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As someone who cares about children, you know that no two are exactly the same—
Usually developmental differences are nothing to worry about, but sometimes they can signal a special need. If you are close to a child, you may be the first person to notice warning signs.
The earlier a developmental delay or disability is identified, the better the chance that Early Intervention services can help a child reach his or her full potential.
Warning Signs
Three Months:
- Does not smile in response to people
- Does not follow moving objects with eyes
- Does not grasp and hold objects
- Does not coo
- Poor suck/swallow
- Dose not try to imitate your sounds by 4 months
- Does not pay attention to new faces
- Does not support some weight on feet when held
Five Months:
- Does not roll over in either direction
- Seems impossible to comfort at night
- Does not smile on own
- Does not turn head to locate sounds
- Hands still held in fisted position
Seven Months:
- Seems very stiff or very floppy
- Doesn’t move both sides of body equally
- Does not actively reach for objects
- Does not bear weight on legs
- Doesn’t roll in both directions
- Does not try to attract attention through actions
- Shows no interest in peek-a-boo by 8 months
- Does not turn to look when parent says baby’s name
- Does not babble
Twelve Months:
- Doesn’t respond to simple verbal requests
- Doesn’t say single words like “mama” or “dada”
- Not using gestures such as waving/shaking head
- Doesn’t point to show you something interesting
- Does not look when parent points out something
- Does not crawl
- Doesn’t search for toy dropped off high chair tray
- Gets up frequently at night-most nights
Eighteen Months:
- Cannot walk or consistently walks on toes
- Does not seem to know the function of common objects (brush, telephone, spoon, broom)
- Doesn’t use several single words consistently
- Often sits with legs out to sides in “w” position
- Extreme difficulty in adjusting to new situations
Twenty-four Months:
- Doesn’t use two-word sentences
- Does not follow simple instructions
- Cannot push a wheeled toy
- Does not imitate actions or words or sounds
- Does not point to eyes, ears, mouth, nose
- Does not seem to know what a book is for
- Does not show interest in other children/surroundings
Thirty Months:
- Speech not understood by people outside of family
- Unusually high or low activity level
- Persistent drooling or constant open mouth posture
- Little or no involvement in pretend play activities
- Extreme difficulty separating from parent
- Limited interest in toys
Other Considerations:
- Any loss or regression of skills at any time
- Birth weight under 5 pounds or any perinatal infection
- Use of respirator or blood transfusions at birth
- Frequent ear infections
- Family history of developmental concerns
- Particularly small or large for age
- Awkward or jerky movement patterns/toe walking
- Not using both sides of body equally
- Refuses to eat most foods or fussy about textures
- Very sensitive/severe gag reflex
- Repetitive behaviors- lining up toys, spinning, flapping
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