Most parents have the same hopes and fears for their children. Are they happy? Will they be successful adults? Are they developing slowly? That last question is an important one, since developmental delays can be treated and corrected if addressed early.
An infant has a developmental delay if he or she is behind other children in cognitive, communication, physical, social and self-help skills. Sometimes parents notice slow development first. Other times it’s caregivers or pediatricians who notice that a baby is falling behind developmentally. Developmental delays can affect a child’s self-esteem and behavior in negative ways later on in life. For example, a child who can’t communicate as effectively as his peers may be more likely to act out or have tantrums than another child his age due to frustration.
It’s important to treat developmental delays as soon as possible. Waiting until a child is in school may be too late, since the early years are critical in correcting any problems. It’s possible to start treating slow development when a child not yet a year old. Your pediatrician can refer you to specialists who can evaluate your child. If necessary, those specialists can recommend physical, speech or occupational therapy to help your child catch up.
The easiest way to determine if a child is developing slowly is to compare her to another child the same age. Unfortunately that is not the best way to do it. Every child develops differently, and just because the 10-month-old down the street is walking, doesn’t mean your 10-month-old should be walking too. But when a baby or toddler is far behind other children their age, that’s when it’s time to consider a developmental delay.
Here are some guidelines for you from the American Academy of Pediatrics, to help you determine if your baby is developing slowly. Remember, these are only guidelines, and not every child will follow them to the letter. Call your pediatrician if your newborn baby shows any of the following signs:
Sucks poorly and feeds slowly
Doesn't blink when shown a bright light
Doesn't focus and follow a nearby object moving side to side
Rarely moves arms and legs; seems stiff
Seems excessively loose in the limbs, or floppy
Lower jaw trembles constantly, even when not crying or excited
Doesn't respond to loud sounds
At 3 Months, does your baby:
Make jerky or uncoordinated movements with one or both of his arms or legs, or use only one arm all the time.
Fail to make sounds such as gurgling, cooing, babbling, or other noises besides crying?
Fail to respond to your voice?
At 6 Months, does your baby:
Fail to play with her hands by touching them together?
Fail to turn his head to sounds that originate out of his immediate area?
Refuse to roll over from her stomach to her back or from back to stomach?
Fail to support his weight on outstretched hands?
Fail to see small objects such as crumbs?
Federal and state government programs guarantee that children with developmental delays or disabilities will have access to therapy and special schooling without cost, or at a reduced cost. Ask your pediatrician or talk to your school district about these early-intervention programs for developmentally delayed children.
