🤸 Movement/Physical:
Milestones that show growing strength, coordination, and physical abilities.
- Gets to a sitting position by themselves
- Moves things from one hand to the other
- Uses fingers to 'rake' food towards themselves
- Sits without support
When to act early (9 months)
🚩 Talk to your doctor if your baby doesn't bear weight on legs with support, doesn't sit with help, doesn't babble, doesn't play back-and-forth games, or doesn't respond to their own name.
How to use:
Milestones are guides, not a pass/fail test; children vary, and many Indian children grow up multilingual, so a child may mix words from two languages or favour one, which is normal.
If you have concerns:
Talk to your pediatrician and ask about developmental screening. Acting early helps. In India you can also seek a District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) under the RBSK programme, or a developmental pediatrician.
Source: CDC's Developmental Milestones, "Learn the Signs. Act Early." (updated 2022). Ages 6–8 entries are general developmental/school-readiness expectations, not part of the official CDC checklist.
❤️ Social Emotional
How your baby connects, expresses feelings, and responds to people around them.
- Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake
💬 Language/Communication:
Early signs of listening, understanding, and communicating through sounds and expressions.
- Waves 'bye-bye'
- Calls a parent 'mama' or 'dada' or another special name
- Understands 'no' (pauses or stops when you say it)
🧠 Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem Solving):
How your baby explores, learns, pays attention, and understands the world.
- Puts something in a container, like a block in a cup
- Looks for things they see you hide, like a toy under a blanket
🤸 Movement/Physical:
Milestones that show growing strength, coordination, and physical abilities.
- Pulls up to stand
- Walks holding on to furniture (cruising)
- Drinks from a cup without a lid as you hold it
- Picks things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small bits of food
When to act early (12 months)
🚩 Talk to your doctor if your child doesn't crawl, can't stand with support, doesn't search for hidden things, doesn't say single words, or loses skills they once had.
How to use:
Milestones are guides, not a pass/fail test; children vary, and many Indian children grow up multilingual, so a child may mix words from two languages or favour one, which is normal.
If you have concerns:
Talk to your pediatrician and ask about developmental screening. Acting early helps. In India you can also seek a District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) under the RBSK programme, or a developmental pediatrician.
Source: CDC's Developmental Milestones, "Learn the Signs. Act Early." (updated 2022). Ages 6–8 entries are general developmental/school-readiness expectations, not part of the official CDC checklist.
❤️ Social Emotional
How your baby connects, expresses feelings, and responds to people around them.
- Copies other children while playing, like taking toys out of a container
- Shows you an object they like
- Claps when excited
- Hugs a stuffed doll or other toy
- Shows you affection (hugs, cuddles, or kisses you)
💬 Language/Communication:
Early signs of listening, understanding, and communicating through sounds and expressions.
- Tries to say one or two words besides 'mama' or 'dada', like 'ba' for ball
- Looks at a familiar object when you name it
- Follows directions given with both a gesture and words
- Points to ask for something or to get help
🧠 Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem Solving):
How your baby explores, learns, pays attention, and understands the world.
- Tries to use things the right way, like a phone, cup, or book
- Stacks at least two small objects, like blocks
🤸 Movement/Physical:
Milestones that show growing strength, coordination, and physical abilities.
- Takes a few steps on their own
- Uses fingers to feed themselves some food
When to act early (15 months)
🚩 Talk to your doctor if your child doesn't try to say words, doesn't point to show things, can't walk, or doesn't copy others.
How to use:
Milestones are guides, not a pass/fail test; children vary, and many Indian children grow up multilingual, so a child may mix words from two languages or favour one, which is normal.
If you have concerns:
Talk to your pediatrician and ask about developmental screening. Acting early helps. In India you can also seek a District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) under the RBSK programme, or a developmental pediatrician.
Source: CDC's Developmental Milestones, "Learn the Signs. Act Early." (updated 2022). Ages 6–8 entries are general developmental/school-readiness expectations, not part of the official CDC checklist.
❤️ Social Emotional
How your baby connects, expresses feelings, and responds to people around them.
