Developmental Milestones
Guidance from Rochester’s Leading Pediatricians
From birth to age 5, your child should reach milestones in how he or she plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves. Many children develop at different ages and stages, however, there are some developmental milestones that are common for most children. These milestones are vital to observe and track to ensure the healthy development of your child and identify opportunities to help.
The board-certified pediatricians at Genesis Pediatrics are expertly trained in monitoring your child’s development. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s development, call (585) 426-4100 to request an appointment at our pediatric clinic in Rochester today.
About Developmental Milestones
Developmental milestones are based on:
- Average or median ages
- Targets most children would be expected to achieve
- Over 75% of children reaching these developmental markers
Benefits of Developmental Milestones include:
- Educating parents about normal child development
- Reassurance and clear checkmarks for babies and children
- Resources to learn about child development
- Ability to recognize the milestones their child should be reaching
- Guidance about what to do if they ever become concerned
- Ability to identify developmental issues
- Timing of intervention
- Early identification of delays
- Possible screenings
- Revised by experts and clinical experts
How to Track Development
Well-child visits
There are developmental milestones recommended for each well-child visit. Staying up-to-date on your doctor checkups allows you to be educated about proper development and suggested milestones. If you have questions or concerns, your doctor can address these during your child’s visit. If any delay is suspected, your doctor may suggest a follow-up visit, additional tests, or more information.
Conversations with child care professionals or teachers
In addition to discussing your child’s development at each doctor visit, you can also talk with child development experts, child care professionals, or teachers if you suspect delays with your child. Often, these individuals have a wealth of experience working with a wide range of children. They may be able to talk with you openly and honestly about your child and any areas that may be of concern.
Milestone tracking apps
Another way to track development is through Milestone Tracking App. These apps incorporate checklists to help parents monitor progress in play, learning, speaking, and movement for children up to 5 years old. They alert parents to missed milestones and provide prompts to talk to their pediatrician about any concerns. Many apps also include fun activities and engaging images to support observation of your child’s growth.
Get to know your child
Parents should also trust their own knowledge about their child. Often, milestones are crucial to development but parents often know what seems out of the norm for a child, especially if there are common delays with siblings or within the family genetics. Parents can be educated about milestones while also trusting their own judgment in helping their child grow and develop in a healthy way.
Developmental Milestones by Age
Developmental milestones are available for different ages, covering:
- Social/Emotional Milestones
- Language/Communication Milestones
- Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
- Movement/Physical Development Milestones
- as well as things you can discuss with your doctor and activities you and your child may enjoy together
These milestones can guide discussions with your doctor and suggest activities you and your child may enjoy together.
Common milestones by age:
Changes to Developmental Milestones
In early 2022, the American Academy of Pediatrics released new guidelines for tracking childhood development.
One important change was instead of using 50th percentile milestones, meaning only half of children were expected to achieve the milestone at a given age, the revised checklists will now inquire about milestones 75 percent or more of children can be expected to achieve at a given age.
For more information about these changes, view this article and video summary from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Working Together for Every Child
Each child is unique. He or she has gifts, talents, developmental achievements, and grow at different rates. Developmental milestones are not meant to set children back but to help them flourish and grow.
It is clear that these milestones aid professionals and parents to work together to ensure the growth and development of every child.
Schedule an Appointment
Monitoring your child’s development is a crucial part of their care. If you have concerns or questions about your child’s development, call (585) 426-4100 to request an appointment at our pediatric clinic in Rochester today.