Developmental Milestones
For each stage of development after birth, a child should have similar skills to what is listed in each box below. If you have a concern about your child's development, give us a call to determine if you are eligible for ECI services.
For each stage of development after birth, a child should have similar skills to what is listed in each box below. Click on each box for more details. If you have a concern about your child's development, give us a call to determine if you are eligible for ECI services.
3-6 Months
- Follow moving toys or faces with their eyes
- Startle at loud or new sounds
- Wiggle and kick legs and arms
- Lift head and shoulders while on stomach
- Smile back at parents or other family members
- Make sounds, like gurgling, cooing or sucking sounds
6-9 Months
- Explore toys with hands and mouth
- Roll over front-to-back and back-to-front
- Turn their heads to voices and respond to their names
- Know family members and seek their attention
- Enjoy playing “peek-a-boo”
9-12 Months
- Pick up crumbs or other small things with their thumb and finger
- Crawl on hands and knees
- Sit without help
- Repeat sounds like “baba,” “dada,” “mama”
- Cry when mother or father leaves
12-15 Months
- Pull themselves up to a standing position
- Drink from a cup with your help
- Wave bye-bye
- Say “mama” and “dada” and one other word
- Point to objects they want
15-18 Months
- Use at least three words besides "mama" and "dada"
- Point to picture or objects you name
- Like to look at pictures in a book
- Dump content out of a box
- Walk without help
18-21 Months
- Like to pull and push things while walking
- Use pointing and words together to tell what they want
- Use at least 10 words and repeat words you say
- Feed themselves with their fingers
- Can point to one body part when asked
21-24 Months
- Point and use words to get your attention
- Like to pretend- play (talk on toy phone)
- Like to copy what others do
- Put together a 2 or 3 piece picture puzzle
- Like to throw balls
24-30 Months
- Feed themselves with a spoon
- Run short distance without falling
- Show lots of feelings (joy, anger, sadness)
- Use 2 to 3 words together, like “No, Mommy” or “More Cookies”
- Enjoy being around and watching other toddlers
30-36 Months
- Throw a ball overhand
- Comfort another child who is crying
- Can walk on tiptoes
- Combine 2 ideas in a sentence (“I want an apple and a banana.”)
- Ask for help when needed
Services provided
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Speech Therapy
Pathways
Pathways Parent Training Program addresses the core deficits of autism to help change how children tune in and interact with their social environment.
Specialized Skills Training
Specialized Skills Training promotes age-appropriate development through activities that aim to correct developmental deficits.
ECI RESPITE
Respite gives short-term relief to families dealing with the stress and responsibility of caring for a family member with a disability.
Testimonials
"Before ECI came aboard, I was trying everything I had learned with my daughter and noticed that it wasn't helping my son. As much as I wanted to tell myself every kid is different, and your kids will learn in their time, it was still hard. I was seeing kids around the same age doing things my son wasn't doing yet. When I started with ECI, he was using sign language to communicate. Now he cannot stop talking. He has an answer for everything now. ECI helped me see and learn ways how I can help him learn and meet his milestones. Not only am I learning but my family is learning." -Gabriela
"We first learned about the services from our pediatrician at the children's clinic. All we knew was we had an almost two-year-old who wasn't babbling, really didn't make any noise, and was making zero attempts to speak. Our experience has been amazing. Angie has been perfect. I don't know what I would have done without her. We are first-time parents, and this has taught us much more than just how to teach him to talk. She’s been able to teach us how to interact with him, how to find better ways to play with him and how to connect with him."
-Grace
Developmental Milestones
For each stage of development after birth, a child should have similar skills to what is listed. If you have a concern about your child’s development, give us a call to determine if you are eligible for ECI services.
