Attachment Milestones and Your Baby

Developmental milestones related to secure attachment

Between birth and 3 months, does your baby . . .

• Follow and react to bright colors, movement, and objects?
• Turn toward sounds?
• Show interest in watching people’s faces?
• Smile back when you smile?

Between 3 and 6 months, does your baby . . .

• Show joy when interacting with you?
• Make sounds, like cooing, babbling or crying, if happy or unhappy?
• Smile a lot during playtime?

Between 4 and 10 months, does your baby . . .

• Use facial expressions and sounds when interacting, like smiling, giggling or babbling?
• Have playful exchanges with you?
• Alternate back and forth with gestures (giving and taking), sounds and smiles?

Between 10-18 months, does your baby . . .

• Play games with you, like pee-a-boo or patty cake?
• Use sounds like ma, ba, na, da, and ga?
• Use different gestures (sometimes one after another) to show needs like giving, pointing
  or waving?
• Recognize his or her name when called?

Between 18 and 20 months, does your baby . . .

• Know and understand at least 10 words?
• Use at least four consonants in words or babbling, like b, d, m, n, p, t?
• Use words, gestures and signals to get needs met, like pointing at something, leading
  you to something?
• Enjoy simple pretend play, like hugging or feeding a doll or stuffed animal?
• Demonstrate familiarity with people or body parts by pointing or looking at them when
  named?

Between 24 Months, does your baby . . .

• Know and understand at least 50 words?
• Use two or more words together to say something, like “want milk,” or “more crackers?”
• Show more complex pretend play, like feeding the stuffed animal and then putting the
  animal in the stroller?
• Show interest in playing with other children by giving objects or toys to others?
• Respond to questions about familiar people or objects not present by looking for them?

At 36 Months, does your baby . . .

• Put thoughts and actions together, like “sleepy, want blanket,” or “hungry for yogurt
  (going to refrigerator)?”
• Enjoy playing with children and talking with other children?
• Talk about feelings, emotions and interests, and show knowledge about time (past and
  future)?
• Answer “who,” “what,” “when,” and “where” questions without too much trouble?
• Pretend to play different characters – either by dressing up and acting or with toy figures
  or dolls?