OT Milestones

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Birth-6 months

Gross motor skills

• 1 month: head bobs when held upright, kicks feet when on back 
• 2 months: lifts head briefly when placed on tummy 
• 3 months: lifts head 2 to 3 inches off surface and pushes up with forearms when placed on tummy 
• 4 months: straightens legs when feet touch a flat surface; when on tummy, lifts head and chest off surface while looking forward 
• 5 months: rolls from tummy to back (always supervise to avoid falls); pulls self forward to sitting position when you hold baby’s hands 
• 6 months: sits briefly without support; rolls from back to tummy 

Fine motor skills 

• 1 month: hands are in fists most of the time 
• 2 months: holds a rattle when placed in their hand 
• 3 months: reaches toward dangling objects and people’s faces 
• 4 months: holds and shakes rattle, plays with and watches their own fingers 
• 5 months: reaches for a toy with two hands; uses whole hand to grasp a toy 
• 6 months: passes a toy from one hand to another: bangs toy on table 

Self-help skills 

• 1 month: coordinated suck from breast or bottle nipple 
• 2 months: opens mouth when seeing breast or bottle nipple 
• 3 months: anticipates feedings, shows interest or excitement when seeing breast or bottle nipple 
• 4 months: brings toy to mouth 
• 5 months: places both hands on breast or bottle when nursing 
• 6 months: holds own bottle or cup during feedings

6-12 months

Gross motor skills

• reaches for feet 
• sits alone 
• stands with support 
• creeps and crawls on hands and knees 
• moves from tummy to sitting position 
• pulls on furniture to stand up 
• walks sideways while holding onto furniture 
• briefly stands without support 
• lowers self to floor with control 
• takes steps with hands held 

Fine motor skills

• uses hand and fingers to pick up small objects 
• bangs two objects together 
• transfers objects from one hand to the other 
• pokes and points at things, using index finger 
• handles toys in new ways: pulling, turning, poking, tearing 
• drops objects into containers 

Self-help skills

• feeds self finger foods using thumb and finger tips
• begins to hold a spoon and attempts to feed self 
• drinks from a cup with a lid or small sips from open cup 

12-18 months

Gross motor skills 

• walk independently 
• throw a ball forward 
• walk sideways and backwards 
• crawl up stairs 
• walk up and down stairs with help 
• play with pull and push toys, such as a toddler grocery cart 
• seat self in a child-sized chair, starts to crawl into car seat 

Fine motor skills 

• build a two-block tower 
• turn pages, 2 to 3 at a time 
• drop small objects, such as a raisin, into a bottle 
• explores holes of pegboard 
• scribble, spontaneously 
• places larger coin shape objects into slot openings 

Self-help skills 

• begin to use spoon and fork 
• drink from cup independently 
• take off socks and shoes (when laces are undone) 
• put arms through sleeve and legs through pants legs 
• try to wash face and hands 
• help put toys away 

18-24 months
Gross motor skills

• squat during play 
• throw ball forward 
• try to catch a ball with arms and body 
• jumps with galloping motion 
• use legs to propel non-motorized, ride-on toys 
• walk up and down stairs when one hand being held by an adult 

Fine motor skills 

• turn pages in a book one at a time 
• place pegs in a pegboard 
• string larger-sized beads 
• build towers of four or more blocks 
• scribble, try to draw lines up, down, and across a page, as well as circles
  

Self-help skills 

• feed self with a spoon and fork 
• suck through a straw 
• eat a combination of textures and chopped table foods 
• push arm through armholes in T-shirt to help with dressing 
• undress completely except for fasteners 
• understand and stay away from common dangers: sharp or hot objects 

24-36 months
Gross motor skills

• jump in place with both feet 
• climb up and go down a toddler slide 
• catch large ball thrown from 2 feet away 
• pedal tricycle 
• walk up and down stairs when one hand being held by an adult 
• stand briefly on one foot when one hand being held by an adult 
• walk backwards 

Fine motor skills 

• stack 1-inch blocks, six high 
• hold crayon with thumb and fingers 
• string large beads on a stiff string 
• snip and cut with a scissors 
• imitate vertical and horizontal lines, and circle 
• copy vertical and horizontal lines and circle 

3-5 years
Gross motor skills

• pedal a tricycle 
• catch an 8-inch ball thrown from 5 feet 
• alternate feet going up and down stairs 
• jump forward 8 to 12 inches 
• balance on each foot for 3 seconds 
• walk across a 4-inch balance beam 
• kick a ball rolling toward him or her 

Fine motor skills 

• draw a face 
• cut along straight and curved lines 
• copy and trace basic shapes 
• stack ten cubes 
• string 1-inch beads onto a string 
• hold a large crayon with thumb and 2 fingers 
• use preferred 

Self-help skills 

• skills that help children become more independent 
• feed self using utensils without spilling 
• put on and take off shoes without ties 
• dress and undress with some help 
• manipulate large buttons and snaps 
• wash hands with help 
• pour liquid from a small container 
• unscrew the cap of a toothpaste tube 
• use hair brush, toothbrush, and tissues with some help 
• climb in and out of the car, bathtub, and bed on own