Red flags in early child development

31 Jul Red flags in early child development

The following is an age wise list of red flags meant for Find early and Act early.

Ages 1-3 months

• Doesn’t seem to respond to loud noises
• Doesn’t follow moving objects with eyes by 2 to 3 months
• Doesn’t smile at the sound of your voice by 2 months
• Cannot support head well at 3 months
• Doesn’t reach for and grasp toys by 3 to 4 months
• Doesn’t bring objects to mouth by 4 months
• Doesn’t push down with legs when feet are placed on a firm surface by 4 months
• Has trouble moving one or both eyes in all directions
• Crosses eyes most of the time (occasional crossing of the eyes is normal in these first months)

4-7 months

• Seems very stiff, or very floppy
• Head still flops back when body is pulled to sitting position (by 5months still exhibits head lag)
• Does not respond to sounds around them
• Does not turn head to locate sounds by 4 months
• Doesn’t roll over (stomach to back) by 6 months
• Cannot sit with help by 6 months (not by themselves)
• Does not laugh or make squealing sounds by 5 months
• Does not actively reach for objects by 6 months
• Does not follow objects with both eyes

8-12 months

• Does not crawl
• Drags one side of body while crawling (for over one month)
• Cannot stand when supported
• Does not search for objects that are hidden (10-12 mos.)
• Says no single words (“mama” or “dada”)
• Does not learn to use gestures such as waving or shaking head
• Does not sit steadily by 10 months
• Does not show interest in “peek-a-boo” or “patty cake” by 8 mos.
• Does not babble by 8 mos. (“dada,” “baba,” “mama”)

12-24 months

• Cannot walk by 18 months
• Fails to develop a mature heel-toe walking pattern after several months of walking, or walks exclusively on toes
• Does not speak at least 15 words by 18 months
• Does not use two-word sentences by age 2
• By 15 months does not seem to know the function of common household objects (brush, telephone, bell, fork, spoon)
• Does not imitate actions or words by 24 mos.
• Does not follow simple one-step instructions by 24 mos.

Early identification prompted by early identification of developmental problems with the help of these red flag signs are sure to achieve the best possible outcomes in a child development.