Luck’s Yard Clinic

Developmental Milestones

01483 527945

•Charlotte Tuson DC BSc (Hons) MChiro LCC• Chiropractor at Luck’s Yard Clinic• Passionate about paediatric care

What we will cover today:• The milestones in the first 18 months.• Simple tips to encourage development • Questions • If I go too fast for your child’s age just shout

Birth - 6 WeeksFrom Birth• Swap sides when feeding• Look your baby in the eyes and talk to them frequently• Skin-to-skin• Blow ‘raspberries’ on his tummy• Massage • Choose a chiropractor or cranial osteopath skilled with children From 3 weeks• When changing his nappy turn him onto his tummy (10 seconds)• Lay your baby on your chest and talk to him• Visual stimulation

6 WeeksFrom 6 weeks•Increase Tummy Time to 30 seconds (lie down with him)•Lift up + down, side to side and round + round•Introduce colour patterns•Cover a torch with different coloured cloths

TOP TIP Carry your baby in supportive baby carriers as much as possibleResearchers are now recognizing the importance of continued contact and motion on the neurological and emotional development of babies.

8 weeks

• Focussing intently on his hands and other objects• Recognize your face and voice• Reaching for objects• Smile and “coo”• Hold head longer during Tummy Time

• TOP TIPS Lie on the floor with him so he has to lift up his head to see you,

• shake rattles and toys that attract his attention he will follow the sound with his eyes

12 Weeks - 4 Months

From 12 weeks•Recognize faces and places•Distinguish between colours•Reaches for things (may miss)•Putting objects in his mouth•Reach and feel with open hands, grasp with 2 hands•Uses forearms during Tummy Time•Starting to roll over TOP TIPS•Cover 1 eye and shine a light in the other until the pupil constricts (only ONCE)•When on his tummy if he reaches for something and his opposite leg doesn’t bend up gently do this for him

4 - 6 Months

4 months•Grasping things•Holding and shakes a rattle •Ideally, he should be rolling from side to side•Laughing and blowing ‘raspberries’•play ‘peek-a-boo’- he should laugh! Every action extends the child’s development in some way.

Ideas

• • Give your baby a range of toys and objects, including those that make noise.

• • Allow your baby time to move about, explore his world and entertain himself with a variety of objects such as cups, soft balls, plastic spoons (BPA-free), string, a plastic mirror, etc.

• • Give him a rubber suction toy on the tray of his high chair.• • Put a few ‘pop-up’ toys within easy reach. Watch his

surprise as he hits the right buttons.• • Play ‘peek-a-boo’.• • Show him ‘lift-the-flap’ cloth books.• • Let him look at his reflection in a mirror.

5 months

• Longer eye contact• One syllable words, such as “ah” and “da”• May be shy around strangers• Transferring objects from one hand to the other• Gently pull him into a sitting position• Discovers his feet• Lying on his stomach - pushes up with his arms• He plays actively when propped up with cushions for 10-15

minutes• He likes to stand up in your lap and push up on his feet• He likes to bang items

6 Months6 months•Roll over•raise his arms to be picked up•Sit unsupported (briefly)•He examines objects by placing them in his mouth•When lying on his stomach will support upper body with forearms•Pivot on his tummy in search of toys•Play with his feet•Recognize his own name TOP TIPSWhen introducing food consider 3 important points1. Slowly introduce foods (start with low allergy foods) 2. Minimize your child’s exposure to toxins3. Prioritize ‘brain foods’

TOP TIPS

• When introducing food consider 3 important points

• 1. Slowly introduce foods (start with low allergy foods)

• 2. Minimize your child’s exposure to toxins• 3. Prioritize ‘brain foods’

7 - 10 Months

7 months•Notices cause and effect•Drink from a cup•Combining skills eg sitting and then lunging into a crawl•Remembers loved ones even when he hasn’t seen them for days•Wary of strangers and may suffer separation anxiety from you .

8 months

• Sit up unassisted• Pull into a standing position• 2 syllable words, such as “dada”• TOP TIP Encourage him to imitate your arm

movements

9 months

• Associates voices and names with people • He will responds to music• Close to crawling if not already (may even

take first steps!)• Wave “bye-bye”• Understands the concept of no• TOP TIP Play different types of music for him.

10 - 12 Months

•He will like to drop toys, watching and hearing them fall •Poke and prod with his fingers, •Walks between 10-14 months

TOP TIPS Use a soft ball to play with himUse instructions eg “give me your foot and we’ll put your sock on”

11-12 months

• Can lower himself from a standing position• Can use crayons • Throw objects intentionally• Walks assisted• “ta” for thank you and will give you things if you ask• Points to recognizable objects• Remembers things eg where the pots and pans are!• Wants to join in conversations and loves to laugh• TOP TIPS Speak to him (he understands more then we realize)• Teach him the names of friends and family• Start counting

12 - 18 Months•‘in-the-mouth’ learning usually disappears•Can turn two to three pages of a book at a time•Hand-eye coordination well established.•Between 12-18 months begins to run•Can remove gloves, hats, socks and unzip jumpers•Opens cupboard doors

•Going up and down stairs •Plays near others but may not play with them•Will hug others, push, pull, snatch and grab, will defend himself•Talks to himself whilst playing•Probably won’t ask for help

TOP TIPS

• Speak to him in full sentences• Play dough so he can mould• Toys he can pretend to feed, wash, clean their

teeth and comb their hair• Ride on toys•

Remember...

Learning is fun (for you as well!)

Prime your baby’s senses

Introduce new sensory experiences to your baby

Let them play with a range of objects which have different textures, temperatures or that make different sounds

Use the everyday world to excite their senses; have them run barefoot on the grass or sand, dip their fingers and toes in water, or play with rustling leaves

Thank you for listeningAny Questions?

www.lucksyardclinic.com

01483 527945

Follow us on facebook and twitterfor inspiring articles

?

???