Developmental

Milestone
Guide

Purposeful Play Pediatrics, LLC

About Me

Hi! My name is Amanda - the mom

and occupational therapist behind
Purposeful Play Pediatrics.

Professionally, I am a licensed
occupational therapist in the state of
New Jersey with over 10 years
experience in the field.

When I first became a mom in 2016, I

found myself very anxious about my
child's development. I now strive to
help other parents ease their anxiety
and facilitate their baby's
development.

My mission is parent education -

providing easy to implement
strategies that you can incorporate
into your daily routine with your baby.
With the right tools and instruction
you can be confident encouraging
your baby's development right in the
comfort of your home.

I am so happy you are here!

Newborn Phase (0-2 months)
o Opens eye intermittently
o Can see 8-12 inches
away; mainly high contrast
colors
o Tracks objects with eyes
while on back or propped
on tummy with head
moving with eyes
o Physiological flexion
present with occasional
extension
o Tolerates modified tummy
time with elbows
underneath body
o Lifts head intermittently to
90* on tummy towards end
of this stage
o Hands are closed and
reflexive grasp is present
o Begins to keep head in
middle while on back
towards end of this age
range
o Begins to quiet when
hearing mother's voice
o Rooting reflex present -
turns toward nutrient
source when cheek is
stroked
o ATNR reflex present -
when head is turned left,
left arm is straight and
right arm is bent
o Enjoys being swaddled to
mimic the womb position
o Short wake windows and
frequent feedings
o May begin to smile
towards end of this stage,
but smile is not in
response to stimuli
o Able to sleep with head
alternating to each side
but may desire to rest
towards one side
preferably
o Is calmed by
rocking,swaying, singing,
shushing
 Early Mover (2-5 months)
o Attentive to high o Uses hands together and
contrast,bright and light begins to explore with
up items mouth

o Begins to see mother or o Begins to have arms

caregiver across the straight on tummy and
room may exhibit Landau reflex
(swimming)
o Baby beings to keep
hands more open and o Begins to track with eyes
grasps more purposefully while head stays in midline
in addition to tracking with
o Kicks both arms and legs head turning
together
o Begins to smile more
o May roll onto back or purposeful in response to
belly when in sidelying stimuli
position
o Longer wake windows and
o Tolerates tummy time on longer stretches between
floor on elbows or with feedings
arms straight in front and
may roll from belly to o Becomes more interested
back from elbows in cause and effect toys
towards the end of this
o Lifting head to 90* on stage, but sensorimotor is
tummytime and is able to a primary type of play
hold for extended
periods of time o May roll from back onto
sides
o No noted preferences
when turning head to o Able to play on tummy, on
both sides on tummy or back, in sidelying, and
back supported sitting positions
 Roller & Sitter (5-9 months)
o Has preferences to toys and
people
o Begins to initiate purposeful
movement to achieve desired
action (ex. roll over to retrieve
desired toy, hand to mouth in
feeding)
o Begins to prop sit with hands
on floor initially
o Beings to sit with straight back
and tall posture and use
hands during sitting
o Begins solids and less bottle
feedings once starting solids
o Tolerates tummy time with
arms straight in front and
begins to lift one hand to
manipulate toys while on
tummy. Rolls belly to back
o Pivots in circles when on
tummy (equal to both sides
once skill is established)
o Grasps feet and rolls from
back to belly
o Places items in mouth to
explore and soothe incoming
teeth
o Coordinates vision and hands
well in order to grasp and
manipulate items purposefully
o Begins to babble and imitate
sounds and mouth
movements(ex. sticking tongue
out)
o Begins to transition from floor
to sitting and sitting to floor
towards end of this stage
o Can see across the room
andnotices when others leave
theroom
o Notices other people, animalsin
play space
o Smiles, giggles frequently
inresponse to stimuli
o Able to play on knees,
insidesitting, in sitting, and
mayassume quadruped (all
fours forcrawling position)
 Crawler & Walker (9-17 months)
o Begins to transition from
sitting to all fours
o Begins to rock on all fours
in prep for crawling
o Begins to assume various
positions into play
independently (on knees,
one knee up, on all fours,
etc)
o Begins to crawl on all fours
with alternating movement
o Begins to free hand when
on all fours and engage in
play
o Begins to pull to stand
cruise along furniture,
chairs, etc
o Begins to free hands in
standing to balance
o Begins to grasp items with
index and thumb
o Transfer objects from one
hand to another and can
purposeful place items into
large openings
o Begins to notice other children
in environment
o May clap hands and initiate
game of peek-a-boo
o Able to place small items into
small slots (ex. pegs into
openings) at end of this stage
o Begins to stack 1-3 blocks
towards end of this stage
o Begins to use toys for their
purpose and pretend play (ex.
brings toy phone up to ear,etc)
towards end of this stage
o Begins to recognize name and
may respond to simple
requests
o Begins to climb and take
independent steps
o Begins to enjoy playing with
ride-a-long toys
o Uses spoon to feed self (may
be messy), holds own bottle,
and finger feeds self
 I'm here to help you!

Helping parents brings me so much happiness. I am here to help with

all your concerns regarding developmental milestone achievements -
whatever your baby needs!

Set up a free developmental call with me to see how we can help

your baby over their developmental hump. Whether that be tummy
time tolerance, rolling, crawling, or others - I am happy to help!

Talk soon,
Amanda, OTR/L