Developmental milestones checklists replace birth-to-five Red Flags guide

Children’s Health Queensland has released two checklists to support conversations between families, educators and health professionals about young children’s development.

Early childhood educators can access two Milestones Checklists for Child Development covering birth to 18 months and two to five years.

The resources replace Children’s Health Queensland’s Red Flags Early Identification Guide (birth to 5 years), which has been used across Australia since 2010. The previous guide is scheduled to retire on 30 December 2026.

The checklists take a strengths-based approach, helping families recognise children’s achievements, understand typical developmental milestones and identify when to seek advice.

Four areas of development

The checklists cover:

• Social and emotional development.
• Language and communication.
• Movement and self-care.
• Thinking and learning.

Children’s Health Queensland said they provide a shared framework for families, health professionals and educators to discuss children’s development.

Child Development Service Medical Director Dr Jo Thomson said the approach focuses on children’s emerging abilities.

“The new checklists focus on the skills children develop and the things they can do as they grow and learn,” Dr Thomson said.

Supporting conversations with families

The resources help families track development over time and recognise when to speak with a GP or child health nurse.

Children’s Health Queensland notes that children develop at different rates and that some milestones may look different across cultural backgrounds, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

The checklists are guides and do not cover every aspect of development. Families with concerns about hearing, vision, growth, diet or sleep are also advised to speak with their GP or child health nurse.

Transitioning from the previous guide

Children’s Health Queensland advises health professionals to transition to the milestones checklists and update local resources, websites and printed materials.

Existing referral pathways and clinical processes remain unchanged. The separate school-aged Red Flags guide remains current, with a comprehensive review planned for 2027.

Access the birth-to-18-month checklist here, the two-to-five-year checklist here and supporting guidance here.