Questions that I get from parents constantly are "how is my infant/toddler developing?" "Is she doing everything that she should be doing?" and "does he or she have autism?" Unfortunately, there are not always perfect answers to these questions, because "it depends!"
The first thing that I tell families is that every child develops along his or her own continuum, and that the developmental markers and charts are not "one size fits all." As an example, if you have a child with down syndrome, the developmental trajectory is going to look different than the chart that you may see in the pediatrician's office. If you have a concern about your child's development, do not hesitate to tell your pediatrician, and advocate for your child. There are so many times that parents tell me that they waited to refer their child to the regional center because the pediatrician tells them that the child is "fine" or will "grow out of it." Pediatricians are wonderful, but they often only see your child for a few minutes every few months. You are the expert on your child, and you know what is best. If you have concerns, push for a referral to the regional center (if your child is under 3 years old), or refer yourself from the local regional center's website or via phone.
Here I describe some risk signs that could indicate a need for a referral for evaluation (these are a handful of common ones, and are not all of the possible signs):
1) If your child is not responding to his or her name consistently. At 6-9 months of age, an infant should begin responding to his or her name. At a year of age, if your child is not turning to look at you when you call his or her name (and there are no hearing concerns), seek a referral.
2) Here are common motor milestones to look for as reference points:
-sitting unsupported around 6 months
-crawling around 9 months
-walking around 12-15 months
*If you notice that your child's limbs seem floppy or stiff where it makes movement more difficult, seek a referral.
3) Engages in repetitive play: if your toddler has a specific toy to play with, and only engages in the same activity with that play (i.e. only spins wheels on car, or only wants them lined up in a certain way, etc.), seek a referral. There will be more information about various play stages coming soon, so keep an eye out for those posts.
4) Gagging or coughing during mealtimes: difficulty with transitioning to solid foods, gagging at the sight of certain food textures, tastes, or smells, or having difficulty self-feeding. A child should show interest in holding a spoon around 18 months of age (and often before!), and should be attempting to scoop and bring the spoon to his or her mouth (with help for success!).
5) Difficulty with eye contact and a lack of interest in faces.
If you have concerns about your infant or toddler's development, early intervention is key! Seek an evaluation so that if there are developmental concerns, you and your child can receive support. And if you have questions or need support, email me at lauren@theplayot.com and I would be happy to help guide you and your family to appropriate resources.
Photo byChayene RafaelaonUnsplash
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