Part of the joys of being a parent is being able to watch your children grow and develop from babies, to teens, to young adults. You live to capture milestones like their first words, first steps, keep track of how tall they’re getting, and much more. Naturally, if your child isn’t growing or developing as they should for their age, it can sound off alarms that something is wrong. Though some delays in development are minor and go away with time, it can never hurt to pay attention and alert the doctor if you feel something is wrong. Below are a few signs that your child could be experiencing developmental delays.
Physical Delays
Since the day they were born your child’s pediatrician has kept a record of their height and weight. These numbers are compared to other children their age to determine whether your child is developing as they should physically. Perhaps you notice that your child is not as tall as other children their age or maybe your child is larger or smaller than children in their class.
While this physical delay could be attributed to things like diet and genetics, there can also be other developmental issues going on. If your child’s pediatrician states that your child is on the low end or way off the scale for height and weight of kids their age, they may recommend solutions to healthy growth for children, like Healthy Height’s shake mix that supports growth in height in children. They might also recommend diet advice should you have a picky eater or suggest physical activities for children who are obese for their age.
Speech or Language Delay
Every parent dreams of the day they’ll hear their newborn’s first words. Though it may start off as nothing more than a babble, over time, your baby will develop speech and language skills necessary to hold a conversation. Though you may find that there are kids that can talk circles around your child, this is not always a cause for concern. All children develop differently and may require more time to develop speaking skills.
Signs that you should see a doctor might include:
· Your child isn’t making noises or responding to noise in the first 3-4 months
· Your child isn’t trying to imitate sounds by 7 months
· Your child isn’t saying single words by the age of 1
· Your child isn’t communicating at all by age 2
Delays in Motor Skills
Movement and motor skills are another area of development you should pay attention to. While not as active during infancy, as your child gets older, they should be learning and developing these skills. A toddler should be doing things like walking, feeding themselves, and attempting to grip at things around them. Remember, not all toddlers will do everything at the same age. You might consider reporting a motor skill delay to your pediatrician if:
· They’re not reaching or grasping for items by 4 months old
· Isn’t rolling over by 6 months
· Can’t sit up after 6 months
· Isn’t crawling or trying to stand with support by age 1
· Walking on toes (like a t-rex) at the age of 2
Being anxious as you wait for your child to develop and grow is normal. So don’t be alarmed if your child is not doing things exactly as you’d hoped they would or have known other children to accomplish these milestones. It can take time for your child to develop. However, if you’ve noticed any of the above-mentioned signs of developmental delays in your children, visit their pediatrician right away. You want to rule out any medical conditions and/or get a handle on them sooner so your child has the best possible future.
