Hello!

Parents are a childs best chance at getting a good start in life.  I hope this guide will help you with any apprehension you may feel about your toddlers development, and help get you started in the right direction.

As a toddlers main caregiver, parents are the best judge of their child.  If you feel that something isn't right, you have a moral obligation to your child to make sure your feelings are validated or not.

First off, all children grow and learn at their own pace.  There is a broad range of where a child's development should fall in relation to age.

At 12 months:

• Use a few gestures, one after another, to get needs met, like giving, showing, reaching, waving and pointing?
• Play peek-a-boo, patty cake, or other social games?
• Make sounds, like "ma", "ba", "na", "da" and "ga"?
• Turn to the person speaking when his/her name is called?

At 15 months:

• Exchange with you many back-and-forth smiles, sounds, and gestures in a row?
• Use pointing or other showing gestures to draw attention to something of interest?
• Use different sounds to get needs met and draw attention?
• Use and understand at least three words, such as "mama", "dada", "bye-bye"?

At 18 months:

• Use lots of gestures with words to get needs met, like pointing or taking you by the hand and saying, "want juice"?
• Use at least four different consonants in babbling or words, such as m, n, p, b, t and d?
• Use and understand at least 10 words?
• Show that he/she knows the names of familiar people or body parts by pointing or looking at them when named?
• Do simple pretend play, like feeding a doll or stuffed animal and attracting your attention by looking up at you?

At 24 months:

• Do pretend play with you with more than one action, like feeding the doll and then burping it?
• Use and understand at least 50 words?
• Use at least two words together (without imitating or repeating) and in a way that makes sense?
• Enjoy being next to children of the same age and show interest in playing with them?
• Look for familiar objects out of sight, when asked?

At 36 months:

• Enjoy pretending to play different characters with you or talking for dolls/action figures?
• Enjoy playing with children of the same age, perhaps showing and talking to another child about a toy?
• Use thoughts and actions together in speech and in play in a way that makes sense, like "sleepy, go take nap" and "baby hungry, feed bottle"?
• Answer who, what and where questions easily?
• Talk about interests and feelings about the past/future?

If your child is not doing all of the things listed under their age group, don't fret!

Should you feel that your child is behind or slow, your first step should be to consult your pediatrician.  A good pediatrician should be asking you development related questions at your well-baby checkups.  Before you go in to see your doctor, prepare a list of what concerns you... and why.

Don't be upset should your pediatrician want to wait until their next checkup before referring you to someone.  Before 18 months, alot of testing is almost silly... what 12 month old wants to perform for a stranger?

In the meantime, all states have a program called Infant Toddler (or Birth to 3) Early Intervention Program.  ITEIP for short.  You can google this with your state and it will come up.  You can also call your local preschool or headstart.

This is a wonderful program, and can get you started in the right direction for getting your child help.  They give a short test to your child (mainly asking you question, and "playing" with your child to clarify an answer).  They then chart your child's development, and show you how they fall onto the chart.  Should a delay be found that qualifies your child, they will set up a program to work with your child.  (This is usually done in your home).  This program will work with your child until 3 years of age, when should you child still have a delay of sorts, they will qualify for preschool.

Should your child qualify for this program, its time to call your pediatrican... again!

Now, this is NOT a diagnosis.  But should they find a delay in one or more areas, this needs to be followed up with a specialist.  There are all kinds of reasons children have developmental delays, and this program will NOT be able to tell you why.  And just because you child scores within "normal" range on this test doesn't mean your feelings aren't validated!

There are a lot of things as parents we can and NEED to do to assist in our child's growth and development.

*Be your child's advocate!

*Don't skip or miss a well-baby checkup!

*Reading, talking and playing with a child goes a LOOONG way towards positive development!

*Should you feel something isn't right, don't give up!

Children with developmental delays, no matter what the cause are still just little people trying to get through life!  Loving them regardless is the best way to help them through it!

**This guide was written by YFGND, whom is not a medical professional.  Its intent is to help parents of young children with possible developmental delays**