🧠 What Are Developmental Milestones?

Developmental milestones are physical, cognitive, emotional, and communication skills most children achieve by a certain age. These include sitting, walking, speaking, making eye contact, and more. They help doctors assess whether a child’s brain and body are growing appropriately.

✅ 10 Key Milestones to Track

Age

Milestone

3 months

Smiling, following faces, responding to sounds

6 months

Rolling over, reaching for objects

9 months

Sitting without support, babbling

12 months

Saying simple words like “mama” or “dada”, responding to their name

15 months

Walking with support, pointing at objects

18 months

Using 10+ words, walking without support

2 years

Saying 2-word phrases, following simple commands

3 years

Speaking in sentences, playing with other children

🚩 Red Flags Parents Should Not Ignore

  1. No eye contact by 6 months: Means not looking at you or fails to responds when you talk to your child
  2. Not sitting by 9 months: Means not achieved tripod sitting
  3. Doesn’t respond to name by 12 months
  4. No Meaningful words by 18 months (This does not include alternative words like ‘mum-mum’ for food, ‘papa’ for water etc)
  5. Avoids social interaction / Prefers to play alone
  6. Repetitive movements (hand-flapping, spinning) especially when they are excited

👨‍⚕️ When Should You See a Pediatric Neurologist?

If your child is missing more than one milestones or you notice behavior that doesn’t feel right compared to your elder child or child’s peers, it’s best to consult a pediatric neurologist. At Jupiter Lifeline Hospital, Pune, we offer detailed developmental assessments, early diagnosis, and therapy planning.

Conclusion

Your child’s early years in life (1st 1000 days of life) are a window of opportunity. Delays don’t always mean something serious — but ignoring signs can. Trust your instincts. When in doubt, get it checked. Development is time critical. Delay in identification can lead to permanent sequelaes.

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