_edited_edited_edited_pn.png)
Red Flags in Early Child Development:
Insights from an Occupational Therapist Perspective
As your child grows and develops, it's important to be aware of potential red flags that could indicate areas of concern in their development. While pediatricians play a crucial role in monitoring your child's overall health, occupational and physical therapists specialize in assessing motor, sensory, and developmental milestones. Here are some red flags that therapists might observe in children aged 0-3:
1. Fine Motor Skills:
Lack of reaching or grasping objects by 6 months.
Difficulty manipulating toys or objects with their hands by 12 months.
Inability to use a pincer grasp (using the thumb and index finger) to pick up small objects by 12-15 months.
Persistent challenges with age-appropriate hand-eye coordination tasks (e.g., stacking blocks, using utensils) as they get older.
2. Sensory Processing:
Extreme sensitivity or aversion to certain textures, sounds, or visual stimuli.
Avoidance of movement (e.g., spinning, swinging) beyond what is typically seen with similar-age peers.
Overwhelmed or easily distressed in busy or crowded environments past the age of 6 months.
Excessively seeking to touch things, make sounds, or be in constant motion more than similar-age peers.
3. Social and Emotional Development:
Lack of eye contact or limited social engagement with caregivers or peers.
Delayed or limited speech and language development.
Doesn’t respond to their name past the age of 6 months.
Difficulty imitating actions or responding to simple commands.
Unusual or repetitive play behaviors that hinder interaction with others.
4. Gross Motor Skills:
Difficulty lifting their head when lying on their stomach by 3-4 months.
Lack of rolling from back to stomach and vice versa by 6-7 months.
Inability to sit without support by 9 months.
Not crawling by 9 months.
Crawling in an unusual way (butt scooting etc) or skipped crawling.
Persistent difficulties with balance, coordination, or strength.
Frequent falls, tripping, or apparent clumsiness during activities.
Unusual postures or movements (e.g., toe-walking, stiff or floppy limbs).
Persistent toe-walking or unusual gait patterns compared to peers.
5. Oral-Motor and Feeding
Gags or chokes on food regularly.
Stores food in their cheek pockets or loses food in their mouth.
Spits food back out with tongue pushing it forward past the age of 7 months.
Can't drink from an open cup by 12 months.
Coughs or makes gurgling sounds when drinking.
Can't bring a spoon to mouth by 7 months.
Seems to be unable to chew and needs food cut up into tiny pieces past the age of 18 months.
If you notice any of these red flags in your child's development, it's important to share your concerns with your pediatrician. They can collaborate with occupational and physical therapists to conduct further evaluations and provide appropriate interventions if necessary. Early intervention is crucial for addressing developmental delays and promoting optimal growth and independence.
Remember, every child develops at their own pace, and occasional variations may be within the normal range. However, if you have persistent concerns about your child's development, seeking professional guidance from an occupational and physical therapist can provide valuable insights and support.
Tonya Zimring, MS, OTR/L, ECE
Thrive Baby Therapy
Fairfax, CA
Comments