- Follow moving toys or faces with their eyes
- Startle at loud or new sounds
- Wiggle and kick legs and arms
- Lift head and shoulders while on stomach
- Smile back at parents or other family members
- Make sounds, like gurgling, cooing or sucking sounds
- Explore toys with hands and mouth
- Roll over front-to-back and back-to-front
- Turn their heads to voices and respond to their names
- Know family members and seek their attention
- Enjoy playing “peek-a-boo”
- Pick up crumbs or other small things with their thumb and finger
- Crawl on hands and knees
Sit without help - Repeat sounds like “baba,” “dada,” “mama”
- Cry when mother or father leaves
- Pull themselves up to a standing position
- Drink from a cup with your help
- Wave bye-bye
- Say “mama” and “dada” and one other word
- Point to objects they want
- Use at least three words besides “mama” and “dada”
- Point to picture or objects you name
- Like to look at pictures in a book
- Dump content out of a box
- Walk without help
- Like to pull and push things while walking
- Use pointing and words together to tell what they want
- Use at least 10 words and repeat words you say
- Feed themselves with their fingers
- Can point to one body part when asked
- Point and use words to get your attention
- Like to pretend- play (talk on toy phone)
- Like to copy what others do
- Put together a 2 or 3 piece picture puzzle
- Like to throw balls
- Feed themselves with a spoon
- Run short distance without falling
- Show lots of feelings (joy, anger, sadness)
- Use 2 to 3 words together, like “No, Mommy” or “More Cookies”
- Enjoy being around and watching other Toddlers
- Throw a ball overhand
- Comfort another child who is crying
- Can walk on tiptoes
- Combine 2 idea in sentence (“I want an apple and a banana.”)
- Ask for help when needed
Counties Served
For information on the program or to check for your child's eligibility, call or visit the center servicing your county or a county near you.
Aransas & San Patricio
1133 E. Sinton St.
Sinton, Tx 78387
Nueces
4444 Corona Ste. 201
Corpus Christi, Tx 78411
Phone
361-980-9652 or
361-265-4502
Webb & Zapata
5709 Springfield Avenue
Laredo, Tx 78041
Brooks Duval, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, & Kleberg
204 E. 1st Street
Alice, Tx 78332
Fax
361-364-9248
Frequently Asked Questions
| Every child develops at their own pace, but there are important milestones they should reach at different ages. To help assess your child’s development, review this Developmental Checklist. If you have any concerns about your child’s progress, don’t wait—early intervention can make a big difference in helping them reach their full potential. Submit a referral form through our website or call us at 361-265-4502 or 361-980-9652 to get started. |
| Yes! You can call 361-265-4502 and ask to speak with someone in our pre-enrollment department. You can also fill out a form to request more information. Additionally, you may track your child’s development through developmental milestones to see if an evaluation is needed. |
| ECI helps children from birth to 36 months. |
| If you are concerned that an infant or toddler may have developmental delays or disabilities, call ECI to make a referral for your child at 361-265-4502, or fill out this FORM for more information. Next, your child will be assigned to a Service Coordinator, who will then contact you to schedule an appointment. |
| No, anyone can make a referral (a parent, family member, health care professions, caregiver, friend). Simply, submit a referral form through our website or call ECI at 361-265-4502. |
| First, call ECI to make a referral for your child: 361 265-4502 Or fill out this FORM for more information. Next, your child will be is assigned to a Service Coordinator, based upon where you live. Then, the Service Coordinator will contact you to schedule an appointment. |
| The process begins with a referral, which can be made by a parent, doctor, or other caregiver. After the referral, ECI will conduct an evaluation to determine if your child qualifies for services. If eligible, we will work with you to create an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) tailored to your child’s needs. Our team includes licensed professionals such as Early Intervention Specialists, Speech-Language Pathologists, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and many other experts ready to support your child’s development. To get started, call 361-265-4502 and speak with our pre-enrollment department or fill out a referral form. |
| No, ECI will come to you! Our professionals provide services in places where your child feels most comfortable—whether it’s at home, a child care setting, or community locations like parks and libraries. We bring support to where your child learns and plays best! |
| ECI is a state-funded program through the Health and Human Services Commission under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Evaluation and assessment to determine a child’s eligibility, case management, and translation or interpreter services are provided at no cost to families. While families are asked for permission to bill insurance, no child or family will be turned away due to an inability to pay. For additional services, ECI uses a Family Cost Share system, where families who can afford to contribute do so based on a sliding fee scale that considers family size and income after allowable deductions. |
| Prior to your child’s third birthday, ECI will help your family plan for services and support beyond ECI. This may include transitioning to preschool programs, school-based services, or other community resources that fit your child’s needs. Our team will guide you through the process to ensure a smooth transition. |
| Once your child turns 3, Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) services are no longer available. However, support may be provided through your local school district, Head Start programs, private pediatric therapy services, or other community resources. We encourage you to contact your local school district for more information on available services. |
