Kids all develop at different rates. Some are simply late bloomers and take a little longer to crawl, walk or say their first words. Being patient may be all that’s needed in many cases – but what do you do if your child is clearly falling way behind when it comes to reaching milestones?
Missing major milestones by a few months could be a sign that your child has a health condition or disorder. There are many milestones in a baby’s first two years that are worth tracking to help you pick up on such conditions and disorders early – the earlier you notice them, the earlier you can get help. Below are just a few tips on tracking milestones and getting the right support.
Know when your child is falling behind
There are many apps that can help you to track baby milestones. Consider downloading one of these so that you know exactly what developments you should be expecting from your little one. Understand that there may be a large window for certain milestones. For example, some babies learn to walk as early as 9 months, while others are almost 2 years old before they master walking – and in both cases, this does not mean that there are development problems.
Talk to a doctor
If you think there is a delay in your child’s development, it’s worth talking to a doctor to get their opinion. They may be able to recommend you to a specialist or carry out screening tests to help determine if your child has a health condition or disorder. In the very early days, it could be worth talking to your midwife for advice – especially when it comes to basic things like feeding and sleeping.
Get a diagnosis
If there is clearly a developmental issue, you should seek a diagnosis. A specialist will usually be able to run tests and find out what the problem is. There are many birth defects that can affect development. Birth injuries may also affect development – if it turns out a birth injury is responsible, it could be worth looking into birth injury solicitors to see if you are eligible for compensation. Understand that there are some conditions that may not have been preventable.
Explore your support options
Finding out that your child has development issues can be difficult to come to terms with. It often means that, in the future, they will need additional help and support. Fortunately, there are so many support services out there that can help. This includes charities that can help to provide funding for treatment or equipment, therapists that can help you to understand how to care for your child, and support groups where you can meet other mums that have children with the same condition. As your child gets older, there may also be other types of support available, including helping with education. Make sure that you take advantage of this support.
Disclosure: collaborative post
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