15-month milestones: the CDC checklist, with activities for each one
15-month milestones, per CDC's checklist: 13 things most children (75% or more) do by 15 months, across four areas (5 social-emotional, 4 language, 2 cognitive and 2 movement). Use them to monitor, not to screen; below, each item lists the skills it relates to and activities that practise it.
Updated
CDC 15-month milestone checklist
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Social and emotional
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At 15 months, try Nose-to-Nose Mirror Game (3–7 min, 15–26 months)
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At 15 months, try Lap Book Point and Pause (3–10 min, 12–20 months)
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At 15 months, try Teddy Goes Up, Down, Under (3–8 min, 13–22 months)
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At 15 months, try Goodbye Wave at the Window (2–5 min, 12–24 months)
Language and communication
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At 15 months, try Sock Puppet Hello (3–8 min, 12–20 months)
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At 15 months, try Teddy Needs Help (5–10 min, 14–21 months)
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At 15 months, try Sofa Climb, Feet-First Down (3–8 min, 13–22 months)
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At 15 months, try Bubble Squat-and-Pop (3–8 min, 12–24 months)
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
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At 15 months, try Stir the Pot Like Me (5–15 min, 16–24 months)
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At 15 months, try Big Box Tower Topple (3–8 min, 12–18 months)
Movement and physical development
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At 15 months, try Hoop Bus Walk (5–12 min, 18–28 months)
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At 15 months, try Blanket Picnic Finger Lunch (10–20 min, 12–22 months)
A checklist is monitoring, not a screening test. If your child loses a skill they had, or something worries you, talk to your pediatrician; in the U.S. you can also contact your state's Early Intervention program directly, no referral needed.
The 15-month checklist at a glance
| Checklist | CDC “By 15 months”, paraphrased (source: CDC milestones by 15 months) |
|---|---|
| Items | 13: 5 social-emotional, 4 language, 2 cognitive and 2 movement |
| Library activities that practise them | 63 that fit 15 months (13 skills involved) |
| Previous checklist | 12 months, three months earlier (10 items) |
| Next checklist | 18 months, three months later (15 items) |
| AAP screening | The next AAP-recommended checks are a general developmental and an autism screening, both at the 18-month visit, three months after 15 months. |
| Born early | Use corrected age: born 8 weeks early, this list applies from 15 months and 8 weeks |
Language and communication milestones by 15 months
Four of the 13 items, built on first words, understanding names of things, following directions with gestures and pointing to ask. Every one has a library activity that fits 15 months.
| Milestone | Skills it relates to | Activities that practise it |
|---|---|---|
| Attempts one or two words besides "mama" or "dada", even partial ones like "wa" for water. | First words | Finish-the-Song Pause (18-30 mo); Ready-Set-Go Car Ramp (16-26 mo); Photo Wall Flap Hunt (13-22 mo) |
| Looks toward a familiar object when you say its name. | Understanding names of things | Teddy Needs Help (14-21 mo); Laundry Basket Sock Hunt (18-28 mo); Where's the Dog? Book Hunt (18-30 mo) |
| Follows a direction when you use words and a gesture together, like handing over a toy when you hold out your hand and ask for it. | Following directions with gestures | Sofa Climb, Feet-First Down (13-22 mo); Walk-to-Me Hallway Steps (12-16 mo); Cleanup Song Bucket Drop (14-22 mo) |
| Uses pointing to ask for a thing they want or for help. | Pointing to ask | Clear Tub Ask for Help (14-22 mo); Two-Choice Snack Pick (12-18 mo); Snack Signs: More and All Done (13-22 mo) |
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving) milestones by 15 months
Two of the 13 items, built on using objects the right way and stacking blocks. Every one has a library activity that fits 15 months.
| Milestone | Skills it relates to | Activities that practise it |
|---|---|---|
| Tries to use everyday things the way they are meant to be used, such as a cup, a phone or a book. | Using objects the right way | Real-Things Basket (12-18 mo); Two of a Kind Kitchen Match (14-24 mo); Stir the Pot Like Me (16-24 mo) |
| Builds a stack of two or more small objects, such as blocks. | Stacking blocks | Two-Block Tower Trade (12-20 mo); Big Box Tower Topple (12-18 mo) |
Movement and physical development milestones by 15 months
Two of the 13 items, built on walking on their own and finger feeding. Every one has a library activity that fits 15 months.
| Milestone | Skills it relates to | Activities that practise it |
|---|---|---|
| Takes a few steps without holding on. | Walking on their own | Towel Speed-Bump Walk (14-22 mo); Hoop Bus Walk (18-28 mo); Push-the-Box Train (12-20 mo) |
| Feeds themselves some food with their fingers. | Finger feeding | Ice Tray Snack Picking (12-18 mo); Blanket Picnic Finger Lunch (12-22 mo); One for You, One for Me Snack (15-27 mo) |
Activities for the 15-month milestones
35 activities from the library, picked for these 13 items and for 15 months. One item has no matching activity: shows excitement by clapping.
