Development Milestones to Watch for in 2025

By Priya Elkins, Early Years Contributor | Baby & Toddler Column | Childcare Standards Council

Watching your little one grow is one of the most heartwarming, and sometimes bewildering parts of early parenthood. From those first smiles to first steps, your baby’s development is full of exciting milestones that signal their growth and wellbeing.

In 2025, while the foundational stages of development remain consistent, there are updated insights and tools to support parents and carers in tracking and nurturing these moments.

Whether you're a first time parent, a seasoned caregiver, or an early years professional, understanding what to expect and when can help you provide the right support at the right time.

Let’s explore the key developmental milestones for babies and toddlers in 2025, and how best to encourage them along the way.

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What Are Developmental Milestones?

Developmental milestones are a set of functional skills or age specific tasks that most children can do within a certain age range. These fall into categories such as:

• Motor skills (gross and fine)

• Language and communication

• Cognitive development

• Social and emotional development

While every child develops at their own pace, milestones help parents and professionals recognise potential concerns early and celebrate achievements along the journey.

Milestones by Age Group (2025 Overview)

0 to 6 Months: Bonding and Basic Movement

In the early months, your baby is rapidly adjusting to the world outside the womb. In 2025, paediatric guidance continues to emphasise responsive caregiving, paying close attention to cues and establishing secure attachments.

Typical milestones include:

• Smiling responsively (usually around 6 to 8 weeks)

• Lifting head during tummy time

• Following objects with their eyes

• Beginning to coo and make gurgling sounds

• Bringing hands to mouth

• Recognising familiar voices and faces

Use soft, high contrast toys and speak gently to encourage visual tracking and early social engagement.

6 to 12 Months: Movement and Early Communication

This stage is full of discovery. Babies become more mobile and start to experiment with sounds and cause and effect.

Milestones to watch for:

• Sitting up without support

• Passing objects between hands

• Responding to their own name

• Saying simple sounds like “ba” or “da”

• Showing interest in mirror reflections

• Beginning to crawl or shuffle

New for 2025: Early years health visitors may use updated digital developmental checklists, which include more nuanced indicators of early communication and motor control.

Encourage safe floor play and narrate your actions, “Mummy is picking up the red ball!”, to support both mobility and language.

12 to 18 Months: First Steps and First Words

By their first birthday, many children begin to show independence and curiosity. While some may be walking or talking, others might still be building up to it, and that’s perfectly normal.

Key milestones:

• Pulling to stand and taking first steps

• Using simple words like “mama”, “dada”, or “bye bye”

• Pointing to objects of interest

• Understanding basic instructions like “no” or “come here”

• Imitating gestures, such as waving or clapping

Celebrate efforts, not just outcomes. Applauding their attempt to say “dog” or their wobbly steps builds confidence.

18 to 24 Months: Big Emotions and Growing Vocabulary

This age often brings a burst in vocabulary and emotional expression, along with the infamous toddler tantrums. In 2025, there’s growing awareness of emotional regulation in toddlers and the importance of supporting feelings through modelling and language.

Common milestones include:

• Saying 10 to 50 words and combining two word phrases (“more juice”, “mummy go”)

• Showing interest in other children

• Engaging in simple pretend play (feeding a doll, talking on a toy phone)

• Climbing onto furniture

• Demonstrating defiance or strong preferences

Validate feelings with words, “You’re upset because we stopped playing”, to support emotional literacy and trust.

2 to 3 Years: Independence and Imagination

As toddlers near their third birthday, they’re often bursting with personality, opinions, and an eagerness to explore.

Their motor skills become more refined, and language flourishes.

Look for:

• Running, jumping, and kicking a ball

• Using simple sentences (“I want more milk”)

• Playing with others (though parallel play is still common)

• Naming most everyday items

• Sorting objects by shape or colour

• Beginning toilet training readiness

In 2025, many nurseries and childminders are implementing play based assessments to track social and cognitive growth without pressure.

Give your toddler choices (“Do you want the blue cup or the red one?”) to support independence and cooperation.

What’s New in 2025?

While the core principles of early childhood development haven’t changed, here are a few trends and tools to be aware of this year:

• Digital Health Records: Many regions now offer secure, app based tracking for milestones and vaccinations, making it easier to share updates with your child’s GP or health visitor.

• Neurodiversity Awareness: There’s a stronger emphasis on recognising the wide range of “typical” development. Some children may speak later but show advanced motor skills or vice versa, the focus is now more holistic.

• Speech and Language Support: Access to early speech and language therapy (including online consultations) has increased, helping families get tailored guidance earlier than ever before.

• Play Centred Learning: More early years settings are adopting “child led” approaches, recognising that exploration and curiosity are at the heart of healthy development.

When to Seek Guidance

It’s important to remember that all children develop at their own pace. However, you may want to consult your health

visitor or GP if your child:

• Isn’t smiling or making eye contact by 3 months

• Doesn’t babble by 12 months

• Doesn’t walk by 18 months

• Has limited interest in interaction by age 2

• Shows regression in skills they previously had

Early support can make a big difference, and in 2025, families have more resources than ever to get the help they need.

Final Thoughts

Watching your baby or toddler grow is a journey filled with joy, questions, and big feelings, for both of you. By

keeping an eye on these developmental milestones and staying responsive to your child’s individual rhythm, you’re helping to lay a foundation of confidence, curiosity, and connection.

Every child’s path is unique, but no one walks it alone. Whether it’s your local health visitor, nursery key worker, or fellow parent, support is always at hand.

Here’s to celebrating each little step and every big leap in 2025.