Is My Baby Developing Properly?by Heather Long | More from this Blogger 27 Nov 2006 12:41 PM If you are the parent of an infant, chances are asking the same question as every other parent out there: is my baby developing properly? The problem with this concern is that we all read the books and we all look at the growth charts and we will find that our children are a little above or a little below the bar in many areas. The thing about development is the fact that the numbers are based on an average which means you add them all together and divide by the number of sums you added - this gives you the average. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of children classified as suffering from a developmental delay is under 4%. The typical child develops at a rate that is commiserating with his or herself. This means that you don't look at whether they are walking at a certain time but within the window of time around that date. So if your child starts walking at 10 months, great, but there's nothing wrong with it if they aren't up and running around until they are 15 months. Babies are unique and variable and their milestones are equally variable as well. Kids who do things early are not particularly smarter or better. Kids who do things later are not slow or challenged. It's important to recognize that each child has his or her own pace and learns at a different rate. Pushing an infant or a toddler to achieve higher than they are ready can actually have a detrimental effect on them. Still, if you are genuinely concerned about your baby's development, go with your instincts and have them evaluated. Most pediatricians want to hear from parents and they want to answer your questions. You don't have to wait for a well visit to express your concerns, go in early and if your pediatrician is resistant to your concerns or unkind in their dismissiveness - get a new pediatrician. Related Articles: Stages of Baby Fussiness: The First 12 weeks Your Baby and Emotional and Social Milestones Baby's 5 Senses and How They Develop Over the First Year Learn more about Heather Long  Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago. Relevantbaby tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags baby development, baby books, milestones, understanding Discuss this article
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