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The Early Years: Practical Guidance for Parents

Practical CDC-based guidance for parents of children ages 0–5, covering development, sleep, nutrition, safety, active play, preventive care, and when to seek support.

Published by CDC · July 30, 2026

A CDC-Based Newsletter for Parents of Young Children

July 2026 Edition | For families with children ages 0–5

Young children develop quickly, but development does not look exactly the same for every child. This month’s newsletter highlights practical guidance from the latest CDC resources on developmental milestones, sleep, nutrition, safety, movement, and preventive care.

This Month’s Parent Checklist

  • Review your child’s developmental milestones.
  • Keep a consistent bedtime and wake-up routine.
  • Offer water and nutritious foods throughout the day.
  • Check your home and toys for safety hazards.
  • Confirm that your child’s routine checkups and vaccinations are current.
  • Write down any concerns to discuss with your child’s doctor.

Watch Your Child Learn and Grow

Developmental milestones are skills that most children can perform by a certain age. They include how children:

  • Play and interact with others
  • Communicate and understand language
  • Learn and solve problems
  • Move their bodies

The CDC provides milestone checklists for children from 2 months through 5 years old. These checklists are meant to help families notice developmental progress—not to diagnose a condition.

Try This at Home

Talk, read, sing, and play with your child every day. Give your child opportunities to explore safely and practice new skills.

For toddlers, simple activities can include:

  • Naming objects during daily routines
  • Looking at picture books together
  • Asking your child to point to familiar people or objects
  • Encouraging simple pretend play
  • Letting your child help with safe household tasks

When to Act Early

Speak with your child’s doctor when your child:

  • Is not meeting one or more milestones
  • Has lost a skill they previously had
  • Has difficulty hearing, seeing, moving, communicating, or interacting
  • Causes you concern for any reason

Do not rely only on “waiting to see.” The CDC recommends asking about developmental screening and contacting your state’s early-intervention program when concerns remain.

Sleep Supports the Whole Family

Young children need considerably more sleep than adults.

AgeRecommended Sleep per 24 Hours
Newborn, 0–3 months14–17 hours
Infant, 4–12 months12–16 hours, including naps
Toddler, 1–2 years11–14 hours, including naps
Preschooler, 3–5 years10–13 hours, including naps

These ranges are general recommendations. Individual children may sleep slightly more or less while remaining healthy.

A Simple Bedtime Routine

  1. Dim the lights and reduce stimulating activity.
  2. Brush teeth and change into pajamas.
  3. Read one or two books.
  4. Use the same short goodnight routine.
  5. Keep bedtime and wake-up time reasonably consistent.

For babies, always place the baby on their back for sleep. Keep the baby away from cigarette smoke and other secondhand smoke exposure.

Build Healthy Eating Habits Early

Children learn eating habits by watching the adults around them. Parents can support healthy growth by regularly offering:

  • Vegetables and fruits
  • Whole-grain foods
  • Beans, lentils, eggs, fish, poultry, or meat
  • Age-appropriate dairy products
  • Water instead of sugary drinks

Avoid pressuring a child to finish everything on the plate. Parents generally decide what, when, and where food is offered; children can learn to decide whether and how much to eat.

Children younger than age 2 should not be given caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, or sports drinks. The CDC states that there is no established safe caffeine limit for young children.

This Week’s Family Challenge

Choose one meal each day when the family:

  • Sits together
  • Turns off televisions and phones
  • Drinks water
  • Talks about the day

The meal does not need to be elaborate. Consistency matters more than perfection.

Make Time for Active Play

Active play supports children’s muscles, bones, heart, lungs, brain development, and overall health.

Young children do not need complicated exercise programs. Try:

  • Walking around the neighborhood
  • Dancing to music
  • Playing with a ball
  • Visiting a playground
  • Climbing on age-appropriate equipment
  • Playing follow-the-leader
  • Running through a homemade obstacle course

Break activity into short periods throughout the day. For toddlers and preschoolers, active play should be fun rather than treated as a workout.

Quick Safety Check

Young children explore with their hands and mouths. Take five minutes this week to check the areas where your child spends the most time.

Around the Home

  • Secure medicines, cleaning products, batteries, and chemicals.
  • Keep hot drinks away from children and avoid holding one while a child sits on your lap.
  • Check toys for loose, sharp, or broken pieces.
  • Keep small choking hazards out of reach.
  • Have children sit while eating and encourage thorough chewing.
  • Use an age- and size-appropriate car seat in the back seat.
  • Never shake a baby.

The CDC specifically recommends checking toddler toys regularly and keeping children properly restrained in a car seat with a harness.

Review Preventive Care

Routine medical visits give families an opportunity to discuss:

  • Growth
  • Developmental and behavioral screening
  • Hearing and vision
  • Sleep
  • Nutrition
  • Dental care
  • Vaccinations
  • Family concerns

The CDC maintains an immunization schedule for children from birth through age 6. Because recommendations can change and some decisions depend on a child’s health history, review your child’s record with their pediatrician rather than relying on an older printed schedule.

Bring These Questions to the Next Visit

  • Is my child’s growth following a healthy pattern?
  • Are there milestones we should watch next?
  • Are any developmental screenings due?
  • Is my child up to date on recommended vaccines?
  • Are our sleep and eating routines age appropriate?
  • When should we schedule the next dental visit?

A Note for Parents

You do not need to create a perfect routine or turn every moment into a learning activity. Young children benefit from safe surroundings, responsive caregivers, predictable routines, conversation, affection, nutritious food, adequate sleep, and opportunities to play.

Notice your child’s progress. Write down concerns. Ask for help early when something does not feel right.

CDC Resources Used

  • CDC Developmental Milestones and Learn the Signs. Act Early
  • CDC Positive Parenting Tips
  • CDC Infant and Toddler Nutrition
  • CDC Healthy Weight and Growth Guidance
  • CDC Sleep Recommendations
  • CDC Childhood Immunization Resources
  • CDC Physical Activity Guidance

Medical disclaimer: This newsletter is for educational purposes only and does not replace advice from your child’s pediatrician or another qualified healthcare professional.