Developmental milestones

What is child development?

Child development refers to how a child becomes able to do more complex things as they get older. Development is different than growth.  Growth only refers to the child getting bigger in size. 

In this chapter you will learn how to assess developmental milestones of your baby. These are rough guidelines but you must remember that there are variations in the age babies attain their milestones. So if you feel your baby has not attained his expected milestone do not panic but wait for some time. If your baby still does not attain it you should consult a Pediatrician to know if there is real developmental delay.

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.

What are developmental milestones?

Developmental milestones are a set of functional skills or age-specific tasks that most children can do at a certain age range.  Your pediatrician uses milestones to help check how your child is developing.  Although each milestone has an age level, the actual age when a normally developing child reaches that milestone can very quite a bit.  Every child is unique! 

Four weeks:

• follows a moving object with his eyes

• May turn towards familiar sounds or voices

• Responds to loud sounds

• Can see things about 10 inches away

• Stares at object but does not reach

• Loves skin-to-skin contact

Eight weeks:

• Smiles at you, Coos

• listens to sounds

• Eyes follow a moving object at 180 degree

• Can lift head 45 degrees

• Hands start to unfold

• Can briefly hold rattle

• Communicates moods

• Studies faces

• Your baby's personality become more obvious

Twelve weeks:

• Can somewhat hold his neck

• Listens to music, says aah, ngah etc

• Knows difference between parents and strangers

• Stops crying when you come in to the room

• plays with hands

• Can hold rattle longer

• Swipes with arms

• Can briefly bear weight on legs

Sixteen weeks:

§ When held erect pushes with feet

§ Laughs out loud

§ Shows displeasure at breaking of social contact

§ Gets excited at the sight of food.

§ Reaches with a good aim

§ Transfers objects from hand to hand

§ Grabs toes

§ Pushes away disliked actions (wiping nose)

§ Displays expression of decision-making

Twenty eight weeks:

§ Rolls over, Crawls or creep crawls

§ Sits briefly, Reaches out and grasps objects with thumb & finger

§ Transfers objects from hand to hand

§ Can drink from a cup, makes 2-syllabled sounds

§ Studies objects mimics facial expressions

§ Exhibits moods with varied sounds and body movements

§ Likes her reflection

Forty Weeks:

§ Creeps or crawls

§ Sits for long time

§ Can stand and cruise around holding on to furniture

§ Says mama, dada (repetitive consonant sounds)

§ Plays hide and seek

§ Waves bye bye

§ Walks with one hand held / a few steps independently.

One Year:

§ Pulls to stand and cruises along furniture

§ Stands alone and takes several independent steps

§ Can climb up stairs , says "no" and shakes head

§ Can follow simple direction, copies and imitates

§ Likes to look at books together ,starts to exhibit a temper when angry

§ Waves good-bye, laughs at funny things

§ Meaningfully uses “mama” or “dada”

• Responds to simple commands e.g. “come here”

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