It is natural to notice what other babies and children are doing. You might wonder if your child is behind if they are not walking as early as one of their peers. However, there is a range of when skills typically emerge. So, while one child may walk at 10 months, another might not walk until 18 months. Worry less about your child developing at the exact same rate as others and pay more attention to whether or not your child is meeting skills within the expected developmental ranges. You can also monitor for:

Skills your child is working on often fall into the following categories of development:

Some toddlers may appear to have a discrepancy – meaning they are ahead in some areas of their development, but they may be behind in others. Whether observed by childcare providers or at home, these discrepancies are always worth a follow-up with your pediatrician.

Evaluative tools, such as the CDC’s Developmental Milestones | CDC or the Third Edition Pro-Ed Early Childhood Development Chart, among others, can provide helpful reference points. Not all of these tools agree upon when skills emerge, so it’s prudent to use them as guidelines, not absolutes. What developmental experts want to see above all is that children are learning and growing along expected trajectories. At your child’s regularly scheduled pediatric visits, their doctor will likely go through a checklist of and ask questions about expected skills and milestones. It is okay to reach out at any time with observations, questions, or concerns. It can also be helpful to take videos or write down some notes to share.

Your pediatrician can help determine if there is any cause for concern and what next steps, if any, make sense. These might include a referral to a pediatric therapist with a specialty, such as an occupational therapist for fine motor skills or a Developmental pediatrician whose specialty is in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating children who have or are at risk of developmental delays and disabilities, including- autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, learning disabilities, speech and language processing or production issues, and fine and gross motor delays to rare syndromes.

You can also contact your local special education and early intervention services office to discuss a broad developmental evaluation. This evaluation includes insights into each of the main areas of development and, in many cases, offers free or low-cost services if needed.

Why it can’t hurt to follow up on your “spidey sense”

Data shows that the earlier delays are recognized and addressed, the better the outcomes. This is because children’s brains are particularly malleable between ages 0-3 and throughout early childhood. It is better to seek information right away than to “wait and see.” Play and playfulness are big parts of successful pediatric therapy, so it is enjoyable for many toddlers who end up needing these supports!