Typical Patterns For Your Baby’s Physical Development Part 2

nTypical Play DevelopmentnnBy 3 months of age, while lying on his or her back, your baby should:nn• Visually track a moving toy from side to siden• Attempt to reach for a rattle held above their chestn• Keep head in the middle to watch faces or toysnnBy 6 months of age your baby should:nn• Reach for a nearby toy while on tummyn• Transfer a toy from one hand to the other while lying on backn• Reach both hands to play with feet while lying on backnnBy 9 months of age your baby should:nn• While sitting in a high chair, be able to hold and drink from a bottlen• Explore and examine an object using both handsn• Turn several pages of a chunky (board) book at oncen• Imitate others in simple playnnBy 12 months of age your baby should:nn• Finger feed itselfn• Release objects into a container with a large openingn• Use thumb and pointer finger to pick up tiny objectsnnBy 15 months of age your baby should:nn• Stack two objects or blocksn• Help with getting undressedn• Hold and drink from a cupnnTypical Physical DevelopmentnnBy 3 months of age, while lying on his or her tummy, your baby should:nn• Push up on armsn• Lift and hold head upnnBy 6 months of age your baby should:nn• Use hands to support self in sitting positionn• Roll from back to tummyn• Accept entire weight with legs while standing with supportnnBy 9 months of age your baby should:nn• Sit and reach for toys without fallingn• Move from tummy or back into sittingn• Creep on hands and knees with alternate arm and leg movementnnBy 12 months of age your baby should:nn• Pull to stand and cruise along furnituren• Stand alone and take several independent stepsnnBy 15 months of age your baby should:nn• Walk independently and seldom falln• Squat to pick up a toynnSigns you should watch for in physical development to report to your healthcare professional include:nn• Has difficulty lifting headn• Stiff legs with little or no movementn• Pushes back with headn• Keeps hands fisted and lacks arm movementn• Rounded backn• Unable to lift head upn• Poor head controln• Difficult to bring arms forward to reach outn• Arches back and stiffens legsn• Arms held backn• Stiff legsn• Uses one hand predominantlyn• Rounded backn• Poor use of arms in sittingn• Difficulty crawlingn• Uses only one side of body to moven• Inability to straighten backn• Cannot take weight on legsn• Difficulty getting to stand because of stiff legs and pointed toesn• Only uses arms to pull up to standingn• Sits with weight to one siden• Strongly flexed or stiffly extended armsn• Needs to use hand to maintain sittingn• Unable to take steps independentlyn• Poor standing balance, falls frequentlyn• Walks on toesnnSource: American Academy of PediatricsnnDisclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use the information in this article to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child’s condition.nnnnThis article is FREE to publish with the resource box.n