Is My Child Developing Properly? 4 Things to Look Out For
Developmental delays are common in childhood and occur in about 10–15 percent of preschool children. Every parent wants to help their children grow and develop properly.
Are you wondering “Is my child developing properly?” If so, there are some milestones you can watch for. If you notice any of these signs, you can get an early intervention to help your child.
Keep reading to learn signs and milestones of child development.
1. Language and Speech
Language and speech delays are fairly common. They are the most common type of developmental delay. Speech refers to verbal communications, and language is how your child expresses themself and also receives information.
If you have more than one child, you can’t necessarily compare them because kids develop at different speeds. Early language development tends to be uneven and will happen in spurts, so a few months difference is not that significant. Your child may catch up and it could happen suddenly with a big growth spurt of vocabulary.
If you suspect a developmental language delay, you may want to rule out hearing loss. So, if you are worried about your child’s communication, be sure to talk to their pediatrician to rule out a hearing problem. If your child is school-aged and is still struggling with language you should consider looking into other possible causes such as ADHD or also autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Here are things to watch for to see if your baby or toddler has a language delay:
Does not respond to loud noises or does not babble by 3 to 4 months
Does not try to repeat sounds around 4 months
Does not respond to any sounds by 7 months
Does not say or use a single word by age 1
Cannot speak at least 15 words and only imitates speech by age 2
If you think there is a speech problem, you may want to ask your pediatrician about seeing a speech pathologist for an evaluation.
2. Cognitive
Cognitive delay relates to problems with a child’s thinking. Sometimes, this is referred to as intellectual disability. If your little one has any kind of cognitive development delay, it may be a sign of ADHD, ASD, or something else. There are also other causes such as a genetic disorder, lead poisoning, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Early intervention is key to addressing this type of developmental delay. Around 90 percent of a child’s brain develops by age five. This is why you should consider a developmental screening if you suspect any kind of cognitive delay.
Some signs to watch for include:
Not making eye contact
Not interested in other people
Not imitating gestures
Not pointing to ask for things
Not looking in the direction where an adult is pointing
More interested in objects than people
Using thinking skills is how kids explore the world using their five senses. It includes learning to count, naming colors, learning new words, and curiosity. If you notice any of these issues, it’s time to talk to your child’s pediatrician.
3. Motor Skills
There are two types of motor delays including fine and gross motor delays. A fine motor delay will impact your child’s ability to hold items properly such as using utensils or crayons. A gross motor delay refers to the ability to walk or crawl.
Common causes for these problems include epilepsy, vision problems, premature birth, cerebral palsy, and cognitive delays. Here are some signs your child may have a type of motor delay:
Does not reach, hold, or grasp objects by 3-4 months old
Does not roll over by 5 months
Can’t sit up without help around 6 months
Does not reach for items by 7 months
Does not crawl or can’t stand without support by age 1
Cannot push or walk with a wheeled toy by 18 months
Continuously walks on toes by age 2
If you think your child may have motor skills delays, your pediatrician may recommend occupational therapy for fine motor delays and physical therapy for gross motor delays.
4. Social or Emotional
If your child has an emotional or social delay, your child may have problems interacting with adults and other children. These problems will most likely appear before school and the cause of this delay could be from a cognitive delay or a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), which falls under the autism spectrum.
Signs to watch for:
Does not smile at you by age 13 to 18 months
Does not vocalize frequently by age 13 months
Doesn’t respond to familiar sounds by 13 to 18 months
Does not interact with others during play by 19 to 24 months
Does not engage in pretend play (like feeding animals or dolls) by 19 to 24 months
Does not follow simple directives by age 25 to 30 months
Does not name pictures by age 25 to 30 months
Does not express physical states like hunger or anger by age 30 to 36 months
Does not pay attention to an activity for at least 10 minutes by age 30 to 36 months
There is no cure for this type of developmental delay, but there are treatment options that could include medication and/or behavioral therapy.
If You Still Wonder “Is My Child Developing Properly”
Remember that developmental delays don’t always need to happen “on time.” This is not the only deciding factor if your child has some sort of developmental delay.
Children master and learn milestones at different rates, so your child probably has their normal range.
These are basically suggestions for these milestones. If you suspect your child is having issues, it’s important to trust your gut. No one knows your child as you do, so if you think something is wrong, there’s a good chance you are right.
It’s also important you act early to reach out for other opinions and help. Early treatment is vital to any type of developmental delay or learning disability.
Get a Professional Assessment
When you visit your pediatrician, you can ask “Is my child developing properly.” Make sure you take notes of some of the signs above. Your pediatrician will provide medical assessments at your child’s well visits. Your child’s school can also help with an educational assessment if your child is school-aged.
If you have questions or concerns about your child’s development, contact us today. We can help you with developmental screenings and offer early invention programs and pediatric therapy for your child.