As a parent, it’s natural to worry about your child and how they’re progressing with their development. But with every child progressing at their own pace, it can often be difficult to spot developmental delays. That said, if you do notice that your child seems to be falling behind, there’s plenty of support available for your little one. In fact, noticing potential delays is the first step in helping your child to thrive.
In this guide, we’ll discuss what to look for, how to navigate your concerns and where to turn for help. Every child is unique, and recognising their needs is the first step in helping them thrive. Let’s explore the key signs, milestones and resources, so you can take action confidently.
What are developmental delays?
When a child doesn’t meet the expected developmental milestones for their age, it’s called a developmental delay. Developmental delays can be physical, emotional, social or cognitive. For example, if a child is slower to learn to talk, walk or interact with others, they’re likely experiencing a developmental delay. If a child is slow to develop more than one skill, it’s called a global delay.
Developmental delays can occur as the result of genetics, premature birth, certain health conditions, diet or environmental factors. These delays can be short-term or long-term, with long-term developmental delays also referred to as developmental disabilities, like learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities or cerebral palsy.
Just because your child has a developmental delay doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll affect them over the long term. With a bit of extra support, children with developmental delays will often continue to grow and learn, catching up with their peers at their own pace.
Understanding age-specific milestones
Understanding developmental milestones is the first step in helping you to identify potential areas of concern. While every child develops at their own pace, there are general benchmarks that most children reach around certain ages. Here’s a breakdown of key milestones to look for.
Babies (0–12 months)
In the first year of life, babies experience rapid growth and development. Within the first 12 months, they’re likely to reach a number of milestones, including:
- Physical development: By 3 months, babies will often start to lift their heads and push up when lying on their tummies. By 6 months, many begin rolling over and sitting up with support. By 12 months, they might start pulling themselves up to stand or even taking their first steps.
- Cognitive development: Babies start to recognise faces and respond to their names by around 6 months. At this time, they’ll often start to explore their surroundings by reaching for objects and putting them in their mouths.
- Social and emotional development: At 2 months, many babies will smile in response to your smile. They’ll also start showing interest in interacting with caregivers.
- Language development: Babbling begins around 4–6 months, and by 12 months, babies often say their first simple words like “mama” or “dada.”
Toddlers (1–3 years)
The toddler years are full of discovery and increased mobility and independence. Key milestones include:
- Physical development: By 18 months, most toddlers are walking independently, and by 2 years, they might start running and climbing. Fine motor skills, like stacking blocks or scribbling with crayons, also begin to improve.
- Cognitive development: Toddlers begin solving simple problems, such as fitting shapes into the correct holes. At this age, they might also enjoy pretend play.
- Social and emotional development: Separation anxiety can peak around 18 months, but toddlers will gradually become more comfortable with brief separations. Sharing and taking turns begin to develop by age 3.
- Language development: Vocabulary explodes during this period. By 2 years, children typically know 50–100 words and may form two-word phrases. By 3 years, they often use full sentences and can carry on simple conversations.
Preschoolers (4–5 years)
As children approach school age, their development becomes more complex, involving both academic and social skills.
- Physical development: Preschoolers can jump, hop and throw a ball with increasing coordination. They also refine fine motor skills, like cutting with scissors or drawing shapes.
- Cognitive development: They begin to understand time, follow multi-step instructions and engage in imaginative play. Simple problem-solving and categorising objects by shape or colour are common.
- Social and emotional development: Friendships start forming and preschoolers begin showing empathy for others. Many children this age also enjoy group activities and can follow the rules in games.
- Language development: By age 4, many children can tell stories and use complete sentences. Their vocabulary expands to include several thousand words, and their speech is more easily understood by others.
While these developmental milestones provide a rough idea of how your little one is progressing, it’s essential to remember that every child is unique and will develop at their own pace. That said, if you do notice consistent delays or you have any concerns, be sure to chat with your doctor.
Signs of developmental delay
Just because your child is lagging behind their peers in terms of development shouldn’t necessarily be cause for concern. That said, there are a few key red flags that could indicate developmental delays.
Here are some of the key signs to look out for:
Speech and language delays
- Limited babbling or no words by 12 months.
- Inability to form two-word phrases by age 2.
- Difficulty following simple instructions.
- Unclear speech that’s hard to understand by age 3.
Motor skill delays
- Difficulty holding their head up by 4 months.
- Not rolling over by 6 months or sitting up without support by 9 months.
- Not walking by 18 months.
- Trouble holding small objects, like crayons or blocks, by age 2.
Social and emotional delays
- Limited eye contact or lack of response to familiar faces.
- Not smiling by 2 months or showing interest in social interactions by 6 months.
- Difficulty sharing, taking turns or playing with other children by preschool age.
- Extreme resistance to change in routines or surroundings.
Cognitive delays
- Struggling to explore objects or solve simple problems (EG. fitting shapes into holes).
- Difficulty following multi-step instructions by age 3–4.
- Trouble understanding simple concepts like size, shape or colour by preschool age.
Behavioural indicators
- Repetitive behaviours such as hand-flapping or rocking.
- Extreme tantrums or inability to self-soothe past the expected age.
- Sensory sensitivities, such as avoiding loud noises or certain textures.
Physical development delays
- Poor muscle tone, floppy or overly stiff movements.
- Using one side of the body more than the other when crawling or reaching.
- Slow growth in height, weight or head circumference compared to peers.
What to do if you’re concerned
If your child is showing signs of developmental delays, they’re consistently missing milestones or you feel like something’s not quite right, don’t hesitate to reach out to your paediatrician or a child health nurse. They’ll be able to assess your child and refer them to a specialist who can provide further support.
How professionals can help
There are a number of different professionals who can provide specialist support to children suffering from developmental delays. Often, the earlier children get the support they need, the better the outcomes. In some instances, children who receive early intervention might not even need support as they get older.
Common specialists who work with children experiencing developmental delays include:
- Audiologists,
- Occupational therapists,
- Physiotherapists,
- Psychologists,
- Social workers,
- Special education teachers, and
- Speech pathologists.
Identifying the signs of developmental delays early is one of the most important ways to support your child’s growth and future success. By understanding key milestones, observing your child’s progress and seeking guidance when needed, you’re taking proactive steps to give your child the best start in life.
