How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves offers important clues about your child’s development. Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age. Although each child develops in their own individual way and rate, failure to reach certain milestones may signal medical or developmental problems requiring special attention.

Along with findings of your child’s abilities on the gross motor checklist, the below warning signs may indicate other medical or developmental problems.

Here are some warning signs from birth to 4 months:

• Does not notice hands by 2 months
• Does not follow moving objects with his/her eyes by 2-3 months
• Does not grasp or hold objects by 3 months
• Cannot support head well at 3 months
• Crosses eyes most of the time
• Still has the tonic neck reflex at 4-5 months (moves arms/legs in response to head turning)
• Consistently uses one side of the body and ignores the other

Here are some warning signs by the end of 12 months:

• Does not crawl
• Drags one side of the body while crawling
• Cannot stand when supported
• Does not search for objects that are hidden while he watches

Don’t wait! You know your child best. Tell your child’s physician or nurse if you notice any of these signs of possible developmental delay and ask for a developmental screening. If you or the physician is still concerned, ask for a referral to a specialist and seek physical therapy.