Developmental Milestones to Watch Out for in Young Children

In just a few years, a baby grows from a helpless infant to a capable child on the way to independence. During this time, you should expect certain milestones in your child’s development. Although it varies, young children generally develop physically around the same time.

Motor Skills

A child develops rapidly in the first year. At 4 months, your child can hold up its head and grasp toys. Between 6 and 9 months, your child will roll easily and sit up and begin to crawl. Many children are walking with help by 1 year and can walk independently by 18 months.

Small motor controls also develop, though more slowly in the first year. After 1 year, when a child can hold a spoon to eat and manipulate toys, small motor control skills accelerate, so that by age 2, children can use a crayon and turn pages in a book. By 4, they can do simple puzzles.

Growing Teeth

Most babies begin getting their first teeth around 6 months, but this can vary. It’s not unusual for babies to be early or late teethers. By the age of 2, most toddlers have a full set of 20 teeth, which will serve them well until they are about 6.

At the age of 6 or 7, baby teeth begin to fall out as adult teeth come in. This process usually requires no intervention. However, parents should keep an eye on problems that may need future care. If baby teeth are lost too early, it could indicate your kids will need braces. Adult teeth that come in behind baby teeth may also need attention.

Speaking

In the first year, babies grow quickly from babbling and imitating sounds to speaking their first words. By two, most children have a speaking vocabulary of about 50 words and can answer questions and carry on simple conversations.

It’s common for children to mispronounce words at first since speaking involves fine motor control of the mouth and tongue. Your pediatrician will examine your child for hearing problems that may interfere with speech development. Early intervention helps children with speech delays.

Every milestone in a child’s life is cause for celebration, but don’t worry too much if your child’s developmental timeline differs a bit from average. Regular checkups with your pediatrician should detect any issues and set your mind at ease. Remember, you can always ask them if you have any questions about your child’s development.

Check out this article for hygiene routines that should begin early in children!