Children develop at different rates, but there are standard milestones that most babies follow and help clinicians determine if there is some developmental delay present and address it with as early intervention as possible.

Physical therapy: Perhaps a clear sign your child may need physical therapy is a delay in their ability to begin crawling or walking. By 15 months, your child should begin taking their first steps. Some children learn to walk by first walking on their tiptoes. This is normal for the first few months of learning to walk, but if this lasts more than six months, there could be an underlying problem. Children older than four years who can’t climb stairs or keep up with other children their age may also need pediatric physical therapy.

Occupational therapy: Does your child have difficulty lacing shoes, doing zippers on jackets or buttons on their shirts; have trouble writing due to poor letter formation; or have “behavior problems” due to the inability to focus or sit still? Your child may benefit from pediatric occupational therapy.

Speech therapy: Do you have difficulty understanding your child? Does your child stutter, leave off consonants at the beginning or end of a word, talk really quiet or really loud, or are they non-verbal? Do they have feeding difficulties, constantly choke on food/drink, or have aversions to certain textures?

Warning signs of atypical development:

● Muscle weakness

● Poor coordination

● Poor balance or frequently falls

● Poor posture when sitting

● Developmental delays

○ Inability to bear weight through legs by 6 months

○ Inability to sit up by 8 months

○ Inability to crawl by 12 months

○ Inability to walk by 18 months

● Moving only by scooting on their bottom

● Aversion to tummy time

● Clicking or popping in their hips

● Asymmetrical movements, including head movements

● Development of flat spots on their head

● Gait abnormalities

○ Toe walking

○ In-toeing

○ Out-toeing

Each stage of your baby's development is filled with new and exciting milestones. Remember to celebrate each milestone, no matter how small, and enjoy every moment of your child's journey.

Our therapists can provide exercises and activities that help children develop the strength, balance, coordination, and motor skills necessary for crawling, walking, eating, writing, and other important milestones. We work with parents to create a safe and supportive environment that encourages the baby to explore and practice new skills. By identifying any areas of weakness, tightness, or delay early on and providing targeted interventions, physical, occupational, and speech therapists can help babies reach their full potential and achieve their developmental milestones.

If you notice your child has not met one of these milestones, reach out to Sprouting Up Therapy, PLLC to speak to a developmental expert for free. We will chat through your concerns and come up with a plan to help.