Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Developmental milestones
Introduction
Developmental milestones are tasks most children learn, or physical developments, that commonly appear in certain age ranges. For example:
- Ability to lift and control the orientation of the head (Neck control) is attained at about 3 months
- Crawling begins at about 7 months
- Walking unsupported is attained at about 12 months
- Speech begins
- Voice lowers in pitch (especially noticeable in boys)
- Pubic hair appears
- Genitals and reproductive organs mature
- Menses begin (females)
- Body hair and facial hair appears
“Normal” age ranges for many milestones are broad (a factor of 1.5 – 2 from bottom to top is possible). For this and other reasons, a single delayed milestone, especially task-related, is rarely in itself a basis for diagnosing a problem.
Note: the Tanner stages can be used to approximately judge a child’s age based on physical development.
External links
External links
- CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” campaign – Information for parents on early childhood development and developmental disabilities
- UMich
- NIH
- March of Dimes
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]