It’s been said a million times and we will say it again, each child develops at a different rate. Whether it’s your first baby or one of many, the question can still arise – Is my baby reaching their milestones?
We understand that being a parent is a big job, with so much to manage and so little sleep it can be difficult to keep track of your little one’s milestones… We are here to give a hand along the way and help your child reach their highest potential.
Below we have included red flags to be mindful of in your little one’s first year of life.
Please note: if your baby is premature use their adjusted age when measuring milestones (i.e. if they are 4 months old, but were born 6 weeks early, then you would be using the 2 month milestones for your child).
Months 1-4 are all about head and neck control.
By 4 months, your baby should be able to support their own head and neck while being carried, seated in a supported sitting position, and lifting their head to at least 45 degrees off the floor. They should also be able to look to the left and the right fully and not have a preference to look in one direction. If you notice they cannot do these things, consider talking to your pediatrician about a referral to PT.
Months 6-12 are all about movement!
They should be able to start rolling back to stomach and stomach to back, sitting independently, transitioning into and out of sitting, transitioning into and standing at a surface with feet flat and slight knee bend, and trying to explore their environment via crawling (8-12 months) and cruising (10-12 months). Some red flags to look out for are increasingly stiff back and legs, inability to bring arms forward to reach for toys, difficulty keeping chest off legs when sitting, using one side more than the other, and not bearing weight through feet, or inability to keep feet flat on floor when standing at a surface, talk with your pediatrician about a PT referral.
By 18 months, your little one should be standing and taking steps independently.
If they are struggling with this or anything else including poor standing balance, difficulty squatting to pick up a toy, or walking on toes, consider reaching out to your pediatrician for a PT referral.
CDC developmental milestones: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html