By Eirian Hallinan
All babies are unique and develop
their motor skills according to their own timeline. However there are warning
signs to look for in case these skills such as sitting and crawling are too
delayed and you need to seek advice from your paediatrician.
Newborn Babies to Three Months Old – at three months old your baby
should be able to hold his head straight, reach for toys, turn his head to
follow faces he recognises and smile. When he is on his tummy he should be able
to lift his head up as he pushes down with his elbows and turn to the side.
Seek advice if:
·
He only looks to one side and does not bother with the other side
·
He does not hold his head up whilst on his tummy
·
When laying
on his back he does not kick his legs
Three Months Old to Six Months Old – during this period your baby will
start to discover his environment and his own body. He should continue
developing his hand control by reaching out for his toys. He should be rolling
from his back to his tummy and his head should start lifting higher whilst he
pushes on his extended arms so he can have a good look around. By the time your
baby is five months old he should be able to sit up with his legs spread out
and his arms out front to support him. Once your baby is seven months he should
be able to sit upright without support once you have placed him in that
position. By this age too you should notice his cognitive skills developing so he
will enjoy looking in mirrors and making noises.
Seek advice if:
·
He does not bring his legs up to his hands and mouth
·
He only kicks his legs together rather than one by one
·
He only leans forward when he is sitting
·
He cannot roll from his back on to his side and briefly hold the
position
Six Months Old to Nine Months Old – at this age your baby will really
begin to explore with all his new skills. By nine months he should be able to
sit in a mixture of ways, easily moving from sitting to getting on his hands
and knees. Just before he begins to crawl you should see him getting onto all
fours, rocking backwards and forwards. At nine months he might be able to stand
up by grabbing onto furniture but not all babies can at this age.
Seek advice if:
·
He cannot balance on all fours
·
He cannot sit up on his own
·
He crawls in a bunny-hop way
·
He only sits with his knees bent on either side (as if in a W position)
or he only sits in a ring position
Nine Months Old to Twelve Months Old – at this stage your baby will
consistently practise the same movements of crawling, pulling to stand and
climbing which strengthens him and enhances his control so that he should soon
be able to walk independently. Being able to stand and then walk are major
accomplishments. Your baby may be walking when he is ten months but if even if
this does not happen until he is fifteen months it is still considered normal.
Seek advice if:
·
He is not walking beyond fifteen months old
If you are concerned about your
baby’s motor development then ask your paediatrician for advice. Usually you
will be shown how to encourage your baby to develop his skills through
positioning and play.
Eirian Hallinan has written numerous
articles in the baby care field. She
believes in healing naturally, first, especially when it comes to infant colic.
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