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.

Milestones help to 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 vary quite a bit.

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. When we talk about normal development, we are talking about developing skills like:

Gross motor skills	Using large groups of muscles to sit, stand, walk, run, etc., keeping balance and changing positions
Fine motor skills	Using hands to be able to eat, draw, dress, play, write, and do many other things
Language skills	Speaking, using body language and gestures, communicating, and understanding what others say
Cognitive skills	Thinking skills including learning, understanding, problem-solving, reasoning, and remembering
Social skills	Interacting with others, having relationships with family, friends, and teachers, cooperating and responding to the feelings of others.

For general ranges on what developmental milestones are often expected at various ages, check out the following guides:

MOTOR MILESTONES:

GROSS MOTOR :

Moves Both arms and legs freely and equally when awake by 2 MONTHS.

Developmental Milestones

Head holding by 4 MONTHS

Developmental Milestones

Roll over or turn over in either direction by 6 MONTHS

Sit alone by by 9 MONTHS

Developmental Milestones

Crawl by 12 MONTHS

Stand-alone by 15 MONTHS

Walk alone by 15-18 MONTHS

Walks steadily while pulling a toy by 18 MONTHS

Climb upstairs and downstairs by 24 MONTHS

FINE MOTOR:

Keeps Hand open and relaxed by 2 MONTHS

Reaches and tries to grasp an object by 4 MONTHS(INNER SIDE OF PALM)

Hold rattle by using whole palm by 6 MONTHS

Pincer Grasp by 12 MONTHS

Putting toys or objects in a container by 15 MONTHS

Scribble by 18 MONTHS

Feeds self with hand or by spoon by 24 MONTHS

SPEECH & LANGUAGE:

COOS/Vocalize/gurgling by 2 MONTHS(“OO”and”gghh”)
Laughs aloud or make squealing sounds by 4 MONTHS.
Utters “p”, “b”,” m” by 6 MONTHS.
Babbles “Baba”,”Dada”, “mama” by 9 MONTHS
Says one meaningful word of a familiar object by 12 MONTHS.
Says at least two words, like cat ball other than baba, mama by 15 MONTHS.
Says at least FIVE words by 18 MONTHS.
Says two words together like “mama-milk”, “car-go” by 24 MONTHS.
Speak sentences by 36 MONTHS.

VISION:

Responds to light ,face at birth(blinks/shift eyes/turns towards diffuse light)-At birth
Eye contact by 2 MONYHS.
Follows Object by 4 MONTHS.
Watches TV without tilting head by 6 MONTHS.
Avoid bumping into objects while moving by 9 MONTHS.
Putting small things into a cup by 15 MONTHS.

HEARING:

Becomes ALERT to sound by 2 MONTHS produced by CLAPPER BELL/RATTLE/VOICE OF MOTHER.(Infant will brighten/startles/eyes will widen/become still/show respiratory changes/blink/shift of eyes to sound.)
responds to mother’s speech by 4 MONTHS.
Turns head or eyes to a whisper sound by 6 MONTHS.
Responds to name by 9 MONTHS.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT:

Social smile by 2 months

Raises arms to be picked by parents by 6 months

Enjoys peek-a-boo by 9 months

Differentiates familiar faces from strangers by12 months

Imitate actions like “bye-bye”,” namaste” by 15 months.

Parallel play by 24 months

COGNITION:

Social smile by 2 months.
Sucks hand by 4 months.
Reaches out for an objects by 6 months.
Look for a spoon or a toy that has dropped by 6 months
Responds to his/her name by 9 months
Responds to NO by 12 months
Searches for hidden objects by 12 months.
Pointing to objects by 15 months
child plays with toys by poking or pulling by 15 months
Imitates house hold tasks by 18 months
Pretend Play by 24 months
Parallel Play by 24 months

Cross play by 36 months

What if when child is not reaching developmental milestones?

Every child is unique! Time may vary from child to child. But if times over.. then don’t be worried. Early intervention Program, that may help the child. If the child has any delays, even if mild, start intervention as early as possible so the child can make the best possible progress.

Early Intervention…

Is the term used to describe the services and supports that are available to babies and young children with developmental delays and disabilities. May include speech therapy, physical therapy, and other types of services based on the needs of the child. Can have a significant impact on a child’s ability to learn new skills and overcome challenges and can increase success in school and life.

Programs are available in every state and territory. GOVT.OF INDIA has launched Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) Program since 2013.

Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) is a new initiative aiming at early identification and early intervention for children from birth to 18 years to cover 4 ‘D’s viz. Defects at birth, Deficiencies, Diseases, Development delays including disability.

What next with the management ?

Medicinal support is also needed with Early Intervention. Here is a brief discussion of Homoeopathic Medicines which could be thought in Developmental Delays. IT’S BEST TO CONSULT WITH REGISTERED PRACTITIONER.

There is no specific, every child is different from other; we could keep in mind the following medicines..

ABROTANUM

A very useful remedy in marasmus, especially of lower extremities only, yet with good appetite. Legs greatly emaciated. Joints stiff and lame. Painful contraction of limbs .

Pain in shoulders, arms, wrists, and ankles.

Pricking and coldness in fingers and feet.

BARYTA CARBONICA

Specially indicated in infancy.

This remedy brings aid to children, especially if they are backward mentally and physically, are dwarfish, do not grow and develop, have ophthalmia, swollen abdomen, take cold easily, and then always have swollen tonsils.

Very averse to meeting strangers. Loss of memory, mental weakness.

Hardness of hearing. Crackling noise. Glands around ears painful and swollen.

Baryta is slow in action, bears repetition

CALCAREA CARBONICA

Its chief action is centered in the vegetative sphere, impaired nutrition being the keynote of its action, the glands, skin, and bones, being instrumental in the changes wrought.

