Milestones

                                        (Attention MOM / Dad)

Development of Motor and Mental Skills

Milestones are to be used as general guidelines to check if your child is growing well. Far more important than the physical stature are the skills that the child acquires that is the various activities that the child learns to perform. Some normal children acquire the skills fast and some learn them slowly. For instance, although about 50 % of children learn to walk alone by 12 months. 3 % walk by the ninth month, while almost 97 % are walking by 15 months. If a child is not able to walk alone by 15 months, She should be assessed by a pediatrician for possible developmental delay.

Introduction

Often, a few of child's activities are selected as a rough guide to the child's development status. These are called milestones. Like the milestones on the highway they tell us whether he child's journey on the road of life is progressing well. The milestones indicate what the average child  is expected to do  at that age, but that also means that 50 % of the children will be learning that activity later.

Milestones:

• Follow your face and makes eye contact.
• Smiles back at you
• Holds up head when lying on tummy
• Sits alone without support
• Turns head to sounds or voices
• Chews on a hard crust or rusk
• Crawls
• Stands with support
• Speak first words.
• Walks with support.
• Walks alone
• Speaks simple sentences
• Cuts first tooth
• Started at: Child care
• Playgroup

Make sure your child sees, hears and listens

Normal variation

However, in case your child appears slow when compared to other children or in comparison with her older sibling, do not jump immediately to the conclusion , that the child is mentally backward. No two children are alike. Also a girl is likely to walk and develop speech earlier than boys.

Some children learn certain skills later, but are advanced in an other milestones of development. Sometimes the child stops learning any new skill for a while and then suddenly picks up quite a few skills within a short period of time. Keep in mind that some times, a child who is lagging behind might be slow in picking up  almost all new skills and this slow pace of development persists all though. On the other hand , some children are slow all around. but start developing at a faster pace with the passage of time. However if you have any doubt about your child's development, do consult your pediatrician.

Development Chart in first 2 years

• SOCIAL SMILE (15 DAYS TO 3 1/2 MONTHS)
• EYES FOLLOW PEN / PENCIL (1 1/2 MONTHS TO 4 MONTHS)
• HOLDS HEAD STEADY (1 1/2 months to 4 1/2 months)
• ROLLS FROM BACK TO STOMACH (3 months to 11 months)
• TURNS HEAD TO SOUND OF BELL/RATTLE (3 1/2 months to 6 1/2 months)
• TRANSFERS OBJECTS HAND TO HAND (5 months to 8 1/2 months)
• RISES SELF TO SITTING POSITION (7 1/2 months to 12 months)
• STANDING UP BY FURNITURE (7 1/2 to 12 1/2 months)
• FINE PREHENTION PELLET )8 1/2 months to 12 1/2 months)
• PATS A CAKE (8 1/2 to 14 1/2 months)
• WALKS WITH HELP (10 1/2 to 17 1/2 months)
• THROWS BALL (11 1/2 to 20 1/2 months)
• WALKS ALONE SAYS NO TO WORDS (11 1/2 to 20 1/2 months)
• WALKS BACKWARDS (13 1/2 to 22 1/2 months)
• WALKS UPSTAIRS (13 1/2 to 24 months)
• POINTS TO PARTS OF DOLLS (16 months to 24 months)

Month wise Development in the first Year

The different milestones is the first important year of your child's life are discussed in 3 headings.

• Motor development, which deals mainly with movements and manipulation of different parts of the body.
• Perception and social response related to the child's sensory system, ability to comprehend and social behaviors.
• Speech.

New Born Baby

No two newborn are the same. Some fuss more, some sleep less and some cry more than others. However they all like to be cuddled and loved.

Motor Development

            

While lying on her back without a pillow the baby mostly keeps her head to one side. When put on her stomach, she raises her head momentarily and makes an effort to turn it to one side. With a gentle push to her sole she may appear to crawl. In general, she keeps her hands fisted. If you put your finger in her palm, she grasps it firmly (the grasp reflex).

             

The grasp reflex

When made to stand on a firm surface, she takes a few steps as if she were walking (the walking reflex). The walking reflex may not be well elicited if the child is not fully awake. The walking reflex disappear in about two months.