Social-emotional practice
Language practice
Cognitive practice
Movement practice
What you can do at 15 months
Everyday ideas in the spirit of CDC's “what you can do” tips for the 15-month checklist:
- Name what your child is looking at or pointing to, then pause a few seconds so they have room to answer with a sound, gesture or word.
- Repeat and stretch your child's word attempts: "da" becomes "Dog! A big dog."
- Pair simple requests with a matching gesture, such as holding out your hand while you say "Give me the cup."
- Sit a doll or stuffed animal next to a cup and spoon, show one pretend action, then let your child take over.
- Invite your child into small jobs like dropping socks into the laundry basket or carrying shoes to the door.
- When your child is upset, name the feeling in a calm voice and stay close while they settle.
- Sing short songs with one or two hand motions and pause before a motion so your child can join in.
- Offer an open cup and a spoon at seated meals and treat the mess as practice.
What changed since 12 months
The 12-month checklist had 10 items and the 15-month one has 13: social-emotional goes from one to five, language goes from three to four, cognitive stays at two and movement goes from four to two. Skills that appear on a checklist for the first time at 15 months: copying other children, imitating actions, pointing to show, showing affection, simple pretend play, understanding names of things, following directions with gestures, pointing to ask, using objects the right way and stacking blocks.
How these milestones grow by 18 months
Six items on this list share a skill with an item on the 18-month checklist, three months later:
- By 15 months: holds up or brings an object they like to show you. By 18 months: points to share something interesting with you.
- By 15 months: attempts one or two words besides "mama" or "dada", even partial ones like "wa" for water. By 18 months: attempts at least three words besides "mama" or "dada".
- By 15 months: copies what other children do in play, such as tipping toys out of a box after another child does. By 18 months: imitates you doing household jobs, such as sweeping.
- By 15 months: tries to use everyday things the way they are meant to be used, such as a cup, a phone or a book. By 18 months: plays with toys in a simple, purposeful way, like pushing a toy car along.
- By 15 months: takes a few steps without holding on. By 18 months: walks without holding on to a person or furniture.
- By 15 months: feeds themselves some food with their fingers. By 18 months: eats finger foods without help.
When to talk to your pediatrician at 15 months
Talk to your pediatrician if a 15-month-old loses a skill they used to have, if 15-month items such as “looks toward a familiar object when you say its name” or “tries to use everyday things the way they are meant to be used, such as a cup, a phone or a book” are still missing around this age, or if anything else worries you. The next AAP-recommended checks are a general developmental and an autism screening, both at the 18-month visit, three months after 15 months.
CDC milestones are things most children (75% or more) can do by that age; the checklists are for monitoring and are not a standardized screening tool. In the U.S. you can contact your state's Early Intervention program for children under 3 yourself; no doctor's referral is needed.
Born early? Corrected age at 15 months
CDC suggests using corrected age (age minus the weeks born early) for a child born more than 3 weeks early, and the AAP advises it for the first 2 years. At 15 months by the calendar, that changes which checklist fits:
| Born | Corrected age at 15 mo | Checklist to use | 15-month list from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 weeks early | 14 mo | 12-month | 15 mo + 4 wk (about 15.9 mo) |
| 8 weeks early | 13 mo 1 wk | 12-month | 15 mo + 8 wk (about 16.8 mo) |
| 12 weeks early | 12 mo 1 wk | 12-month | 15 mo + 12 wk (about 17.8 mo) |
| 16 weeks early | 11 mo 1 wk | an earlier CDC list | 15 mo + 16 wk (about 18.7 mo) |
Frequently asked questions
What are the 15-month milestones?
CDC's 15-month checklist has 13 items: 5 social-emotional, 4 language, 2 cognitive and 2 movement. Examples: attempts one or two words besides "mama" or "dada", even partial ones like "wa" for water, uses pointing to ask for a thing they want or for help and takes a few steps without holding on. Most children (75% or more) do these by 15 months.
How much should a 15-month-old talk?
The 15-month checklist says: attempts one or two words besides "mama" or "dada", even partial ones like "wa" for water and uses pointing to ask for a thing they want or for help. Those are the talking items on the checklist; by 18 months it lists: attempts at least three words besides "mama" or "dada".
What if my child has not reached the 15-month milestones?
Talk to your pediatrician if items are missing, if your child loses a skill or if you are worried; you do not have to wait. The next AAP-recommended checks are a general developmental and an autism screening, both at the 18-month visit, three months after 15 months. In the U.S. you can also contact your state's Early Intervention program directly, without a referral.
Is the 15-month checklist a screening test?
No. The CDC checklist is for monitoring: it lists what most children do by 15 months. The AAP recommends developmental screening at 9, 18 and 30 months and autism screening at 18 and 24 months.
My 15-month-old was born early: which age do I use?
Use corrected age until 24 months if your child was born more than 3 weeks early (CDC; the AAP advises corrected age for the first 2 years). For example, a child born 8 weeks early is about 13 months, 1 week corrected at 15 months, so the 12-month checklist applies.
Related
Milestones month by month
Plan for 15 months
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.
Social-emotional milestones by 15 months
Five of the 13 items, built on copying other children, imitating actions, pointing to show, showing affection and simple pretend play. Four have a library activity that fits 15 months.