Prep for First Steps

Checklist
This developmental checklist has been broken down into 4 main categories so you can understand the skills needed
for each milestone.

Some age ranges have been included as a general guideline, but these ages may vary.

If you have a preterm infant, born before 37 weeks, be sure to consider adjusted age when evaluating milestone
development.

Infant Insights, LLC

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 Newborn Phase (0-2 months)
Opens eyes intermittently
Shaky, tremor-like
movements at times
Can see ~8-12 ft away and
high contrast items
Tracks objects with eyes while
on back or propped on tummy
with head moving with eyes
Physiological flexion with
limbs with occasional extension
Tolerates modified tummy time
with elbows underneath body
Lifts head intermittently to
90* on tummy towards end of
this stage
Hands are closed and
reflexive grasp is present
Begins to keep head in middle
while on back towards end of
this age range
Begins to quiet when hearing
mother's voice
Rooting reflex present - turns
toward nutrient source when
cheek is stroked
ATNR reflex present - when
head is turned left, left arm is
straight and right arm is bent
Enjoys being swaddled to
mimic the womb position
Short wake windows and
frequent feedings
May begin to smile towards
end of this stage, but smile is
not in response to stimuli
Able to sleep with head
alternating to one side but
may desire to rest towards one
side preferably
Is calmed by rocking,
swaying, singing, shushing
 Early Mover (2-4 months)
Attentive to high contrast,
bright and light up items
Begins to see mother or
caregiver across the room
Baby beings to keep hands
more open and grasps more
purposefully
Kicks both arms and legs
together
May roll onto back or belly
when in sidelying position
Tolerates tummy time on floor
on elbows or with arms straight
in front and may roll from belly
to back from elbows
Lifting head to 90* on tummy
time and is able to hold for
extended periods of time
No noted preferences when
turning head to both sides on
tummy or back
Uses hands together and
begins to explore with mouth
Begins to have arms straight
on tummy and may exhibit
Landau reflex (swimiming)
Begins to track with eyes while
head stays in midline in
addition to tracking with head
turning
Begins to smile more
purposeful in response to
stimuli
Longer wake windows and
longer stretches between
feedings
Becomes more interested in
cause and effect toys, but
sensorimotor play is the main
form of play
May roll fron back onto sides
Able to play on tummy, on
back, in sidelying, and
supprted sitting postions
 Roller & Sitter (5-8 months)
Has preferences to toys
and people
Begins to initiate purposeful
movement to achieve
desired action (ex. roll over
to retrieve desired toy, hand
to mouth in feeding)
Begins to prop sit with hands
on floor initally
Beings to sit with straight
back and tall posture and use
hands during sitting
Begins solids and less bottle
feedings once starting solids
Tolerates tummy time with
arms straight in front and
begins to lift one hand to
manipulate toys while on
tummy. Rolls belly to back
Pivots in circles when on
tummy (equal to both sides
once skill is established)
Grasps feet and rolls from
back to belly
Places everything in mouth to
explore and soothe incoming
teeth
Coordinates vision and hands
well in order to grasp and
manipulate items purposefully
Begins to babble and imitate
sounds and mouth movements
(ex. sticking tongue out)
Begins to transition from floor
to sitting and sitting to floor
towards end of this stage
Can see across the room and
notices when others leave the
room
Notices other people, animals
in play space
Smiles, giggles frequently in
response to stimuli
Able to play on knees, in
sidesitting, in sitting, and may
assume quadruped (all fours for
crawling position)
 Crawler & Walker (9-17 months)
Begins to transition from
sitting to all fours
Begins to rock on all fours in
prep for crawling
Begins to assume various
positions into play
independently (on knees, one
knee up, on all fours, etc)
Begins to crawl on all fours
with alternating movements
Begins to free hand when on
all fours and engage in play
Begins to pull to stand cruise
along furniture, chairs, etc
Begins to free hands in
standing to balance and walk
with hands held
Begins to grasp items with
index and thumb
Transfer objects from one
hand to another and can
purposeful place items
Begins to notice other
children in environment
May clap hands and initiate game
of peek-a-boo
Able to place small items into
small slots (ex. pegs into
openings)
Begins to stack blocks towards
end of this stage
Begins to use toys for their
purpose and pretend play (ex.
brings toy phone up to ear,
etc)
Begins to recognize name and
may respond to simple
requests
Notices other people, animals
in play space
Begins to enjoy playing with
ride-a-long toys
Uses spoon to feed self (may be
messy), holds own bottle, and
finger feeds self