                

The walking reflex

                

                   

Perception and Social Response

The newborn wrinkles her forehead and blinks when subjected to strong light and sound. She may also suddenly move her arms outwards and start crying. A crying baby usually stops crying the moment you cuddle her in your arms. Suckling in the breast offers mutual satisfaction to the mother as well as the baby. It gives a newborn comfort and feeding of security, besides fulfilling her nutritional needs

Speech

The lusty cry of a baby due to hunger or any discomfort may herald the development of speech in due course of time.

One Month

        

Motor Development

While on her back child kicks her legs in joy. When put on her stomach, she lifts her head and turns it to one side to spare her nose. When held up against your shoulder, she lifts her head momentarily away from your shoulder. Her hand are fisted. She can now bring her hand within the range of her eyes.

Perception and Social Response

                 

Baby Rattle

If a brightly colored rattle or a ring is moved 20 cm in front of a child's face, she fixes her gaze on it. If you move it from midpoint  on one side, she follows it with her eyes. She may not respond the first time you show her the rattle; repeat the action a few times if required. If the baby is lying on her back she may follow you, within the range of her eye sight. Her eyes may move from one  side to the other and some times it may appear that  she has a squint. This is often transitory and disappears By the age of 5 or 6 months. At this age she gives more attention to  black and white pictures.

In a quiet place, shake a rattle about 8 cm away from the baby's ear. She will respond to a sound by wrinkling her forehead, stopping any activity that she is  doing, suddenly blinking, or by crying. On completing one month, the child's hearing is fully matured. She even seems able to differentiate between some sounds.

If you are pregnant, read a story aloud each night during the last  months of pregnancy.. Then after your baby is born, read her the same story when she is awake and about a month old. You will be pleasantly surprised, she may become quiet and more attentive as if she is listening to a sound that can recognize.

Suckling at the breast and feeling secure in her mother's arm, the baby looks loving at her mother's face and often manage to have eye contact with her.

Speech

The child may make some throaty sounds like 'ah' and 'coo'

Two Months

        

Motor Development

When put on her stomach (prone), the child lifts her head at an angle of about 45 degrees and can hold it their for about 10 seconds. When held up against the shoulder, she can now keep her head up for a little longer. The fist is now kept open more often.

Perception and Social Response

The child listens to sounds more attentively. She shows a more mature response by  pausing when she hears a rattle and does not blink or show any signs of fear. 'The first smile of the child' in response to your smile is noticed at around 6 weeks of age. This social smile should not be confused with the spontaneous smiles of babies during the first week of life

                

The first smile of the child

Speech

The child may make a few  throaty sounds such as 'goo', 'ab' and 'coo'.

Three Months

         

Motor Development

The fist is now kept open all the time. If the child is given a rattle in her hand, she holds it firmly and may start playing with it. When lifted up from her supine (lying on her back) position, her head also follows suit for some time. When put on her stomach, she raises her head and can keep it at an angle of 90 degrees for about a minute.

Perception and Social Response

If the child is shown a pencil while on her back, her eyes follows it from one  corner of her eye to the other. Now comes the smile of recognition. At 6 weeks  she gives a momentary smile when talked to  making it delightful to talk to her.  She likes to have adults and children dote on her and obliges them with a smile. The smile is now more definite and she recognizes the mother or the mother figure. In a joint family set up  she will recognize all the other family members as well. Not yet conscious of  strangers, she may even oblige others with a smile.

Speech

If she is happy after her feed, she may make sounds like 'ah', 'goo' and 'ma'.

Forth Months

         

Motor Development

The child tends to bring anything given to her to the mouth. While on her back, she now looks at her hands.  It helps her tp get an idea  of her body. That is why it is important not to keep the child wrapped all the time. For the same reason, mittens should be avoided, especially when the child is awake.

                       

Baby Mittens

Perception and Social Response

Now, not only does she smile, but she also laughs delightfully. Her hearing can also be tested better now. Stand behind her so that she cannot see you. Sound a rattle or a bell at a distance of 20 to 24 cms from her ear. She will turn her head towards the direction of the sound. The room should be otherwise quite for this test.

Speech

Now, you can 'hear' her laughing. This is her way of communication.

Fifth Months

       

            

Motor Development

Offer both your thumbs to the child as she lies on her back. Let her grasp them. Give her a little support to make her sit. You will notice that she will come to a sitting position by herself. When you put her on her stomach she may roll over into  her back on her own

Perception and Social Response

The baby can now inspect a new object for a prolonged period. She may start differentiating strangers from those close to her. She may not laugh when strangers approach her or she may even start crying. She can now tell from the tone of your voice if you are annoyed with her.