- Moves away from you, but looks to make sure you are close by
- Points to show you something interesting
- Puts hands out for you to wash them
- Looks at a few pages in a book with you
- Helps you dress them by pushing arm through sleeve or lifting up foot
💬 Language/Communication:
Early signs of listening, understanding, and communicating through sounds and expressions.
- Tries to say three or more words besides 'mama' or 'dada'
- Follows one-step directions without any gestures, like giving you the toy when you say 'Give it to me'
🧠 Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem Solving):
How your baby explores, learns, pays attention, and understands the world.
- Copies you doing chores, like sweeping with a broom
- Plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car
🤸 Movement/Physical:
Milestones that show growing strength, coordination, and physical abilities.
- Walks without holding on to anyone or anything
- Scribbles
- Drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes
- Feeds self with fingers
- Tries to use a spoon
- Climbs on and off a couch or chair without help
When to act early (18 months)
🚩 Talk to your doctor if your child doesn't point to show things, can't walk, doesn't know what familiar things are for, or loses skills they once had.
How to use:
Milestones are guides, not a pass/fail test; children vary, and many Indian children grow up multilingual, so a child may mix words from two languages or favour one, which is normal.
If you have concerns:
Talk to your pediatrician and ask about developmental screening. Acting early helps. In India you can also seek a District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) under the RBSK programme, or a developmental pediatrician.
Source: CDC's Developmental Milestones, "Learn the Signs. Act Early." (updated 2022). Ages 6–8 entries are general developmental/school-readiness expectations, not part of the official CDC checklist.
❤️ Social Emotional
How your baby connects, expresses feelings, and responds to people around them.
- Notices when others are hurt or upset, like pausing or looking sad when someone is crying
- Looks at your face to see how to react in a new situation
💬 Language/Communication:
Early signs of listening, understanding, and communicating through sounds and expressions.
- Points to things in a book when you ask, like 'Where is the bear?'
- Says at least two words together, like 'More milk'
- Points to at least two body parts when you ask them to show you
- Uses more gestures than just waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes
🧠 Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem Solving):
How your baby explores, learns, pays attention, and understands the world.
- Holds something in one hand while using the other, like holding a container and taking the lid off
- Tries to use switches, knobs, or buttons on a toy
- Plays with more than one toy at the same time, like putting toy food on a toy plate
🤸 Movement/Physical:
Milestones that show growing strength, coordination, and physical abilities.
- Kicks a ball
- Runs
- Walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help
- Eats with a spoon
When to act early (2 years)
🚩 Talk to your doctor if your child doesn't use two-word phrases, doesn't know what to do with common things, doesn't copy actions and words, or loses skills they once had.
How to use:
Milestones are guides, not a pass/fail test; children vary, and many Indian children grow up multilingual, so a child may mix words from two languages or favour one, which is normal.
If you have concerns:
Talk to your pediatrician and ask about developmental screening. Acting early helps. In India you can also seek a District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) under the RBSK programme, or a developmental pediatrician.
Source: CDC's Developmental Milestones, "Learn the Signs. Act Early." (updated 2022). Ages 6–8 entries are general developmental/school-readiness expectations, not part of the official CDC checklist.
❤️ Social Emotional
How your baby connects, expresses feelings, and responds to people around them.
- Calms down within 10 minutes after you leave them, like at a childcare drop-off
- Notices other children and joins them to play
💬 Language/Communication:
Early signs of listening, understanding, and communicating through sounds and expressions.
- Talks with you in conversation using at least two back-and-forth exchanges
- Asks 'who', 'what', 'where', or 'why' questions, like 'Where is mummy?'
- Says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like 'running', 'eating', 'playing'
- Says first name when asked
- Talks well enough for others to understand most of the time
🧠 Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem Solving):
How your baby explores, learns, pays attention, and understands the world.
- Draws a circle when you show them how
- Avoids touching hot objects, like a stove, when you warn them
🤸 Movement/Physical:
Milestones that show growing strength, coordination, and physical abilities.
