| "Johnny just rolled over. Has Suzie rolled over | | | | milestone, do not panic. Do what you can to |
| yet?" If you have ever been with a group of | | | | encourage her to learn that skill, but let her |
| moms of young babies, you have probably heard | | | | develop at her own pace. |
| a conversation similar to this one. What are they | | | | With that being said, if your child is consistently |
| discussing? They are discussing developmental | | | | delayed to reach her milestones, you should talk |
| milestones. Nothing can send a new mom into a | | | | to her doctor. It is probably not a cause for |
| fit of worry over her baby's development faster | | | | concern, but most states have early learning |
| than a missed milestone. Before you start | | | | programs that you can access to help you help |
| panicking about your baby's development, learn a | | | | your baby catch up and reach those milestones |
| little more about milestones and what they mean | | | | on time. Early intervention is the key to helping a |
| for you. | | | | child with a true developmental delay. |
| Just What Are Developmental Milestones? | | | | My Baby Is Ahead - Is He a Genius? |
| Developmental milestones are skills that babies | | | | Some babies develop certain skills early. They |
| and children learn. Research has established certain | | | | may talk in sentences before their first birthday |
| skill classifications that are expected for various | | | | or walk before they crawl. This can indicate that |
| ages, or milestones, that most babies will learn as | | | | they are advanced, but this is not always the |
| they grow. Doctors use these milestones to track | | | | case. Many times all it means is that they reached |
| whether or not a baby is developing properly. This | | | | a milestone ahead of their peers. As a proud |
| is why your child's pediatrician will ask if your baby | | | | parent, keep nurturing your child's strengths yet |
| is smiling, laughing, rolling over, among other things. | | | | be careful to not push her too hard to continue |
| These skills typically fall into the following | | | | an accelerated pace - let her enjoy childhood. If |
| categories: Social - Cognitive - Gross Motor - Fine | | | | he is a genius, there will be plenty of time to tap |
| Motor - Language | | | | into that knowledge later. |
| There is typically an age range, not a specific age, | | | | Avoid the Comparing Game |
| in which a child should pick up a certain skill. For | | | | As a parent it is easy to compare your baby to |
| instance, most babies can sit up unassisted for a | | | | other babies around you. Just because your best |
| few moments between four and seven months | | | | friend's baby was walking by age one does not |
| of age. | | | | mean your baby needs to be. Remember, your |
| What if My Baby Is Late? | | | | baby is an individual, with individual tastes, |
| Developmental milestones provide you with a | | | | strengths, and weaknesses. Let your child develop |
| guide to your child's development. As a parent, | | | | at her own pace, she'll know when she's ready to |
| you must realize that all babies and children are | | | | move on to the next milestone, and let your |
| different. Though some children may both walk | | | | doctor tell you when it's time to intervene. She will |
| and talk early, others may master their gross | | | | soon blossom into the delightful child you are |
| motor skills early and begin talking much later than | | | | imagining! |
| other children. If your child is a bit late reaching a | | | | |