Developmental Milestones
Evidence-based milestones from birth to age 5. See what to expect, when to act, and what you can do right now.
Speech & Sounds
3 milestones
Speech & Sounds
3 milestones
Cooing
Your baby starts making soft, vowel-like sounds -- "ooo" and "aah." These are the very first building blocks of speech.
Example: You might hear gentle "ooo" or "aah" sounds when your baby is calm and content, especially during diaper changes or quiet cuddle time.
Crying with different patterns
Believe it or not, your baby is already communicating! Different cries mean different things -- hunger, discomfort, tiredness. You are learning their language.
Example: A short, rhythmic cry often means hunger. A high-pitched, sharp cry may signal pain. A fussy, on-and-off whimper usually means "I'm tired."
Vocal play with sounds
Your baby experiments with their voice -- squealing, gurgling, and making little noises just for the fun of it.
Example: During bath time or tummy time, you might hear random squeals and gurgles as your baby discovers what their voice can do.
Language & Understanding
3 milestones
Language & Understanding
3 milestones
Startles to loud sounds
Your baby's hearing is working! They'll jump, blink, or cry when they hear a sudden loud noise. This is a great sign that their hearing system is developing normally.
Example: If a door slams or a dog barks, your baby might flinch, throw their arms out, or start crying.
Quiets to familiar voices
Your baby already knows YOUR voice from the womb. When you talk or sing softly, they'll often calm down and become still. This is the very beginning of understanding language.
Example: When your baby is fussy and you start talking gently, they may stop moving, widen their eyes, or turn toward you.
Recognizes caregiver's voice
Research shows newborns prefer their mother's voice over other voices from birth. They may turn toward you, brighten their eyes, or become more alert when you speak.
Example: When dad or grandma is holding the baby and mom starts talking from across the room, baby may turn toward mom's voice.
Social Communication
3 milestones
Social Communication
3 milestones
Makes eye contact
Your baby starts gazing at faces, especially yours, from very close distances (about 8-12 inches -- roughly the distance from your arms to your face during feeding).
Example: During feeding, your baby locks eyes with you and seems to study your face intently.
Social smile emerges
Around 6-8 weeks, you'll see the magical first "real" smile -- not gas, but a genuine response to seeing your face or hearing your voice. This is a major social milestone.
Example: You lean in close, smile and say "Hi baby!" and your baby breaks into a wide, gummy grin right back at you.
Calms when picked up or spoken to
Your baby is learning that people are comforting. When they're upset and you hold them close or talk soothingly, they start to settle. This builds the foundation of trust and communication.
Feeding Skills
3 milestones
Feeding Skills
3 milestones
Rooting and sucking reflexes
Your baby automatically turns toward anything that touches their cheek and starts sucking. These reflexes are essential for breast or bottle feeding.
Example: When you stroke your baby's cheek, they turn toward your finger and open their mouth, ready to feed.
Coordinated suck-swallow-breathe
By about 1 month, most babies can rhythmically suck, swallow, and breathe during feeding without too much difficulty. This three-part pattern is incredibly complex -- it's one of the first things SLPs assess.
Feeds every 2-3 hours
Frequent feeding is completely normal at this age. Your baby's stomach is tiny (about the size of a walnut at birth) and they need to eat often.
When to Talk to Your Pediatrician
These are signs that it may be worth requesting a speech-language evaluation. Having one or two doesn't automatically mean there's a problem, but it's always better to ask than to wait and wonder.
- Does not startle or react to loud sounds at all
- No social smile by 2 months (adjusted age for preemies)
- Does not seem to recognize your voice or look at faces
- Difficulty feeding -- frequent choking, gagging, or taking over 30 minutes per feed
- Very stiff body or very floppy body (not the typical newborn curl)
- No cooing or vocal sounds by 3 months
What You Can Do Right Now
Talk to your baby during everyday routines -- narrate diaper changes, describe what you see on walks, tell them about your day. It doesn't matter what you say; your voice is building their brain.
Get face-to-face during calm, alert moments. Hold your baby about 8-12 inches from your face and make exaggerated expressions -- big smiles, wide eyes, raised eyebrows. They're wired to study your face.
When your baby coos or makes any sound, respond! Pause, look at them, and "answer" by imitating the sound back. This back-and-forth teaches them that communication is a two-way street.
Things Parents Worry About at This Age
“My baby doesn't seem to look at me during feeding”
“Is it normal that my newborn only cries and doesn't make other sounds?”
“My baby doesn't smile yet -- is something wrong?”
“My baby seems to ignore some sounds”
A Note from an SLP
These first 3 months are sometimes called the "fourth trimester" -- your baby is still adjusting to the world. Some babies coo at 4 weeks, others not until 10 weeks, and both are perfectly normal. Preemies often hit milestones based on their adjusted age (due date, not birth date), so give them that extra time. Right now, the most important thing you can do is hold, talk to, and respond to your baby. That IS therapy.
Every child develops at their own pace. These milestones are guidelines, not deadlines. If you have concerns, talk to your pediatrician or request a speech-language evaluation. You do not need a referral in most states.
Milestones aligned with ASHA developmental norms, CDC “Learn the Signs. Act Early” (2022 update), AAP Bright Futures guidelines, and the Rossetti Infant-Toddler Language Scale. Premature babies should use their adjusted age for milestone comparisons until age 2.