At first, infants need continuous care for all daily routines. They progress from a very dependent state to being more independent in early childhood. Then they can do much more for themselves – whether feeding, dressing, or grooming.

What follows are typical milestones for daily routine development in young children, as well as warning signs of possible delays. There is a wide range of typical development. However, follow up with a pediatrician if your child shows signs of delays.

• Feeds every two to four hours by two months
• Needs head and neck support during feeding
• Moves hands to mouth
• May sleeps about fifteen hours of sleep (six hours/day, nine hours/night)

• Finishes feeding within 45 minutes by four months
• Can be spoon fed at four months, although it is important to consult a physician before starting on solid foods
• Places two hands on bottle by six months
• Has improved closure of lips
• Begins munching (vertical jaw movement with beginning chewing)
• May sleep about fourteen hours ( four hours/day , ten hours/ night )

• Drools more due to teething; may have six to eight teeth
• Begins cup drinking when cup is held for him (jaw is still unstable, so baby may bite on the cup for stability while drinking)
• Holds and drinks from a bottle independently 

• Feeds self with hands and fingers and progresses to scooping with a spoon
• Progresses from eating purees to a variety of solids
• Sleeps for about three hours during the day and eleven hours at night for a total of about fourteen hours
• Begins to assist with dressing and will extend the arms and legs
• Is able to partially remove shirt over the head

• Brings spoon to mouth and eats off it
• Drinks from a cup independently
• Holds, bites, and chews foods like crackers

• Begins to suck through a straw
• Scoops food from the dish with a spoon
• Improves coordination with chewing
• May experience decreased appetite, making mealtimes more challenging
• Sleeps for about two hours during the day and 11 hours at night for a total of about 13 hours
• Takes some clothes off such as shoes, socks, and gloves
• Cooperates with hand washing
• Allows teeth to be brushed
• Has increasing sphincter control, but may not be psychologically ready to toilet train
• Indicates need for diaper to be changed when soiled

• Has first sixteen teeth
• Uses a fork
• Holds and drinks from an open cup with little loss of liquid
• Has decreased appetite and more food preferences
• Has stopped or decreased use of the bottle
• At twenty-four months, sleeps about two hours during the day and eleven hours at night for a total of about thirteen hours
• Unzips clothing
• Puts on simple clothing and is able to put on shoes partway
• Washes own hands
• Has greater control and may have an interest in toilet training
• Stays dry for two- to three-hour periods during the day

• Eats most foods without choking or coughing
• Eats with utensils without much spillage
• Has favorite and less favorite foods
• Sleeps about twelve hours total (one hour during the day; eleven hours at night)
• Assists with taking off shirts and pants
• Is able to take off jacket
• Takes off shoes and socks
• Assists with unbuttoning, zippering, and snapping
• Expresses needs to use the bathroom
• May be ready to start potty training

• May get in first permanent teeth (typically between five and six years old)
• Uses utensils and is able to spread with a knife
• Holds a handle on a cup
• Requests favorite foods
• By age five: may no longer require a nap during the day, but sleeps about eleven hours at night
• Dresses and undresses self
• May be able to tie shoelaces
• Unbuttons three buttons
• May still wet the bed at night
• Cares for own toileting needs
  

Signs of Possible Developmental Delays: Daily Routines
Helpful article if you suspect your child may have developmental delays

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