Speech

Nothing significant happens at this stage as far as speech development is concerned.

Sixth Months

       

   

Motor Development

She can now role over on her own from her back on to her stomach, when placed on a firm surface. When placed on her stomach, she tries to reach for a toy put in front of her, through she may or may not succeed at this stage. She can now transfer a rattle placed in one hand to the other. When made to stand, her leg may be able to bear  her full weight.

                 

Roll over from back to Stomach

Perception and Social Response

Her hearing is now sensitive. If a piece of paper is crumbled near her ear, out of her sight, she will turn her head towards the sound. She smiles when she sees her own re-flexion in a mirror. She is now likely to become very conscious and wary of strangers. Between 3-6 months, she starts becoming aware of strangers. She may not respond to their overtures, or may start crying as soon as  she sees them. Consequently, she expects her parents, especially her mother, to be around. At times , the mother may feel that the baby is taking advantage of her goodness. But indulge her!  The care that you give her at this age will stand her in good  stead later in life. She will start trusting people, will cherish your care  and in turn, learn to care lovingly for others.

             

Smiling When Sees Own Re-flexion

Speech

She may now try to join few syllables and say 'da-da' or may use them separately as 'ma', 'goo' or 'da'.

Seventh Months

     

      

Motor Development

When made to sit, she can stay in that position for some time without falling over. While on her back, she may play with her feet ; she may even put her toe into her mouth. 

                   

Toe In The Mouth

While on her stomach, she may make attempts to move forward to catch a toy. She now takes all objects to her mouth and can even feed herself a biscuit.

             

Attempt To Catch A Toy

               

                   

Perception and Social Response

If an object falls on the ground, she follows it with her eyes and keeps looking in that direction till she locates it. She can now play simple games like 'peek-a-boo' and enjoy them.

              

Speech

The same as at 6 months.

Eight Months

     

 

Motor Development

What, made to sit, the child can now sit for a longer period without falling over. When on her stomach, your child can now change her position in her attempt to reach an object placed at an angle and not directly opposite her.

                

                

Perception and Social Response

While the child is playing with a toy, cover it with a piece of cloth. She will try to remove the cloth to get the toy again. Now she may even behave as if she is afraid of strangers, and become more cranky in general.

Speech

There's nothing now except that  she may now try to vocalize in soft whispers rather  than loud sounds.

Nine Months

    

Motor Development

The child may start crawling at this age. Children who are kept on their stomach from an early age when awake, may crawl earlier than others who are kept mostly on their  back or in the lap.Your child can now raise herself from the lying position and sit up on their own. When encouraged to walk  and held by her hands, she attempts to take a few steps forward. From a sitting position, she can pull herself up  by holding into some piece of furniture and stand up on her own.

                 

Crawling Baby

Perception and Social Response

Now your child may show interest in softer sounds like a clock ticking or a musical instrument. She now enjoys dropping objects again and again on the ground and wants you to pick them up and give them back to her. She now likes to play 'hide and seek.'

Speech

She may now properly join  two syllables and say 'da-da'. 'ma-ma', or 'ba-ba'.

Ten Months

     

Motor Development

                     

Walking By Support

The child may now walk more confidently when held by her hands. She can also sit from a standing position by taking your support or the support of a piece of furniture. She now rocks on her hands and knees and may crawl all around the house. When a small object like a bead  or a button or a pellet is placed before her,  she now picks it up with thumb and index finger. In earlier months she would have tried to get at it with her palm or without the fine coordination movement that she now exhibits.

Perception and Social Response

            

Clapping The Hand

She now claps, copies 'ta-ta' or 'bye - bye' likes to look at pictures in a book and starts understanding the meaning of 'No'.

             

Bye - Bye

Speech

She repeats 'da-da' or 'ma-ma' after you. When you ask her about familiar  persons or objects by saying, 'Where is papa' or 'Where is the fan', she may now look in the direction of that particular person or object.

Eleven Months

     

Motor Development

Make sure child stands on a firm surface, while supporting her body, leave her alone.  She may be able to stand on her own for a few moments. Some children develop this skill after their first birthday.

