New parents are often unaware of the fact that each child needs to reach some developmental milestones by a specific age. As you begin to learn about these milestones through your baby's pediatrician, you should also learn when to be concerned and when you should not be concerned. Here are some helpful and anxiety-reducing tips to recognize when your child is ahead, on target, or behind developmentally.
Varied Time Frames
There is no dead-set age at which every child has to roll over, sit up without support, and crawl. In fact, some children may never crawl; they may just roll across the floor or scoot. Every child is different, and that is why your child's milestones may be met within a varied time frame.
For example, babies are expected to learn how to turn from their backs to the their tummies around four months of age. Some may learn at three-and-a-half months, while others may almost be five months old. As long as your baby fits within these parameters, he or she is fine. If your baby is six or seven months old and still cannot roll over on his/her own, then it is time to have a serious conversation with your pediatrician.
Marked Delays
Marked delays in any sort of development is definitely a cause for concern. For example, an earmark of autism is a child's lack of speech and vocabulary by the age of two to two-and-a-half. Boys generally have fewer words and phrases than girls, but they still should be able to convey what they see and what they want and ask simple questions. Most girls are much more conversational and may speak three to six word sentences at this age. If your child only knows five or six words (or less!), your pediatrician will probably refer you to a specialist to conduct a series of tests, including auditory and verbal processing tests.
Marked Advanced Skills
Children who are way ahead of the curve may need extra support too. These gifted kids figure out everything several weeks before they are supposed to. However, that may not last. A baby that meets all developmental milestones several weeks to a couple months early may eventually slow down by the time your baby is a toddler. While you can get excited about this, just be aware that it may not last. If they do not slow down, and growth and development continue on an advanced trend, ask your pediatrician about support programs for advanced and gifted children.
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