ASK NANA

Dear Nana,

I have a 7 month old baby girl, who seems to be growing just fine. I have been using an App that tracks her development since she was born, as was recommended by her doctor. I keep reading about “new developmental milestones” and how much they have changed. I even read a twitter thread about how the new milestones have lowered our expectations of children due to all the damage 2 years of COVID restrictions have caused. I’m really confused. What should I be doing or how I can watch my daughter for anything going wrong. Other parents in my Mother’s Club are asking the same questions. Any advice?

- New to all this development stuff

Dear New,

Congratulations on your new baby and I’m so glad you have been thinking about her development since her birth. It *is* a confusing time and there has been a lot of misinformation thrown out there about these newly released milestones. First I want to clear up a big myth – the CDC began looking at revising the milestones prior to the pandemic. So the effects of COVID isolation, masking and other challenges were not part of the selection research. The new milestones do not reduce our expectations but instead have moved things around so that milestones listed under a specific age are now indicators of what 75% of children in that age category can do, instead of the previous 50%. It was felt that the 50% guideline was confusing for Caregivers and Medical Providers and often resulted in a “wait and see” approach. Now, if your child misses milestones at her age level, this is cause for taking a closer look immediately. There were other changes as well – adding in milestones at 15 and 30 months, which were not there before and putting in and taking out some individual milestones. 

“The one I typically recommend is from the Learn The Signs, Ask Early program.”

All that said – The big message to all of us with young children in our lives is to develop some way to track your child’s skills and compare them against “norms.” I love that you are using an App and I’m sure it will be updated soon to reflect all the CDC changes, if it hasn’t already. Other Caregivers like to use developmental check lists – there are many. The one I typically recommend is from the Learn The Signs, Ask Early program.

 By tracking your own child’s development over time, you can see the patterns of your child’s developmental trajectory and more easily highlight areas that might need support. Children may have their individual developmental quirks but almost all skill acquisition falls within typical age ranges. If your child is not developing skills as noted by the milestones or even if you just feel like something is off, reach out for further screening or evaluation. Programs like The Early Learning Institute can help or you can bring up your concerns at a well-check visit with your doctor.

Finally - I like to remind Caregivers that the baby didn’t read the book or the checklist! It is not usually helpful to compare your child to a friend’s child, for example in your mother’s Club. Use your App to track at the appropriate times. But DON’T pore over every detail of your baby's development as it will only magnify your anxieties. I encourage you to celebrate what your child can do, not what they can't yet do.

— Nana

Ask Nana is published with permission. ©2021, M. Rogers, All right reserved

Worried about your child’s development? Visit the CDC’s Learn the Signs, Act Early to learn about important developmental milestones your child should be reaching at their age. You can also download their free Milestone Tracker App, as well as find out how and where to get help if you have any concerns. Remember, you do NOT need a referral from a doctor to receive help!