If your child is exhibiting any of the behaviors below, you should consult your Pediatrician for a complete evaluation.

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By 1 month:

  • Sucks poorly and feeds slowly.
  • Doesn’t blink when shown a bright light.
  • Doesn’t focus and follow a nearby object moving side to side.
  • Rarely moves arms and legs: seems stiff.
  • Seems excessively loose in limbs or floppy.
  • Lower jaw trembles.
  • Doesn’t respond to loud sounds.

By 3 months:

  • Doesn’t notice her hands by 2 months.
  • Doesn’t smile at the sound of your voice by 2 months.
  • Doesn’t follow moving objects with her eyes by 2-3 months.
  • Doesn’t grasp and hold objects by 3 months.
  • Doesn’t smile at people by 3 months.
  • Cannot support head well at 3 months.
  • Unable to lift head or push up on arms.
  • Stiff legs.
  • Pushing back with head.
  • Has trouble moving one or both eyes in all directions.
  • Crosses her eyes most of the time. (Occasional crossing of the eyes is normal in these first months.)
  • Doesn’t pay attention to new faces, or seems very frightened by new faces and surroundings.
  • Constantly fisted hand and stiff leg on one side.
  • Difficult to move out of this position

By 4 months:

  • Doesn’t reach for and grasp toys.
  • Doesn’t babble.
  • Doesn’t bring objects to mouth.
  • Babbles, but doesn’t try to imitate any of your sounds.
  • Doesn’t push down with legs when feet are placed on a firm surface.
  • Does not turn his head to locate sounds.

By 5 months:

  • Doesn’t roll over in either direction (front to back or back to front).
  • Seems impossible to quiet at night.
  • Doesn’t smile spontaneously.

By 7 months:

  • Seems very stiff with tight muscles.
  • Seems very floppy like a rag doll.
  • Head still flops back when body is pulled up to a sitting position.
  • Reaches with one hand only.
  • Refuses to cuddle.
  • Shows no affection for the person who cares for him.
  • Doesn’t seem to enjoy being around people.
  • One or both eyes consistently turn in or out.
  • Persistent tearing, eye drainage or sensitivity to light.
  • Does not respond to sounds around him.
  • Has difficulty getting objects to his mouth.
  • Rounded back.
  • Cannot sit with help.
  • Does not laugh or make squealing sounds.
  • Arms held back
  • Does not actively reach for objects.
  • Doesn’t follow objects with both eyes.
  • Does not bear some weight on legs.
  • Does not try to attract attention through actions.

By 8 months:

  • Poor head control.
  • Shows no interest in games of peekaboo.
  • Difficult to get arms forward.
  • Arches back and has stiff legs and pointed toes.
  • Poor use of arms for play.
  • Poor ability to lift head and back.

By 12 months:

  • Does not crawl.
  • Cannot stand when supported.
  • Uses only one side of body to move.
  • Does not search for objects that are hidden while he watches.
  • Says no single words (“mama” or “dada”).
  • Does not learn to use gestures, such as waving or shaking head.
  • Does not point to objects or pictures.

By 15 months:

  • Walks on toes on one side of body.
  • Holds arm stiffly and bent.
  • Excessive tiptoeing when walking.
  • Sits with weight to one side.
  • Uses predominantly one hand for play.
  • One leg may be stiff.
  • Does not seem to know the function of common household objects (brush, telephone, bell, fork, and spoon).

By 18 months:

  • Cannot walk.
  • Does not speak at least 15 words.

By 2 years:

  • Fails to develop a mature heel-toe walking pattern after several months of walking, or walks exclusively on his toes.
  • Does not use two-word sentences.
  • Does not imitate actions or words.
  • Does not follow simple instructions.
  • Cannot push a wheeled toy.

By 3 years:

  • Frequent falling and difficulty with stairs.
  • Persistent drooling or very unclear speech.
  • Inability to build a tower of more than four blocks.
  • Difficulty manipulating small objects.
  • Inability to copy a circle.
  • Inability to communicate in short phrases.
  • No involvement in “pretend” play.
  • Failure to understand simple instructions.
  • Little interest in other children.
  • Extreme difficulty separating from mother