Growth and developmental milestones help you see how your child is doing compared with other children the same age. The milestones tell you what you should expect from your child in five areas.
- Physical growth
- Thinking and reasoning (cognitive development)
- Emotional and social development
- Language development
- Sensory and motor development
Children usually move in a natural and predictable way from one milestone to the next. But each child grows and gains skills at their own pace. Some children may be advanced in one area but may be behind in another.
If your child is meeting the milestones, they are on track. If your child keeps missing milestones or reaches a milestone but then loses that new ability, they may need extra help from your pediatrician or a pediatric specialist.