Milestones

Just as a check, I wanted to compare M against expected milestones for 12 months. I am not one to put too much value on these lists, but I do think they do provide a good guide for kids and can be a good way to make sure your kids are at least on the right track.

So here are expected milestones which I took from (http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/devmile.htm) If you're interested they have lists for multiple ages.

Movement Milestones

• Gets to sitting position without assistance
• Crawls forward on belly by pulling with arms and pushing with legs
• Assumes hands-and-knees position
• Creeps on hands and knees supporting trunk on hands and knees
• Gets from sitting to crawling or prone (lying on stomach) position
• Pulls self up to stand
• Walks holding on to furniture
• Stands momentarily without support
• May walk two or three steps without support

Milestones In Hand and Finger Skills

• Uses pincer grasp
• Bangs two cubes together
• Puts objects into container
• Takes objects out of container
• Lets objects go voluntarily
• Pokes with index finger
• Tries to imitate scribbling

Language Milestones

• Pays increasing attention to speech
• Responds to simple verbal requests
• Responds to “no”
• Uses simple gestures, such as shaking head for “no”
• Babbles with inflection
• Says “dada” and “mama”
• Uses exclamations, such as “oh-oh!”
• Tries to imitate words

Cognitive Milestones

• Explores objects in many different ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping)
• Finds hidden objects easily
• Looks at correct picture when the image is named
• Imitates gestures
• Begins to use objects correctly (drinking from cup, brushing hair, dialing phone, listening to receiver)

Social and Emotional Milestones

• Shy or anxious with strangers
• Cries when mother or father leaves
• Enjoys imitating people in play
• Shows specific preferences for certain people and toys
• Tests parental responses to his actions during feedings (What do you do when he refuses a food?)
• Tests parental responses to his behavior (What do you do if he cries after you leave the room?)
• May be fearful in some situations
• Prefers mother and/or regular caregiver over all others
• Repeats sounds or gestures for attention
• Finger-feeds himself
• Extends arm or leg to help when being dressed

The items highlighted in red, he does not do. It's not surprising that all the items in which he doesn't meet have to do with speech. I already knew he was behind. The twins didn't say their first word until after 12 months (which is considered delayed) and of course S is currently in speech therapy. For awhile I really thought M would talk on time because he was much more verbal as a young baby. He constantly 'talks', just never says an actual word.

Maybe he will be more like K, who was speech delayed until two and then took off!!!