Milestones, as they relate to navigation, are markers along a path offering an indication of precisely how far a traveler’s advanced toward a destination. In reality, although not usually in practice, child development milestones are much the same. Used to describe an ability—likecrawlingor babbling—that a child should acquire at a certain point in life, milestones can be useful under the discerning eye of an expert. But as far as parents are concerned, developmental milestones are mostly a distraction—a stressful, overwhelming distraction.
Baby developmental milestones were initially created to give physicians a broad understanding of how an average child grows. So in the aggregate, “most” kids will begin walking by 12 months. But depending on where they grow up in the world, how much space they have to explore, and how much freedom they are given by parents, babies canstart walkingas early as 6 months and as late as 16 months. The truth is whether they start at 6 months or 16, the vast majority of kids will be walking by age 2.
When it comes to parents, they’re helpful inasmuch as they let a mom or dad connect with their child. In the best circumstances parents will take their child’s development in stride and use the milestones as a general guide for how baby should grow. But sometimes, parents become competitive and overly fixated on when their baby achieves the milestones. This fixation can become stress, or even panic, should a child inevitably not reach a milestone when a parent expects, reach a milestones out of order, or skips them altogether.
It helps to remember that children outside of the average that a milestone represents aren’t somehow advanced or deficient. In fact, by the time children are in grade school, most are operating on the same developmental level regardless of whether they’ve developed some abilities more quickly or more slowly than their peers.
And a child who is slow to reach milestones isn’t necessarily showing signs of disability. Many other factors can slow development. Children who are born prematurely will develop at a speed commensurate with that early arrival. Expect a child who arrived a month early, for instance, to reach their milestones a month late.
Temperamentalso has a great deal to do with milestone achievement. An outgoing, adventurous, risk-taking child may be quicker to crawl in order to explore and discover. On the other hand, a cautious child might rather stay in one place or stay by their parents rather than strike out into the world.
More than anything, for kids to develop at their unique optimal pace, they just need a supportive parent who gives them plenty of opportunity to practice their babbling, wiggling, face making, grabbing, scooching skills.
This is not to say that developmental milestones are meaningless for parents. There are certain milestones that act as important developmental markers; they just might not be the milestones that most parents will be familiar with. Knowing which milestones to pay attention to can relieve some of the parental stress during a baby’s first year, or two.
的Only 4-Month Milestones That Matter
Most parents overdo the whole milestone thing in the fourth month. Stop stressing out and focus on the two (just two!) developmental moments that really matter.
的Only 5-Month Milestones That Matter
Some 5-month milestones may come sooner than others. It’s important to consider the progress of your whole, complex little person, rather than focusing on specific milestones.
的Only 6-Month Milestones That Matter
Most parents overdo the whole milestone thing in the sixth month. Stop stressing out and focus on the two (just two!) developmental moments that really matter.
的Only 9-Month Milestones That Matter
Developmental milestones appear to come a bit more slowly as a child reaches their first year, but they are no less important.
的Only 12-Month Milestones That Matter
By a child’s first birthday, developmental milestones slow down drastically. But the ones they hit are big — and matter.
的Only 15-Month Milestones That Matter
At this age, most kids can understand and follow simple instructions.
的Only 18-Month Milestones That Matter
By 18 months, developmental milestones may seem to be a thing of the past. They're still there, just few and far between. Here are the ones to keep an eye out for.
的Only Two-Year Milestones That Matter
At 2-years-old, developmental milestones are even less pegged to specific abilities and more directed at behaviors that display a range of cognitive and physical accomplishments.
的Only 30-Month Milestones That Matter
It's less about potty training and more about independence.
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的Only 30-Month Milestones That Matter
It's less about potty training and more about independence.
的Only Two-Year Milestones That Matter
At 2-years-old, developmental milestones are even less pegged to specific abilities and more directed at behaviors that display a range of cognitive and physical accomplishments.
的Only 18-Month Milestones That Matter
By 18 months, developmental milestones may seem to be a thing of the past. They're still there, just few and far between. Here are the ones to keep an eye out for.
的Only 12-Month Milestones That Matter
By a child’s first birthday, developmental milestones slow down drastically. But the ones they hit are big — and matter.
When Do Babies Start Walking? When They’ve Gotten Plenty Of Practice
Toward the end of their first year, most babies will be looking to start their toddling career.
的Only 9-Month Milestones That Matter
Developmental milestones appear to come a bit more slowly as a child reaches their first year, but they are no less important.
的Only 6-Month Milestones That Matter
Most parents overdo the whole milestone thing in the sixth month. Stop stressing out and focus on the two (just two!) developmental moments that really matter.
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Putting thumb to forefinger is just as amazing as walking.
的Only 5-Month Milestones That Matter
Some 5-month milestones may come sooner than others. It’s important to consider the progress of your whole, complex little person, rather than focusing on specific milestones.
的Only 4-Month Milestones That Matter
Most parents overdo the whole milestone thing in the fourth month. Stop stressing out and focus on the two (just two!) developmental moments that really matter.
的Only 2-Month Milestones That Matter
Stop stressing out and focus on the milestones that really matter.
的Only 1-Month Developmental Milestones That Matter
Most parents overdo the whole milestone thing in the first month. Stop stressing out and focus on the three developmental moments that really matter.
的Only 15-Month Milestones That Matter
At this age, most kids can understand and follow simple instructions.