Developmental check-ups with a Pediatrician throughout your child’s first year of life (at 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months) are a perfect place to bring up any concerns you as a parent may have about your child’s development. While pediatricians have their own set of developmental red flags, these only hit the “big-bad-uglys” as we like to call them, including: is your child rolling by 6 months, sitting independently by 8 months, crawling by 12 months, and walking by 18 months.
These red flags are very specific, meaning a child who exhibits these red flags would be identified for services, but not very sensitive, meaning many children who would benefit from therapy services are missed. I have seen many children referred to physical therapy for delayed walking skills, who are not standing independently or didn’t roll consistently until 8 months.
To help these children who are being missed by the pediatrician’s red flags, I have put together a list of gross motor skills to discuss with your pediatrician at your child’s check-ups throughout their first year.
2 Months:
- Lifts and maintains head up when on belly
4 Months:
- Controls head during pull to sit
- Controls head when held at shoulder
- Controls head while in supported sitting
6 Months:
- Sits independently for 1 minute
- Rolls from belly to back
- Rolls from back to belly
- Lifts chest off ground when on belly, pushing onto extended arms
- Grabs feet or knees when on back
- Bears weight through legs in supported standing
9 Months:
- Gets into and out of sitting independently
- Army crawls or crawls on hands and knees
12 Months:
- Pulls to stand at stable surface
- Cruises along furniture
- Stands independently for 5 seconds
- Walks forward with hands held
