Depression (low mood)

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 12-18 months and they…

• Have lost skills which they could do before
• Feel very stiff, for example:
  • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
  • Find it difficult to change their position on their own
  • You find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
• Feel very floppy when they are awake
• Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
• Use one side of their body more than the other, for example:
  • Lean to the side when they sit
  • Drag their leg or foot when crawling or walking
  • Use one arm to pull to stand more than the other
  • Rarely use one of their arms to pick up toys, or eat and drink
• Finds it hard to stand or walk, for example:
  • Can’t pull to stand
  • Fall over a lot when standing still
  • Doesn’t cruise (walk while holding on to furniture)
  • Walk on their tiptoes a lot

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 18-24 months and they…

• Have lost skills which they could do before
• Feel very stiff, for example:
  • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
  • Find it difficult to change their position on their own
  • You find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
• Feel very floppy when they are awake
• Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
• Use one side of their body more than the other, for example:
  • Lean to the side when they sit
  • Drag their leg or foot when crawling or walking
  • Use one arm to pull to stand more than the other
  • Rarely use one of their arms to pick up toys, or eat and drink
• Find it hard to balance when standing still, or fall over a lot
• Can’t walk by themselves
• Walk on their tiptoes a lot
• Are suddenly unsteady when walking

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 2 years and they…

• Have lost skills which they could do before
• Feel very stiff, for example:
  • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
  • Find it difficult to change their position on their own
  • You find it difficult to move your child’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
• Feel very floppy when awake
• Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
• Use one side of their body more than the other, for example:
  • Lean to the side when they sit
  • Drag one leg or foot behind them when crawling or walking
  • Rarely use one of their arms to play, eat and drink
• Find it hard to balance when standing still or fall over a lot
• Can’t walk by themselves
• Mostly walk on their tiptoes
• Are suddenly unsteady when walking
• Haven’t started to run
• Move from laying down or sitting to standing by using their hands to push off the ground, and “walk” their hands up their legs until they are standing

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 3 years and they…

• Have lost skills which they could do before 
• Feel very stiff, for example:
  • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
  • Find it difficult to change their position on their own
  • You find it difficult to move your child’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their clothes
• Feel very floppy when awake
• Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
• Use one side of their body more than the other, for example:
  • Lean to the side when they sit
  • Drag one leg or foot behind them when walking
  • Rarely uses one of their arms to play, eat and drink
• Find it hard to balance when standing still or fall over a lot
• Can’t walk by themselves
• Mostly walk on their tiptoes
• Are suddenly unsteady when walking
• Have not started to jump or run
• Move from laying down or sitting to standing by using their hands to push off the ground, and “walk” their hands up their legs until they are standing

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 4 years and they…

• Have lost skills which they could do before
• Feel very stiff, for example:
  • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
  • Find it difficult to change their position on their own
  • Find it tricky to change their clothes
• Feel very floppy when awake
• Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
• Use one side of their body more than the other, for example:
  • Lean to the side when they sit
  • Drag one leg or foot behind them when walking
  • Rarely use one of their arms to play, eat and drink
• Find it hard to balance when standing still 
• Suddenly become unsteady when walking
• Find it hard going upstairs or uphill
• Trip or fall a lot
• Walk on tiptoes most of the time
• Feel pain in their arms or legs
• Move from laying down or sitting on the floor to standing by using their hands to push off the ground, and “walk” their hands up their legs until they are standing.

Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 5 years and they…

• Have lost skills which they could do before
• Feel very stiff, for example:
  • Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
  • Find it difficult to change their position on their own 
  • Find it tricky to change their clothes
• Feel very floppy when awake
• Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
• Use one side of their body more than the other, for example:
  • Lean to the side when they sit
  • Drag one leg or foot behind them when walking
  • Rarely uses one of their arms to play, eat and drink
• Find it hard to balance, or trip or fall a lot
• Persistently walk on tiptoes  
• Suddenly become unsteady when walking
• Feel pain in their arms or legs
• Move from laying or sitting on the floor to standing by using their hands to push off the ground, and “walk” their hands up their legs until they are standing.

Social/Emotional Milestones

• Copies other children while playing, like taking toys out of a container when another child does
• Shows you an object she likes
• Claps when excited
• Hugs stuffed doll or other toy
• Shows you affection (hugs, cuddles, or kisses you)

Language/Communication Milestones

• Tries to say one or two words besides “mama” or “dada,” like “ba” for ball or “da” for dog
• Looks at a familiar object when you name it
• Follows directions given with both a gesture and words. For example, he gives you a toy when you hold out your hand and say, “Give me the toy.”
• Points to ask for something or to get help

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Tries to use things the right way, like a phone, cup, or book
• Stacks at least two small objects, like blocks

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

• Takes a few steps on his own
• Uses fingers to feed herself some food

Social/Emotional Milestones

• Moves away from you, but looks to make sure you are close by
• Points to show you something interesting
• Puts hands out for you to wash them
• Looks at a few pages in a book with you
• Helps you dress him by pushing arm through sleeve or lifting up foot

Language/Communication Milestones

• Tries to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada”
• Follows one-step directions without any gestures, like giving you the toy when you say, “Give it to me.”

