All babies are unique little beings, each with their own personalities and developmental profile. At ECAS, we know that developmental milestones come in a broad range, and not all skills occur at the same time for all babies. The good news is, for all but a few babies, these skills all eventually emerge without additional support.

The skills below are to be used as guidelines only. If your baby is not reaching these milestones by the end of the eighteenth month, it should not cause you concern. Just use your instincts! Call your pediatrician and he/she will refer you to your local early intervention team.

Your baby should be able to do the following by the end of the 18th month:

• Point to one body part
• Point to what he/she wants
• Follows simple one step directions, e.g. “Go get our cup in the kitchen”
• Places shapes in a shape sorter and rings on a ring stack
• Recognizes and points to animals in a picture
• Says 15- 20 words (by 20 months)

• Attempts to sing sounds to songs
• Walking independently
• Walking up and down stairs with hand held
• Throws ball forward
• Can use two hands together

• Builds tower with three cubes
• Places pegs in a pegboard
• Imitates adults e.g. doing household cores
• Plays ball cooperatively
• Eats all table foods

• Not pointing with index finger to what he/she wants
• Not pointing to interesting objects to “show you”
• Not engaging in simple pretend play, e.g. talking on the phone and handing it to you to talk
• Does not look at an object when you point to it and tell them to “look!”
• Not looking at you while playing with toys (more interested in the toy than the play partner)
• Not spontaneously saying words to label what he/she wants

• Not imitating gestures, sounds, words or actions with toys
• Is not walking independently
• Does not point to body parts when you ask, “Where is your nose?”
• Does not eat foods that the rest of the family is eating
• Does not follow directions when you ask, “Go get the ball” (without pointing or gesturing)