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Toddler and Baby Development Stages
The Toddler and Baby Development Stages section gives information on the usual age developmental milestones are reached in the first five years of life. A baby develops from a helpless being at birth and over the first five years he will gain independence in mobility, speech and language and he will develop his own personality. Although every child is different, there is a pattern of developmental progress that they all will follow within a fairly narrow time frame.There are 4 main areas of toddler and baby development stages:
Do all children reach milestones at the same time?No. Every child is an individual and, as such, your child will reach milestones at his pace. Try not to compare your child with other children.Don't be concerned if a baby of 13 months is walking while your 13 month old is not or if a 2 year old is using sentences when your 2 year old is not. On the pages that give milestone progress for each age band, there is a section on when to be concerned. Unless your child is demonstrating these characteristics, there is no need to worry. What does it mean if a baby is not developing normally?A problem with speech and language development may indicate a problem with hearing or may be a manifestation of a communication disorder like autistic spectrum disorder. In either case, the earlier the developmental problem is picked up the better so appropriate intervention can begin. Of course, sometimes babies are just slow to develop without there being a major problem. How will I know if my baby is not developing normally?Mothers (and fathers) are very good at picking up some developmental problems and most countries have some type of well child checks where development is tested. You can also check the pages below for the milestones to expect at different ages.See your doctor is you are concerned that your toddler or baby development stages are not appropriate, and, in particular, if you are concerned your baby does not see or hear. Babies also exhibit primitive reflexes which are present from birth or shortly after and last weeks or months. If primitive reflexes persist, it can be an indication that there is a problem with the brain. 
What can I do to help my baby's development?The most important thing you can do as a parent for your baby is to provide a loving environment with adequate food and warmth for your baby.Studies have shown that babies who have tummy time while they are awake reach motor milestones earlier than babies who do not have tummy time. So, make sure your baby has supervised tummy time while he is awake. Remember that the safest sleeping position is on his back. What are the Toddler and Baby Development Stages?To check on normal toddler and baby development stages, click on the appropriate age band:
To read about normal communication and speech development, click here
References
To go to the top of the Toddler and Baby Development Stages page, click here For infants from birth to six months, click here For infants from 6 to 12 months of age, click here For toddlers from 1 to 2 years of age, click here For toddlers from 2 to 3 years of age, click here For toddlers from 3 to 4 years of age, click here For children from 4 to 5 years of age, click here To read about Primitive Baby Reflexes, click here To read about normal communication and speech development, click here To return to the Home page, click here
Last reviewed 24 January 2008
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