Gets out of breath easily. Averse to work or exertion. A jaded state, mental or physical, due to overwork.

Pituitary and thyroid disfunction.

Forgetful, Obstinacy; slight mental effort produces hot head.

CALCAREA PHOSPHORICA

It is especially indicated in tardy dentition and troubles incident to that period.

It has a special affinity where bones form sutures or symphyses, Fontanelles remain open too long. Cranial bones soft and thin. Bone disease non-union of fractured bones.

Defective hearing.

CAUSTICUM

Children are slow to walk. Unsteady walking and easily falling. Cracking and tension in knees; stiffness in hollow of knee. Contracted tendons. Weak ankles. Cannot walk without suffering.

Unsteadiness of muscles of forearm and hand. Numbness; loss of sensation in hands.

Child does not want to go to bed alone. Least thing makes it cry.

Ringing, roaring, pulsating, with deafness; words and steps re-echo; chronic middle-ear catarrh; accumulation of ear-wax.

SANICULA AQUA

Has been found a useful remedy in Rickets.

SILICEA TERRA

Imperfect assimilation and consequent defective nutrition.

Diseases of bones, caries and necrosis.

Rachitic children,, slow in walking.

Child with large head open fontanelles and sutures, distended abdomen.

Obstinate, headstrong children.

Silica patient is cold, chilly, hugs the fire, wants plenty warm clothing, hates drafts, hands and feet cold, worse in winter. Lack of vital heat.

Ill effects of vaccination. Suppurative processes.

THYROIDINUM

Thyroidinum exercises a general regulating influence over the mechanism of the organs of nutrition, growth and development.

Arrested development in children.

Infantile wasting.

Rickets. Delayed union of bones, fractures.

Improves the memory.

In half grain doses twice a day over a considerable period said to be effective in undescended testicle in boys.

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.

Gross motor skills

Using large groups of muscles to sit, stand, walk, run, etc., keeping balance and changing positions

Fine motor skills

Using hands to be able to eat, draw, dress, play, write, and do many other things

Language skills

Speaking, using body language and gestures, communicating, and understanding what others say

Cognitive skills

Thinking skills including learning, understanding, problem-solving, reasoning, and remembering

Social skills

Interacting with others, having relationships with family, friends, and teachers, cooperating and responding to the feelings of others.

For general ranges on what developmental milestones are often expected at various ages, check out the following guides:

MOTOR MILESTONES:

GROSS MOTOR :

Moves Both arms and legs freely and equally when awake by 2 MONTHS.

Head holding by 4 MONTHS

Roll over or turn over in either direction by 6 MONTHS

Sit alone by by 9 MONTHS

Crawl by 12 MONTHS

Stand-alone by 15 MONTHS

Walk alone by 15-18 MONTHS

Walks steadily while pulling a toy by 18 MONTHS

Climb upstairs and downstairs by 24 MONTHS

FINE MOTOR:

Keeps Hand open and relaxed by 2 MONTHS

Reaches and tries to grasp an object by 4 MONTHS(INNER SIDE OF PALM)

Hold rattle by using whole palm by 6 MONTHS

Pincer Grasp by 12 MONTHS

Putting toys or objects in a container by 15 MONTHS

Scribble by 18 MONTHS

Feeds self with hand or by spoon by 24 MONTHS

SPEECH & LANGUAGE:

COOS/Vocalize/gurgling by 2 MONTHS(“OO”and”gghh”)

Laughs aloud or make squealing sounds by 4 MONTHS.

Utters “p”, “b”,” m” by 6 MONTHS.

Babbles “Baba”,”Dada”, “mama” by 9 MONTHS

Says one meaningful word of a familiar object by 12 MONTHS.

Says at least two words, like cat ball other than baba, mama by 15 MONTHS.

Says at least FIVE words by 18 MONTHS.

Says two words together like “mama-milk”, “car-go” by 24 MONTHS.

Speak sentences by 36 MONTHS.

VISION:

Responds to light ,face at birth(blinks/shift eyes/turns towards diffuse light)-At birth

Eye contact by 2 MONYHS.

Follows Object by 4 MONTHS.

Watches TV without tilting head by 6 MONTHS.

Avoid bumping into objects while moving by 9 MONTHS.

Putting small things into a cup by 15 MONTHS.

HEARING:

Becomes ALERT to sound by 2 MONTHS produced by CLAPPER BELL/RATTLE/VOICE OF MOTHER.(Infant will brighten/startles/eyes will widen/become still/show respiratory changes/blink/shift of eyes to sound.)

responds to mother’s speech by 4 MONTHS.

Turns head or eyes to a whisper sound by 6 MONTHS.

Responds to name by 9 MONTHS.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT:

Social smile by 2 months

Raises arms to be picked by parents by 6 months

Enjoys peek-a-boo by 9 months

Differentiates familiar faces from strangers by12 months

Imitate actions like “bye-bye”,” namaste” by 15 months.

Parallel play by 24 months

COGNITION:

Social smile by 2 months.

Sucks hand by 4 months.

Reaches out for an objects by 6 months.

Look for a spoon or a toy that has dropped by 6 months

Responds to his/her name by 9 months

Responds to NO by 12 months

Searches for hidden objects by 12 months.

Pointing to objects by 15 months

child plays with toys by poking or pulling by 15 months

Imitates house hold tasks by 18 months

Pretend Play by 24 months

Parallel Play by 24 months

Cross play by 36 months

What if when child is not reaching developmental milestones?

Early Intervention…

Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) is a new initiative aiming at early identification and early intervention for children from birth to 18 years to cover 4 ‘D’s viz. Defects at birth, Deficiencies, Diseases, Development delays including disability.

What next with the management ?

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