Baby Milestones: Are We Watching the Right Things?

When your baby is growing, it is natural to keep an eye on developmental milestones.

When will they roll? Sit? Crawl? Stand? Walk?

These milestones are useful, but there is more to development than ticking boxes.

As paediatric physiotherapists, we also look at how a baby moves — how they use their body, how they move between positions, whether they use both sides and how they are developing strength, balance and coordination.

It's not just about whether they can sit

Take sitting, for example.

Your baby may be sitting independently, but can they:

• Reach for a toy without falling?

• Are the slumped or sitting upright?

• Can they turn to look behind them?

• Reach to both sides?

• Move from sitting onto the floor?

• Use both hands during play?

These movements tell us much more about their developing balance, strength and coordination than simply knowing that they can sit.

And what about crawling?

Crawling is a particularly interesting milestone.

You may have heard that crawling isn't important because some babies skip it altogether. Its that not every baby crawls in the traditional hands-and-knees pattern.

However, crawling provides valuable opportunities to develop:

• Strength through the arms and shoulders, which is the foundation for fine-motor skills

• Trunk and pelvic control

• Weight-shifting and balance

• Coordination between the left and right sides of the body

• Hand and wrist weight-bearing

• Spatial awareness and tracking

• Independent exploration

So rather than simply asking “Has my baby crawled?”, we can ask whether they are getting opportunities to develop these skills.

A baby who bottom-shuffles, commando crawls, rolls or pivots may be finding their own way to move. That's not automatically a concern. We can still find ways to encourage crawling movements into the way they play. If a baby is showing little interest in moving, consistently avoids one side, or seems unable to get into or out of different positions, it is worth discussing with a healthcare professional.

Watch how they move

One of the things we look at during a paediatric physiotherapy assessment is movement variety.

For example:

Does your baby always roll in the same direction?

Do they consistently reach with one hand?

Do they turn their head more easily to one side?

Are they comfortable putting weight through both arms and legs?

Can they move between lying, sitting, crawling and standing?

Some asymmetry is normal, particularly as babies are learning. But a strong or persistent preference for one side is something worth having assessed.

Don't forget the transitions

Parents naturally notice the big achievements: “She's sitting!” or “He's standing!”

But the transitions are important too.

Getting from lying to sitting, sitting to the floor, pulling to stand and lowering back down all require a combination of strength, balance, coordination and body control.

These are the building blocks that allow children to become increasingly independent movers.

So what should parents watch for?

Rather than becoming anxious about whether your baby has achieved a particular milestone by an exact age, look for progress.

I

s your baby gradually becoming stronger?

Are they finding new ways to move?

Are they gaining confidence exploring their environment?

Are they using both sides of their body?

Are they learning to move in and out of different positions?

And if something doesn't look quite right to you, trust that instinct and ask.

A paediatric physiotherapy assessment doesn't mean that something is necessarily wrong.

Sometimes it simply gives parents reassurance, practical ideas and a better understanding of what their child is working towards.

Development isn't just about the milestone

A milestone tells us what a baby can do.

Looking at movement tells us much more about how they are getting there.

At BodyRight Physiotherapy Drogheda, our paediatric physiotherapists assess children's movement, strength, balance, coordination and developmental skills, helping parents understand their child's development and how they can support it through everyday play.

If you have concerns about your baby's crawling, sitting, standing, walking or general movement, we're happy to help.