Developmental Milsestones

Question 1

By what age should a baby be smiling?

Answer 1

SOCIAL SKILLS
Usually: 6 weeks
Limit: 8 weeks

Question 2

By what age should a baby have head control?

Answer 2

GROSS MOTOR
Usually: 6 weeks [lifts head to 45 degrees]
Limit: 4 months

Question 3

By what age should a baby be able to fix + follow an object?

Answer 3

FINE MOTOR
Usually: 6 weeks
Limit: 3 months

Question 4

When should a baby start to babble/make noises?

Answer 4

HEARING, SPEECH + LANGUAGE
Usually: 3-4 months [coos, laughs + vocalises when alone], 7 months [indistriminate use of sound] + 10 months [discriminate use of sound]
1st Limit: 7 months [polysyllabic babble]
2nd Limit: 10 months [constant babble]

Question 5

When should a baby start to reach out for objects?

Answer 5

FINE MOTOR
Usually: 4 months
Limit: 6 months

Question 6

When should a baby be able to sit without support?

Answer 6

GROSS MOTOR
Usually: 6 months (rounded back) + 8 months (straight back)
Limit: 9 months

Question 7

When should a baby be able to transfer between hands?

Answer 7

FINE MOTOR
Usually: 7 months
Limit: 9 months

Question 8

When should children have a fear of strangers by?

Answer 8

SOCIAL

Limit: 10 months

Question 9

When should a child be able to walk WITH support?

Answer 9

GROSS MOTOR
Usually: 10 months [stand independantly + cruising]
Limit: 12 months

Question 10

When should a child have a mature pincer grip by?

Answer 10

FINE MOTOR
Usually: 10 months
Limit: 12 months

Question 11

When should a child be able to walk unaided?

Answer 11

GROSS MOTOR
Usually: 12 months (unsteady w/ broad gait) + 15 months (walks steadily)
Limit: 18 months

Question 12

When should a child be able to say a few words?

Answer 12

HEARING, SPEECH + LANGUAGE
Usually: 12 months [2-3 words other than mama/dada] + 18 months [6-10 words + show part of body]
Limit: 18 months [6 meaningful words]

Question 13

When should a child be able to feed themselves?

Answer 13

SOCIAL
Usually: 12 months [drinks from cup w/ 2 hands] + 18 months [holds spoon and gets food into mouth]
Limit: 18 months

Question 14

When should a child be able to join 2 words together in sentences?

Answer 14

HEARING, SPEECH + LANGUAGE
Usually: 20-24 months
Limit: 2 years

Question 15

When should a child be able to do symbollic play?

Answer 15

SOCIAL

Limit: 2-2.5 years

Question 16

When should a child be able to join 3+ words together in a sentence?

Answer 16

HEARING, SPEECH + LANGUAGE

Limit: 2.5 years

Question 17

When should a child be able to partake in interactive play?

Answer 17

SOCIAL
Usually: 2.5-3 years
Limit: 3-3.5 years

Question 18

How does a childs block-building ability change over time?

Answer 18

Tower of 3 = 18 months
Tower of 6 = 2 years
Tower of 8/Train of 4 = 2.5 years
Bridge [from model] = 3 years
Steps [from model] = 4 years

Question 19

How does a childs drawing ability change over time?

Answer 19

Line = 2 years
Circle = 3 years
Cross = 3.5 years
Square = 4 years
Triangle = 5 years

Question 20

What features may a newborn have?

Answer 20

GROSS MOTOR
Limbs flexed
Symmetrical posture
Marked head lag on pulling up [by arms]
Primitive relflexes [Moro, grasp, rooting, stepping + sucking]

HEARING, SPEECH + LANGUAGE
Startles to loud noises

Question 21

Describe some of the primtive reflexes.

Answer 21

Moro = sudden head extension causes symmetrical abduction then adduction of the arms followed by crying
Grasp = finger flexion when something put into hand
Rooting = head turns in direction that mouth was touched
Stepping = stepping movements when held vertically
Sucking = sucks nipple when placed in mouth

Question 22

When might you expect a child to become hand dominant?

When would it be abnormal? What might this indicate?

Answer 22

Normal: 2 years
Abnormal: ~1 year
Can indicate cerebral palsy