Milestone

Checklist: Birth to
Walking

DEANA ROSAIA PT, DPT, PCS | @NEXTSMALLSTEP

 Welcome!
I am so glad that you are here! This checklist is meant to guide you
with ideas and inspiration for milestones birth to walking. This is not a
complete list, but rather some fo my favorite skills & activities. I firmly
believe that knowledge is power and empowered parents raise
powerful kids. If you find yourself wondering "am I doing this right?"
or "how should this go?" Please know I have many video exampled
on Insta @NextSmallstep - come hang out!

Please always feel empowered to advocate with your health care

providers if you are concerned about your baby!

Cheers!

deana
Be sure to follow along on Insta for all the development love

@NEXTSMALLSTEP
WWW.NEXTSMALLSTEP.ORG
 Milestones
New Born - 2 months
Lifts head briefly in tummy time and supported sitting

Rotates head equally side to side in all positions

Bicycle kicks with legs on back & tummy

May begin to bat at or reach for objects by 2 months

Smiling by 2 months

Tracking your face side to side & looking at you

Hands might be closed or held in a loose fist

Play Activities
Tummy time chest to chest while baby lifts head

Side lying with support from parent or swaddle roll

Supported standing on your lap

Reclining baby in your lap while singing, talking,

smiling & reading

DEANA ROSAIA PT, DPT, PCS | @NEXTSMALLSTEP

 Milestones
3-4 months
Keeps head in the middle when laying on back

Rolling back to sides

Reaching to middle to grab toys & bring to mouth

with hands fully open

Tummy time with head lifting to fully upright

Plays in side lying

May be rolling tummy to back

Cooing with vowel sounds, mimicking faces, smiling &

may be laughing

Play Activities
Tummy time on the floor or firm surface 3x/day

Side lying with reaching to a toy

Reaching for toys placed to the sides or in the middle

Practice rolling back <> tummy with help

DEANA ROSAIA PT, DPT, PCS | @NEXTSMALLSTEP

 Milestones
5-6 months
Rolling from back <> tummy

Prop sitting forward and coming to upright for 1 minute

Tummy time while pushing up on hands

Reaching for toys in tummy time

Hands reaching to feet to grab toes

Laughing & socially engaging with parents

May be moving in a circle or backwards on tummy time

Play Activities
Play with feet during diaper changes or loosely hang
toys to encourage reaching towards toes.
Place toys close and slightly to the sides to help
reaching on tummy
Play in sitting with large toy in front to encourage
upright propping while supporting babies legs
Lots & lots of rolling & play on the floor

DEANA ROSAIA PT, DPT, PCS | @NEXTSMALLSTEP

 Milestones
7-9 months
Pre crawling: moving in a circle, rocking on hands &
knee, downward dog, plank, backwards
Sitting upright independently

Moving from from sitting > tummy

Might be pulling to kneeling, pulling to standing &

crawling on belly or hands & knees

Babbling with vowels & consonants

Banging toys together in the middle while sitting

Passing toys between hands

Play Activities
Moving toys in a circle while on tummy to encourage
pre crawling
Provide low surfaces like couch cushion on the floor
to kneeling pulling to kneeling & kneeling play
Sitting with baby between your legs with toys outside
of your leg to help sitting > tummy transitions
Hand & knees over your lower leg with reaching to
toys

DEANA ROSAIA PT, DPT, PCS | @NEXTSMALLSTEP

 Milestones
10-12 months & beyond
Hand & knees crawling by 10 months

Transitioning floor > sitting by 10 months

Pulling to standing at furniture by 12 months

Cruising along furniture

Using push toys or walking with hand held assist

Standing without assistance for up to 10 seconds

Taking independent steps by 16-18 months

Play Activities
Squatting to the floor to pick up toys then move
back to standing
Move the dang toys up! Play in standing at least 75%
of the time once getting into standing on their own
Sitting with baby between your legs with toys outside
of your leg to help sitting > tummy transitions
Walking while pushing a toy, full laundry basket,
kitchen chair or diaper box

DEANA ROSAIA PT, DPT, PCS | @NEXTSMALLSTEP

 Milestones
10-12 months Continued...
Moving from floor to standing without holding on

Climbing off furniture & crawling downstairs

Clapping, waving, point to objects

1-5 words by 12 months

Turning pages of a board book

Taking toys out and putting back in by 12-14 months

Pincer grasp with self feeding

Play Activities
Cognitive play & fine motor play: put in, take out, put
on , take off
Reading, turning pages of books, helping with
dressing routine
Announcing & emphasizing common activities "baby
is drinking milk in a red cup!"
Cruising circle: create many easily connected surfaces
in your home for baby to practice moving between

DEANA ROSAIA PT, DPT, PCS | @NEXTSMALLSTEP

 Thank You!
Cheers to being an empowered parent raising
powerful kids! Let's celebrate each small step on our
babies milestone journey and our parenthood. I want
to see you shine! Tag me in videos on IG, shoot me an
email, share your wins - development is beautiful and I
am your #1 fan.

deana
Disclaimer:

These educational material is not intended to serve as medical advice and cannot be used as
a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment that can only be
provided by a physician or approved health care professional. The instructor IS NOT
providing medical services or physical therapy services.