            

She can now also turn the leaves of a book with thick pages. Holding on to furniture. she can now walk sideways. When given a crayon and paper, she tries to scribble on the paper, especially if she is shown how to do so by someone else.

Perception and Social Response

If you laugh at some action of hers, she will repeat that act again for you, she will obviously pleased with your appreciation. She now covers her own face with any cloth in the peek-a-boo' game. She purposely drops things down and expects you to pick them up.

           

Eating

Before she completes one year, your child will indicate that she wants to eat by herself. she will make a serious effort to do so. and end up making quite a mess in the process. You may be tempted to help her. She may resist you, but after some time, she may give up and start depending on you to help her eat. You will probably not realize that by doing this, you are sowing the seeds of dependency in her. At this stage she can also drink from an ordinary glass or a cup. Some children learn this skill even earlier.

        

Drinking From Glass

Speech

The child may use some jargon at this age  but she is less likely to use words with the meaning of her own. She may imitate you or may say 'mum' when she sees water being brought in a glass.

Twelve Months

     

 

Motor Development

             

Standing without support

The child may now able to stand without support, though she might have done this even before her first birthday. Quite a few children only stand without support between 11 to 13 months Some children may even be able to take a few steps at this age, but most will do so after that.

Perception and Social Response

       

Feed Herself

          

Your child's hand and eye coordination is now much better. She can now finger feed herself. If you take a bottle and a drop  a few objects into it, she copy this action well. She responds to 'No' and may also shake her head for 'No'. She now enjoys playing simple games like  'catching cook' with you. While being dressed, she may strengthen her arm or leg to help you. She now feels shy in the presence of strangers and may cry when you leave home.

Speech

The child can now imitate words like 'da-da' or 'ma-ma' spoken by you. She may be able to say one or two words with meaning. She may than say 'mama' while looking at you. It must be noted at this point that some normal children may not say a single word with meaning even at the age of two. In such a case, we ask two questions:

• Can the child hear normally
• Does she understands and answer simple questions in different ways ? For example, when asked where the fan is, does she point her finger towards it?

If the answer to both these questions is in the affirmative,  than  your child will start speaking in a couple of months. In a lighter vein, we can say ; 'Thank God there is peace at the moment.  Later, she will speak so much that you will get fed up.

Year-wise Development From 2 to 5 Years

At Two Years

             

A child of two, walks freely on the ground. She can also go up and down stairs by herself. While going down, she may stop on each step, with both feet before taking another step.. She can stand up on her own from a supine position. She can now climb into and come down from furniture without help. She is on the move all day long..

With her building blocks, she can now build a tower of 6 cubes., when shown how to, she can imitate a vertical stroke with a crayon or a pencil. She can now turn single pages of a book.

             

Turn the Pages Of Book

She may now imagine different situations and start playing make- believe games. She can imitate others and wants to be in a company of other children. Your child can now make simple sentences and may keep chattering all the time.

The child gives you the first  signal of  bladder control at around 15 months of age when she starts telling you that she has wet her pants, after about 18 months. She is mostly dry during the day, but may wet her clothes occasionally. Help your 2 year old to pass urine  before she goes to sleep and she may remain dry throughout the night.

        

Toilet Training

Three Years

       

         

        

Climbing Staircase

The child can now walk up and down the stairs on her own. She goes upstairs of 9 cubes, can pedal a tricycle and hold a pencil in her hand instead of her fist. With a pencil she now copies a circle and imitates a cross.

      

Ridding A Tricycle

She knows her age, name, sex and ask questions like 'Why'? 'Where', and 'How' all day long. She should have a vocabulary of 300 or more words. She may be able to count  upto 10 and sing a few songs and nursery rhymes. She imagine new games with objects and with people and her friends.

         

Pencil Grip

        

Four Years

      

She can now stand on one foot for 5 seconds or more, walk upstairs and downstairs on her own with one foot per step, draw a circle, copy a square and a cross and tell her story.

            

Child Drawing Circles And Square

Five Years

          

She can stand on one foot for 10 seconds or longer. She can dress or undress herself, copy a diamond and use a spoon properly. She goes to the toilet and manages to clean and wash herself. She loves to hear new stories, songs, jokes, and simple riddles and then ask others to solve them.

Bye - Bye Diapers

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