- Strings items together, like large beads or macaroni
- Puts on some clothes by themselves, like loose pants or a jacket
- Uses a fork
When to act early (3 years)
🚩 Talk to your doctor if your child falls down a lot, doesn't speak in sentences, doesn't play pretend, or loses skills they once had.
How to use:
Milestones are guides, not a pass/fail test; children vary, and many Indian children grow up multilingual, so a child may mix words from two languages or favour one, which is normal.
If you have concerns:
Talk to your pediatrician and ask about developmental screening. Acting early helps. In India you can also seek a District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) under the RBSK programme, or a developmental pediatrician.
Source: CDC's Developmental Milestones, "Learn the Signs. Act Early." (updated 2022). Ages 6–8 entries are general developmental/school-readiness expectations, not part of the official CDC checklist.
❤️ Social Emotional
How your baby connects, expresses feelings, and responds to people around them.
- Follows rules or takes turns when playing games with other children
- Sings, dances, or acts for you
- Does simple chores at home, like matching socks or clearing the table
💬 Language/Communication:
Early signs of listening, understanding, and communicating through sounds and expressions.
- Tells a story they heard or made up with at least two events, like a cat was stuck in a tree and a firefighter saved it
- Answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it
- Keeps a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchanges
- Uses or recognises simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall)
🧠 Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem Solving):
How your baby explores, learns, pays attention, and understands the world.
- Counts to 10
- Names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to them
- Uses words about time, like 'yesterday', 'tomorrow', 'morning', 'night'
- Pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities (not screen time)
- Writes some letters in their name
- Names some letters when you point to them
🤸 Movement/Physical:
Milestones that show growing strength, coordination, and physical abilities.
- Buttons some buttons
- Hops on one foot
When to act early (5 years)
🚩 Talk to your doctor if your child doesn't show a range of emotions, is unusually withdrawn, can't tell what's real and make-believe, or loses skills they once had.
How to use:
Milestones are guides, not a pass/fail test; children vary, and many Indian children grow up multilingual, so a child may mix words from two languages or favour one, which is normal.
If you have concerns:
Talk to your pediatrician and ask about developmental screening. Acting early helps. In India you can also seek a District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) under the RBSK programme, or a developmental pediatrician.
Source: CDC's Developmental Milestones, "Learn the Signs. Act Early." (updated 2022). Ages 6–8 entries are general developmental/school-readiness expectations, not part of the official CDC checklist.
❤️ Social Emotional
How your baby connects, expresses feelings, and responds to people around them.
- Follows rules or takes turns when playing games with other children
- Sings, dances, or acts for you
- Does simple chores at home, like matching socks or clearing the table
💬 Language/Communication:
Early signs of listening, understanding, and communicating through sounds and expressions.
- Tells a story they heard or made up with at least two events, like a cat was stuck in a tree and a firefighter saved it
- Answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it
- Keeps a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchanges
- Uses or recognises simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall)
🧠 Cognitive (Learning, Thinking, Problem Solving):
How your baby explores, learns, pays attention, and understands the world.
- Counts to 10
- Names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to them
- Uses words about time, like 'yesterday', 'tomorrow', 'morning', 'night'
- Pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities (not screen time)
- Writes some letters in their name
- Names some letters when you point to them
🤸 Movement/Physical:
Milestones that show growing strength, coordination, and physical abilities.
- Buttons some buttons
- Hops on one foot
When to act early (5 years)
🚩 Talk to your doctor if your child doesn't show a range of emotions, is unusually withdrawn, can't tell what's real and make-believe, or loses skills they once had.
How to use:
Milestones are guides, not a pass/fail test; children vary, and many Indian children grow up multilingual, so a child may mix words from two languages or favour one, which is normal.
If you have concerns:
Talk to your pediatrician and ask about developmental screening. Acting early helps. In India you can also seek a District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) under the RBSK programme, or a developmental pediatrician.
Source: CDC's Developmental Milestones, "Learn the Signs. Act Early." (updated 2022). Ages 6–8 entries are general developmental/school-readiness expectations, not part of the official CDC checklist.
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