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Copies you doing chores, like sweeping with a broom
• Plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

• Walks without holding on to anyone or anything
• Scribbles
• Drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes
• Feeds himself with his fingers
• Tries to use a spoon
• Climbs on and off a couch or chair without help

Social/Emotional Milestones

• Notices when others are hurt or upset, like pausing or looking sad when someone is crying
• Looks at your face to see how to react in a new situation

Language/Communication Milestones

• Points to things in a book when you ask, like “Where is the bear?”
• Says at least two words together, like “More milk.”
• Points to at least two body parts when you ask him to show you
• Uses more gestures than just waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Holds something in one hand while using the other hand; for example, holding a container and taking the lid off
• Tries to use switches, knobs, or buttons on a toy
• Plays with more than one toy at the same time, like putting toy food on a toy plate

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

• Kicks a ball
• Runs
• Walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help
• Eats with a spoon

Social/Emotional Milestones

• Plays next to other children and sometimes plays with them
• Shows you what she can do by saying, “Look at me!”
• Follows simple routines when told, like helping to pick up toys when you say, “It’s clean-up time.”

Language/Communication Milestones

• Says about 50 words
• Says two or more words together, with one action word, like “Doggie run”
• Names things in a book when you point and ask, “What is this?”
• Says words like “I,” “me,” or “we”

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Uses things to pretend, like feeding a block to a doll as if it were food
• Shows simple problem-solving skills, like standing on a small stool to reach something
• Follows two-step instructions like “Put the toy down and close the door.”
• Shows he knows at least one color, like pointing to a red crayon when you ask, “Which one is red?”

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

• Uses hands to twist things, like turning doorknobs or unscrewing lids
• Takes some clothes off by himself, like loose pants or an open jacket
• Jumps off the ground with both feet
• Turns book pages, one at a time, when you read to her

Social/Emotional Milestones

• Calms down within 10 minutes after you leave her, like at a childcare drop off
• Notices other children and joins them to play

Language/Communication Milestones

• Talks with you in conversation using at least two back-and-forth exchanges
• Asks “who,” “what,” “where,” or “why” questions, like “Where is mommy/daddy?”
• Says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like “running,” “eating,” or “playing”
• Says first name, when asked
• Talks well enough for others to understand, most of the time

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Draws a circle, when you show him how
• Avoids touching hot objects, like a stove, when you warn her

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

• Strings items together, like large beads or macaroni
• Puts on some clothes by himself, like loose pants or a jacket
• Uses a fork

Social/Emotional Milestones

• Pretends to be something else during play (teacher, superhero, dog)
• Asks to go play with children if none are around, like “Can I play with Alex?”
• Comforts others who are hurt or sad, like hugging a crying friend
• Avoids danger, like not jumping from tall heights at the playground
• Likes to be a “helper”
• Changes behavior based on where she is (place of worship, library, playground)

Language/Communication Milestones

• Says sentences with four or more words
• Says some words from a song, story, or nursery rhyme
• Talks about at least one thing that happened during her day, like “I played soccer.”
• Answers simple questions like “What is a coat for?” or “What is a crayon for?”

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Names a few colors of items
• Tells what comes next in a well-known story
• Draws a person with three or more body parts

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

• Catches a large ball most of the time
• Serves herself food or pours water, with adult supervision
• Unbuttons some buttons
• Holds crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not a fist)

Social/Emotional Milestones

• Follows rules or takes turns when playing games with other children
• Sings, dances, or acts for you
• Does simple chores at home, like matching socks or clearing the table after eating

Language/Communication Milestones

• Tells a story she heard or made up with at least two events. For example, a cat was stuck in a tree and a firefighter saved it
• Answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it to him
• Keeps a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchanges
• Uses or recognizes simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall)

Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

• Counts to 10
• Names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to them
• Uses words about time, like “yesterday,” “tomorrow,” “morning,” or “night”
• Pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities. For example, during story time or making arts and crafts (screen time does not count)
• Writes some letters in her name
• Names some letters when you point to them

Movement/Physical Development Milestones

• Buttons some buttons
• Hops on one foot