Developmental Milestones in Infants
Children develop at different rates and no two children of the same age will do the same things. However there are certain skills which children should have acquired by a certain age. These are called developmental milestones and they are a useful way to assess your child’s development.
When we talk about normal development, we are talking about developing skills like:
- Gross motor: using large groups of muscles to sit, stand, walk, run, etc., keeping balance, and changing positions.
- Fine motor: using hands to be able to eat, draw, dress, play, write, and do many other things.
- Language: speaking, using body language and gestures, communicating, and understanding what others say.
- Cognitive: Thinking skills: including learning, understanding, problem-solving, reasoning, and remembering.
- Social: Interacting with others, having relationships with family, friends, and teachers, cooperating, and responding to the feelings of others.
Milestones Up to one year of age are as follows:
Motor skills at three months
- lift head when held at your shoulder
- lift head and chest when lying on his stomach
- turn head from side to side when lying on his stomach
- follow a moving object or person with his eyes
- often hold hands open or loosely fisted
- grasp rattle when given to her
- wiggle and kick with arms and legs
Motor skills at six months of age
- hold head steady when sitting with your help
- reach for and grasp objects
- play with his toes
- help hold the bottle during feeding
- explore by mouthing and banging objects
- move toys from one hand to another
- shake a rattle
- pull up to a sitting position on her own if you grasp her hands
- sit with only a little support
- sit in a high chair
- roll over
- bounce when held in a standing position
Motor skills at one year of age
- drink from a cup with help
- feed herself finger food like raisins or bread crumbs
- grasp small objects by using her thumb and index or forefinger
- use his first finger to poke or point
- put small blocks in and take them out of a container
- knock two blocks together
- sit well without support
- crawl on hands and knees
- pull himself to stand or take steps holding onto furniture
- stand alone momentarily
- walk with one hand held
- cooperate with dressing by offering a foot or an arm
Sensory and thinking skills at three months of age
- turn head toward bright colors and lights
- turn toward the sound of a human voice
- recognize bottle or breast
- respond to your shaking a rattle or bell
Sensory and thinking skills at three months of age
- open his mouth for the spoon
- imitate familiar actions you perform
Sensory and thinking Skills at one year of age
- copy sounds and actions you make
- respond to music with body motion
- try to accomplish simple goals (seeing and then crawling to a toy)
- look for an object she watched fall out of sight (such as a spoon that falls under the table)
Language and Social Skills at three months
- make cooing, gurgling sounds
- smile when smiled at
- communicate hunger, fear, discomfort (through crying or facial expression)
- usually quiet down at the sound of a soothing voice or when held
- anticipate being lifted
- react to "peek-a-boo" games
Language and Social Skills at six months
- babble, making almost sing-song sounds
- know familiar faces
- laugh and squeal with delight
- scream if annoyed
- smile at herself in a mirror
Language and Social Skills at one year of age
- babble, but it sometimes "sounds like" talking
- say his first word
- recognize family members' names
- try to "talk" with you
- respond to another's distress by showing distress or crying
- show affection to familiar adults
- show mild to severe anxiety at separation from parent
- show apprehension about strangers
- raise her arms when she wants to be picked up
- understand simple commands
To asses these milestones observe your child for a period of a month. Many children may not be able to develop all these skills by the time mentioned, but this is normal as all children grow at their own pace. However if you find that your child is unable to perform most of the tasks for his age then there is a problem and you should consult your paediatrician.
Remember that you are the person who is spending the most time with our child and hence you the most important observer. By being observant about milestones you will be able to pick up any developmental delay and initiate early action.