Human Services
First Steps To Your Baby's Future
First Steps Checklist: If you answer "no" to any one question, please talk to your child's doctor or call the Parent Infant Education (PIE) Program at 703-228-1630.
Safety Tips
- Is your home "child-proof"?
- Does your baby always ride in a car seat when riding in a car?
- Do you have a regular place to go for your baby's health care (pediatrician, family doctor, public health clinic)?
All infants should have well baby check-ups by their doctor every three months for the first year and a half, and at least every six months after that until the child is three years old.
Newborn to 3 Months Old
- Does your baby smile back at you when you smile and talk to him/her or gently touch his/her face?
- Is your baby making cooing sounds like "oooo" and "aaaa"?
- Does your baby lift his/her head and chest lying on his/her tummy?
- Does your baby watch you when you walk across the room?
- Has your baby seen the doctor at least two times for well baby checkups?
3 to 6 Months Old
- Does your baby laugh and babble (say "bababa" or "dadada")?
- Does your baby roll from his/her back to his/her tummy?
- Does your baby turn his/her head to sounds like your voice, radio, or TV?
- Does your baby reach for and hold a toy?
- Does your baby play with his/her hands by touching them together?
- Has your baby seen the doctor at least one time for a well baby check-up since he/she was three months old?
6 to 9 Months Old
- Does your baby sit up by his/herself without falling?
- Does your baby look for a small toy when he/she sees you drop it?
- Is your baby beginning to play peek-a-boo or wave bye-bye after he/she sees you do it?
- Has your baby seen any doctor at least one time for a well baby check-up since he/she was six months old?
9 to 12 Months Old
- Does your baby look at the right thing when you say words like bottle or ball?
- Does your baby pull up to standing by holding onto furniture?
- Does your baby say Mama or Dada to the right person?
- Does your baby pick up small things (like a raisin or a Cheerio) using his/her
thumb and one finger? - Has your baby seen the doctor at least one time since he/she was nine months old?
12 to 15 Months Old
- Does your baby point to or ask for things he/she wants?
- Does your baby feed him/herself with his/her fingers?
- Does your baby like being the center of attention?
- Does your baby walk by him/herself?
- Has your baby seen the doctor for his/her 12-month well baby check-up?
15 to 18 Months Old
- Does your baby drink from a cup?
- Does your baby point to body parts (like nose, eyes, feet) when you name them?
- Does your baby like to put things in and out of containers?
- Does your baby say words to tell you what he/she wants?
- Does your baby like to look at books and turn pages by him/herself?
- Has your baby seen the doctor for his/her 15-month well baby check-up?
18 to 24 Months Old
- Has your child begun to put two words together (like "Mama's shoe," "Car go," "Daddy bye-bye")?
- Does your child point to picture in a book when you name them?
- Does your child run?
- Does your child take off his/her sweater, hat or socks all by him/herself?
- Has your child had his/her 18 month well baby check-up?
24 to 30 Months Old
- Does your child walk up stairs?
- Does your child make a straight line with a crayon after you do it?
- Does your child follow a simple two-step direction (like "Go to your room and get me a diaper")?
30 to 36 Months Old
- Does your child know his/her first name?
- Does your child unbutton buttons?
- Does your child ask questions?
- Does your child jump up and down?
- Does your child understand the meaning of words like "in," "out," "on," and "behind"?
- Does your child understand "Bring me a diaper," or "Give me one cookie"?