New Developmental Milestone Guidelines

We’ve all done it—watched a baby take a first step and immediately wondered: Is that early? Late? Right on time? Developmental milestones have long felt like a moving target for parents trying to gauge what’s typical.

Developmental milestone guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developed in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), reflect when most children have reached key skills rather than an average age. This shift helps identify potential delays earlier and more consistently.

This can be done in a variety of ways:

• Allow your child to explore different environments—living room floor, bedroom floor, front or backyard, parks, etc.
• Make sure there are no hazards—pad sharp corners on furniture and remove large rocks or hard surfaces they could fall on
• Provide stable objects they can pull up on—coffee table, picnic bench or even your leg. Note: some push toys are on wheels and may feel unstable, which can discourage early walking
• Make the area around them interesting to promote the desire to move toward objects, pull up and cruise

The above strategies support your child in learning to walk, but when they take those first steps is up to them—their body and their developing skills. It is hard not to push our children to meet the next milestones and to succeed or excel, but remember: They are still evolving, and they need to do it in the way that best fits their needs. Your job is to provide the opportunities and “teachable moments.”

Children learn from the adults, interactions and opportunities in their everyday lives. You, their parents, know your child best. If you have concerns that your child is not meeting their milestones, check with your pediatrician and/or explore your local early intervention program.

Warning signs that your child may need extra help:

• Not rolling over or sitting by 10 months
• Not crawling by 12 months
• Not walking by 18 months (earlier guidelines often cited 12 months as typical, but current CDC and AAP guidance reflects a wider range of development)

If children are delayed, the earlier they receive intervention, the better. Early intervention decreases the chances they will have additional delays or need special services or education later.

What Counts as “Walking”?

Parents often wonder what qualifies as “walking.” In developmental terms, walking means:

• Taking a few independent steps without support
• Moving from one place to another on their own
• Not relying on furniture, toys or a person for balance

Cruising along furniture or pushing a toy is an important step—but it’s not considered independent walking yet.

Physical and Motor Milestones for Babies

Most children reach these skills within these ranges.

Newborn to 2 months

• Turns head to both sides while on back

3-4 months

• Rolls from belly to back

5 months

• Plays with objects using hands and feet

6-8 months

• Sits up without support

8-10 months

• Crawls on hands and knees

9-12 months

• Cruises around furniture

12-18 months

• Walks alone

Angela Percival-Porter is a child development specialist for the State of Oklahoma. She is an adjunct professor, former director of an NAEYC-accredited early learning center, and a consultant to childcare centers.