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The Path to First Milestones

Recognizing Early Motor Delays

By Sue Marquette Poremba

For new parents, nothing is more exciting than watching your baby conquer new milestones. We diligently record that first smile, rollover, step and word in the baby book. We talk to other parents and compare notes to see if our baby is on par with other babies.

Every child is different, of course, which may be why two thirds of new parents don't recognize when their infant misses critical 3-month developmental milestones. In fact, a recent study sponsored by the Chicago-based Pathways Awareness Foundation found that only 36 percent of parents recognize delays in early child development, and only 5 percent of parents would seek help if they thought their child was delayed.

According to the foundation, "failure to meet these first milestones is the first indication of possible early motor delays, which could mean children have trouble walking, talking and eating, and are caused by a wide range of neuromuscular conditions. More than 400,000 children a year are at risk for early motor delays, but most delays are treatable with physical, occupational or speech therapy, and treatment is most effective when started right away."

By 3 months, a baby should be able to lift his head and push up on his arms while lying on his stomach. This, however, is not the only sign a parent should be looking for, says Gay Girolami, a physical therapist with the Pathways Center in Glenview, Ill. Because an increasing number of parents today are either warned against or are uncomfortable letting their babies spend too much time on the tummy, there might not be many opportunities to watch for this particular milestone. If that's the case, says Girolami, "when you are holding the baby in your arms, the baby should be able to hold his head up, look from side to side and focus on an object." If the head is wobbling or rolling to one side, she adds, there is a motor skills delay.

Parents also should be alert for cognitive or language development skills, says Dr. Karen Carter, a child development specialist at the Georgia Children's Medical Center. "An infant should be smiling at 6 weeks and cooing at 1 1/2 months," she says.

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• Check out our Article Library.
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