Developmental Checklist for Occupational Therapy

Parents should consider seeking an evaluation with a Physical Therapist if their child demonstrates any of the following:

Birth to 2 months:

• Does not grasp objects placed near palm

3 months:

• Does not follow an object with their eyes
• Hands remain closed almost all of the time
• Frequently resists being held
• Becomes upset when moved, as when being picked up, laid down, or handed from one familiar person to another

4 months:

• Does not swipe at or reach for objects
• Does not bring hands or objects to their mouth
• Frequently irritable for no apparent reason
• Does not place both hands on bottle while being fed

5 months:

• Does not hold own bottle
• Does not smile at own image in a mirror

6 months:

• Involuntarily drops objects after only a few minutes
• Does not actively grasp large finger foods such as teething cookies when they are placed on the highchair tray
• Is excessively and consistently upset by leaving the home

7 months:

• Does not transfer an object from one hand to the other

10 months:

• Not beginning to pick up small objects
• Does not poke with index finger
• Is not accepting a variety of food textures
• Is excessively upset by being dressed, diapered, bathed, or having hair groomed

12 months:

• Is not able to pick up a Cheerio or other small object with tip of the thumb and the tip of the index finger
• Is not sleeping through the night most of the time
• Is not interested in exploring toys made for one year olds
• Is excessively upset by sounds of: siren, barking dog, vacuum cleaner, or other familiar loud noises

15 months:

• Cannot put a one inch object into a container with a slightly bigger opening
• Cannot stack two cubes
• Cannot put a round form into a round shape on a puzzle

18 months:

• Cannot point to a few of the following body parts: eyes, nose, mouth, hair, tummy, legs, feet, and hands
• Cannot turn pages of a cardboard book, or regular small book two or three pages at a time
• Cannot stack four cubes

24 months:

• Play with toys only by tapping, shaking, or throwing
• Cannot unscrew top of a one inch or two inch bottle
• Cannot remove socks, untie shoes, or pull on pants without help

30 months:

• Cannot imitate drawing a vertical line or a circular scribble on paper immediately after seeing an adult draw these lines
• Cannot stack eight to ten cubes
• Cannot imitate drawing a horizontal line immediately after seeing an adult draw a horizontal line

36 months:

• Cannot remove / pull on clothing after fasteners have been undone
• Does not imitate the actions of adults in the home
• Does not pretend during play