Milestones at 18 months
At 18 months the list adds independence with a safety check: moving away from you while looking back to make sure you are close. Three or more words and following a one-step direction without a gesture are the language items. Walking without holding on, scribbling and trying a spoon are among the six movement items. AAP recommends developmental and autism screening at this visit.
CDC's 18-month checklist lists 15 milestones: 5 social and emotional, 2 language and communication, 2 cognitive and 6 movement and physical development. The largest group at this age is movement and physical development, with 6 items. Each one is something most children (75% or more) can do by 18 months, so many children do it earlier.
AAP recommends general developmental screening with a standardized, validated tool and autism screening at the 18-month visit, so this is a good checkup to bring the checklist to. The checkpoint before this one is 15 months, with 13 milestones. The next is 2 years, with 13. For a baby born before 37 weeks, compare with the checklist for the corrected age until 2.
AAP recommends general developmental screening with a standardized, validated tool and autism screening at the 18-month well-child visit. At the next checkpoint (2 years): autism screening.
Screening ages: AAP, via CDCSocial and emotional5 items
“Moves away from you, but looks to make sure you are close by”
Most children (75%+) by 18 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Points to show you something interesting”
Most children (75%+) by 18 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Puts hands out for you to wash them”
Most children (75%+) by 18 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Looks at a few pages in a book with you”
Most children (75%+) by 18 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Helps you dress him by pushing arm through sleeve or lifting up foot”
Most children (75%+) by 18 months · many earlier · Source: CDC
Language and communication2 items
“Tries to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada””
Most children (75%+) by 18 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Follows one-step directions without any gestures, like giving you the toy when you say, “Give it to me.””
Most children (75%+) by 18 months · many earlier · Source: CDC
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)2 items
“Copies you doing chores, like sweeping with a broom”
Most children (75%+) by 18 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car”
Most children (75%+) by 18 months · many earlier · Source: CDC
Movement and physical development6 items
“Walks without holding on to anyone or anything”
Most children (75%+) by 18 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Scribbles”
Most children (75%+) by 18 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes”
Most children (75%+) by 18 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Feeds himself with his fingers”
Most children (75%+) by 18 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Tries to use a spoon”
Most children (75%+) by 18 months · many earlier · Source: CDC“Climbs on and off a couch or chair without help”
Most children (75%+) by 18 months · many earlier · Source: CDC
Checklist items quoted from CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” milestones for 18 months (Source: CDC). “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” materials are not a substitute for standardized, validated developmental screening tools.
If something is “not yet”
“You know your child best. Don’t wait. If your child is not meeting one or more milestones, has lost skills he or she once had, or you have other concerns, act early. Talk with your child’s doctor, share your concerns, and ask about developmental screening.”
Source: CDC, milestone checklist for 18 months
- Write down the items you answered “Not yet” or “Not sure”, with an example of what you see at home.
- Bring the list to your child’s doctor and ask whether a developmental screening is a good next step.
- Under 3? Call your state’s early intervention program and ask for a free evaluation. You don’t need a referral.
- 3 or older? Call your local public elementary school and ask for a preschool special education evaluation.