Your child’s first 18 months are full of remarkable changes. From the earliest reflexes to the first words and wobbly steps, every stage lays the foundation for future learning and growth.
At Celebree School, our early childhood education programs support children through every stage. We follow CDC developmental milestones to help parents understand what to expect and how we nurture growth through play, exploration, and personalized care.
What Are CDC Developmental Milestones?
The CDC’s milestones outline what most children are expected to do by specific ages. These guidelines are organized into four key areas:
- Social-Emotional: How your child interacts with others.
- Language/Communication: How they understand and use language.
- Cognitive: How they learn, think, and solve problems.
- Movement/Physical Development: How they move their body and use their hands.
Milestones aren’t a strict checklist, but they help caregivers and educators track early development and identify when support may be needed.
Birth to 2 Months: Early Connection and Awareness
At just two months old, babies are already beginning to connect with the world. This stage is all about early bonding and sensory development. You’ll likely notice your baby start to smile when they see familiar faces, especially during feeding or diaper changes. They may also begin to follow your face with their eyes and respond to sounds by turning their head. While they’re still gaining neck strength, many babies can briefly hold their head up during tummy time. These early movements and reactions are signs that your baby is becoming more alert and aware of their surroundings.
By 4 Months: Building Social and Physical Strength
By four months, your baby becomes noticeably more social and expressive. Smiles become more frequent and intentional, often in response to your voice or touch. Babies at this age begin to mimic facial expressions and make a wider variety of sounds. They’re also gaining better head control and may begin pushing down on their legs when held in a standing position. Reaching for toys and bringing hands to the mouth are common as hand-eye coordination starts to improve. You may also notice them spending more time awake and alert, soaking in everything around them.
By 6 Months: Growing Independence and Movement
Six-month-olds are eager to explore. They often recognize familiar faces and may show excitement or curiosity when seeing new people. You might hear your baby start to babble with different sounds, and they may respond to their own name. Many babies begin sitting up with little or no support and can roll over in both directions. They’re also learning to pass objects from one hand to the other, an early sign of developing fine motor skills. This is a time of growing independence, but they still rely on trusted adults for comfort, interaction, and support.
By 9 Months: Early Communication and Problem-Solving
By nine months, babies begin to show a deeper understanding of the world. They often become cautious around unfamiliar people and may show a preference for certain toys or caregivers. Socially, they start to use sounds and gestures to communicate needs — for example, reaching out or making different tones of babbling. Cognitively, many babies begin to look for hidden objects, showing early problem-solving skills. Physically, this is when babies often begin to crawl, pull themselves to stand, and move confidently between sitting and changing positions. Their growing mobility reflects their curiosity and desire to engage with their environment.
By 12 Months: First Steps and First Words
Reaching the one-year mark is a major milestone. At 12 months, most children are becoming more expressive, both emotionally and verbally. You might hear them say simple words like “mama” or “uh-oh,” and they may repeat sounds they hear from you. Many toddlers at this age can follow basic instructions, like “give me the toy,” and understand simple phrases. You’ll likely see your child take their first steps, stand alone for a few seconds, or move along furniture for support. Emotional attachment becomes more obvious as they seek comfort from familiar adults and may cry when you leave the room.
By 18 Months: Emerging Independence and Language
At 18 months, toddlers begin to assert their independence. They may show interest in playing with other children, express what they want by pointing or using words, and explore their surroundings with growing confidence. Language is expanding — many toddlers can say several single words and may try to name familiar people or objects. They also understand more than they can say, following simple commands or pointing to body parts when asked. Physically, most children are walking independently and may even begin to run. You might also notice them feeding themselves with a spoon or drinking from a cup with minimal help — small signs of big developmental strides.
Supporting Your Child’s Growth at Celebree School
Every child grows at their own pace, and these milestones serve as helpful guideposts along the way. At Celebree School, our programs are designed to meet children where they are developmentally. Our teachers observe each child’s progress and adapt learning experiences to support growth in all areas — from communication to coordination. We also maintain close communication with families to celebrate achievements and address any concerns early.
When to Reach Out for Guidance
It’s normal for children to reach milestones on slightly different timelines. However, if you notice that your child has stopped gaining new skills, seems to lose skills they once had, or isn’t meeting several milestones in a given age range, talk to your pediatrician. Early intervention can make a meaningful difference. The CDC Milestone Tracker App is also a helpful tool for keeping track of your child’s development over time.
Discover More at Celebree School
Ready to see how Celebree School nurtures early development through personalized care and purposeful learning? Find a school near you or contact us to schedule a tour and learn more about our infant and toddler programs.