Are We There Yet? How to Mark the Milestones Without the Worry
“We’ve got to get her walkin’!” was Don’s battle cry upon hearing that his 14-month old granddaughter Lynn didn’t seem destined to begin walking any sooner than her mother or her uncle Rick had started — at the ripe age of 16 months. Lynn’s mom (Don’s daughter) had just casually explained that little Lynn’s playgroup peers were already walking. And snatching Lynn’s toys, then walking off with them. The 14 month-old was helpless to do more than protest.
Visions of fifth-place finishes, runner-up trophies, and being picked last for teams swirled through Don’s anxious mind as he considered the future implications of his granddaughter’s missing milestone. That Don’s own children has begun walking a little later then typical did not calm his fears. Nor was his patience assisted by his medical training. On most days Don, a doctor, understood (on an intellectual level) the wide range of normal human development. But at that moment, Don was in Grandpa mode.
Sure, motor development milestones are important. But parents can stress less, and enjoy their babies more if they use milestones to navigate, not rush the journey.
Here is a list of key body milestones, and what parents should do about them:
Newborn:
- Has hands that remain fisted for the first few weeks of life. Gently help her to hold your finger during nursing or quiet-alert times.
- Has a wobbly head that needs support. Tummy time is the answer! A couple of “floor workouts” per day (3-5 minutes each) will help baby’s neck, torso, and upper body become stronger. She may protest, or she may become an early crawler!
- Wiggly-ness. Use a safe bumper pad in the crib to protect baby from hard surfaces. Bonus: Choose a pad that offers visual stimulation.
Settled baby:
- Can support head by leaning on forearms. Like I said… crawling. Time to think about safety-proofing.
- Has open hands that can reach for and grab things. Attract her attention to toys by shaking them gently.
- Likes to look at her own hands, sometimes bring them together, and bring items to her mouth. Offer age-appropriate toys to her at midline (the middle of her body).
Older baby:
- Can sit up on her own. Give her interesting toys and small, cardboard books to touch, hold, grab while she enjoys the new view.
- Starts crawling. Like I said…. safety proofing. She doesn’t have to crawl before she walks. Not all babies go through this stage. Those who do deserve a completely safety- proofed home. In fact, parents, I suggest you get down and crawl around and see the dangers or temptations from your curious baby’s point of view. Remove them, and let the exploring begin!
- Stands up. Wow. She’ll do this while holding on, at first. She needs solid, stationary items to help her pull herself up to standing. Her intellectual curiosity can be satisfied by her own actions. THIS is a milestone.
- Likes cruising. Don’t worry, this has nothing to do with your car keys or insurance rates. Yet. This means your baby is beginning to take…. er, baby steps along your furniture. Good time for goal-setting, too. Place an enticing toy just beyond your child’s reach. Let her work toward and earn that reward.
- Gets back down to sitting. From the standing position or the cruising position, baby can lower herself back to the floor.
- Begins walking. Oh, yes, that. At first, your baby will appreciate a helping hand. After all that your baby accomplished in the first year of owning a body, this event almost seems more pivotal for the parents than for the baby. Don’t get me wrong. This vital milestone is important. But so is the journey.
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Carly Jennings | Motor Development | 
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