Development delay in toddlers describes failure to meet developmental milestones at expected times, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Development delay is not just temporarily falling behind. It is an ongoing delay in one or more areas of development. Knowing the warning signs of development delay is crucial to providing early intervention.
Warning Signs for Age 1
Warning signs of development delays at 12 months of age, as listed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, include not crawling, dragging one side of the body while crawling, failure to say a single word such as "mama" or "dada" and inability to stand with support. You should also be concerned if your 12-month-old toddler fails to use gestures, such as shaking his head or waving, fails to point to familiar objects or does not seek to find objects that are hidden while he watches.
Warning Signs for Age 2
Signs that may indicate development delays by the end of 2 years include failure to follow simple instructions, inability to push wheeled toys and not using two-word sentences. You should be concerned if your toddler does not walk by 18 months, or if she walks only on her toes. By 15 months, your toddler should understand the meaning or function of ordinary household objects such as spoon, fork, brush, table and telephone. Having a vocabulary of less than 15 words at 18 months and failure to mimic words or actions by 24 months are also causes for concern.
Warning Signs for Age 3
Indications of possible development delays by the end of 3 years include very unclear speech or continual drooling, poor eye contact, frequent falls and difficulty navigating stairs. Other signs include inability to copy a circle or construct a tower of more than four blocks, little or no interest in other children and extreme anxiety separating from parents or the main caregiver. A toddler with development delays at age 3 may have trouble manipulating small objects, show little interest in toys and fail to comprehend simple instructions or communicate in short phrases.
Warning Signs for Age 4
Signs of development delays by the end of 4 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include inability to jump in place, throw a ball overhand, ride a tricycle or stack four blocks, difficulty scribbling and failure to use "you" and "me" correctly. At this age, a toddler with development delays may act out and show no self-control when upset or angry, resist dressing, sleeping and going to the toilet, fail to respond to anyone other than family and continue to have extreme difficulty separating from parents. Other warning signs of delay include ignoring other children, showing no interest in fantasy play or interactive games and failure to use sentences with more than three words.
References
- University of Michigan Health System: Developmental Delay
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Developmental Milestones: 12 Months
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Developmental Milestones: 2 Year Olds
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Developmental Milestones: 3 to 4 Year Olds
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Important Milestones: By the End of Four Years
