When should my baby/toddler start sitting up, crawling, talking, and walking?

Tracy

Dear Tracy,

Every child is unique in all aspects, those growing stages that are usually called ‘developmental milestones’ will be reached at different times by different children. For that reason, parents should not compare their child with another. However pediatricians set ranges just to indicate around which age the child is supposed to reach every developmental milestone.

At five months, a child can sit with help or by her/his own. A baby at that age explores the world around her/him with a different perspective. It is advised to keep an eye on the child, she/he can topple over anytime or get tired of sitting. The baby will need to be assured there is someone around she/he can count on to attempt every developmental milestone.

Most of the children start crawling between five and seven months, others can wait until 11 months. Again, it depends upon the pace of the child. You should not worry if your child is not crawling, some babies skip the milestone. 

Typical children start walking around 12 months. It may happen before one year or after depending again on the pace. Nothing to worry about or to be proud of, every child evolves on her/his own pace. The age ranges pediatricians provide us with help us to know what to expect and around which time.

Between 12 and 15 months, babies start babbling and at about 18 months, most children can say simple words. According to www.pregnancyandbaby.com, "a baby of 12 months typically says one or two words, although only her parents may recognize them. By 18 months, the average baby says between five and 20 words. Between ages one and two, most can put together a two-word sentence, and between three and four, many know and use around 1,000 words.”

Parents should not push a child beyond her/his pace, it might affect her/him emotionally according to psychologists. 

The question was answered by Martine Kagabo, a parent and principal of Wellspring Academy

If you have any question, please send it to education@newtimes.co.rw