Milestones are just one part of understanding your child’s development, but they don’t always give the full picture. Remember, you know your child best. If you’re wondering, “What if my baby is behind on milestones?” or you think that they’re not on track, it’s important to act early.
Every child develops at their own pace, but if you are worried, watch this quick video for tips on identifying if your baby is behind on milestones and what you can do if they are.
Learn more:
Why are We Obsessed with Milestones?
Understanding child development milestones
Is my Child *just* a Late-Bloomer? How can a developmental screener help me find out?
Transcript:
[Narrator] Welcome back to the Exceptional Lives Early Childhood FAQ series. As parents, sometimes delays can cause concern. Worrying if your child is on the right track is a normal feeling, and you may be asking yourself, “What if my baby is behind on their milestones?”
While every child develops at their own pace, it’s important to know when to seek help. If you think your child may be delayed, here are some tips that can help you be proactive in getting the support that they need.
Tip #1: Use a developmental screener.
This tool helps identify struggles in key areas like social-emotional learning, language/communication, cognitive development, movement/physical development.
Tip #2: Ask your pediatrician for a referral early.
Depending on where you live, waitlists for services like speech therapy and occupational therapy can be long. So, it’s best to get on the list as soon as possible, and you can always cancel if your child doesn’t need the services.
Tip #3: Get your child evaluated.
Acting early can help your child catch up and thrive. The easiest way to get an evaluation is to ask your pediatrician or contact your local early intervention program.
For more information, visit our Early Childhood Development Hub on our website at www.exceptionallives.org.
