Why is my toddler developing slower than his friends?
Medically reviewed by Dr Saroja Balan, Paediatrician and Neonatologist
Written by Diane Rai
It's natural to be concerned if your child seems slower to develop than his friends, but keep in mind that each child is unique and develops at his own pace.
Given time, most babies and toddlers are able to roll over, sit up, crawl, walk, talk, and use the potty. But they won't necessarily reach these developmental milestones at the same time or in the same order. You're not alone if your child isn't fully potty-trained by the time he goes to playschool.
Depending on the type of life they lead, toddlers learn different things. For example, a toddler who plays with toys a lot will learn good hand-eye co-ordination. A child who is talked to, and read to, may learn more words.
Health professionals speak of a developmental delay when a child does not reach his developmental milestones within a broad range of what is considered normal. A child with a developmental delay may not reach one or more milestones until much later than his friends.
Also, if your toddler was born prematurely, development will be assessed according to his adjusted age.
Your child's paediatrician will, of course, informally monitor your baby's development at each well-child visit. If she notices an area where your child seems to be lagging significantly behind his peers, she will speak to you about it.
However, a doctor spends only a short time with your child at each visit, so there is a possibility she may miss subtle problems. Parents are often the first to notice developmental delays because they know their children best and they are the driving force behind an assessment.
If you're worried about a particular issue, the best thing to do is to bring it up during the appointment. Your child’s paediatrician will assess your toddler. The sooner you find out if something is holding him back, the sooner you can help.
Your doctor may want to assess the following:
She will probably reassure you that all is well. But if she has concerns, she may refer your child to a specialist. Sometimes, your child will be offered specific tests.
Often a child's developmental delay isn't spotted until a toddler starts preschool. If your child is in preschool or daycare that has staff trained in early childhood development, a teacher or caregiver may also suggest you take your child for an assessment if she notices any warning signs of a developmental delay.
Some preschools may even have access to speech and other developmental specialists and may be able to help with an early assessment for your child.
Identifying and treating a delay as early as possible can make future learning a lot easier for your child. It's important to speak up if you notice something that doesn't seem right to you.
That said, keep in mind that some toddlers who don't reach their developmental milestones as expected catch up later without any extra support. They have no long-term problems and go on to develop just as their friends do.
Other toddlers may need extra help to catch up with other children. This may be in the form of speech and language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy or another type of support.
Read more on:
Given time, most babies and toddlers are able to roll over, sit up, crawl, walk, talk, and use the potty. But they won't necessarily reach these developmental milestones at the same time or in the same order. You're not alone if your child isn't fully potty-trained by the time he goes to playschool.
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Health professionals speak of a developmental delay when a child does not reach his developmental milestones within a broad range of what is considered normal. A child with a developmental delay may not reach one or more milestones until much later than his friends.
Also, if your toddler was born prematurely, development will be assessed according to his adjusted age.
Your child's paediatrician will, of course, informally monitor your baby's development at each well-child visit. If she notices an area where your child seems to be lagging significantly behind his peers, she will speak to you about it.
If you're worried about a particular issue, the best thing to do is to bring it up during the appointment. Your child’s paediatrician will assess your toddler. The sooner you find out if something is holding him back, the sooner you can help.
Your doctor may want to assess the following:
- Your toddler's ability to walk, run and clamber over obstacles (gross motor ability).
- How well he can pick up and handle toys and other objects (fine motor ability).
- How well your toddler communicates, and how he relates to other children and adults.
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Often a child's developmental delay isn't spotted until a toddler starts preschool. If your child is in preschool or daycare that has staff trained in early childhood development, a teacher or caregiver may also suggest you take your child for an assessment if she notices any warning signs of a developmental delay.
Some preschools may even have access to speech and other developmental specialists and may be able to help with an early assessment for your child.
Identifying and treating a delay as early as possible can make future learning a lot easier for your child. It's important to speak up if you notice something that doesn't seem right to you.
That said, keep in mind that some toddlers who don't reach their developmental milestones as expected catch up later without any extra support. They have no long-term problems and go on to develop just as their friends do.
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Read more on:
- Developmental milestones: writing
- Swimming and splashing
- Is my 18-month-old too young to go to the dentist?
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