On this day, the St. John’s Center would like to congratulate all pediatricians on their professional holiday and draw the attention of parents to the main stages of child development from 0 to 5 years.

If something is bothering you, do not hesitate and come to our Center to see a pediatrician and neurologist for a consultation!

Motor development of a child starts during pregnancy in the mother’s belly and continues up to 5 years of age. That is why it is very important to take as much time as possible to rehabilitate the child during this period. The risk zone for developmental abnormalities includes: premature infants, infants with a low Apgar score at birth (below 3 points), children receiving intensive care after birth, abnormalities detected during pregnancy, metabolic disorders, sepsis, brain hemorrhage, seizures.

What should alert parents and give a reason to see a doctor? The very first thing that apparently every mother knows is HOLDING THE HEAD. The maximum time a baby should be holding their head is 4 months. Holding the head at 1 month is also not the norm, and may be an indication of intracranial pressure or hypertonicity of the cervical muscles. To master this skill, it is important to lay the baby on her stomach. In this position, the baby will lift it slightly and turn it on its side, thereby training the neck muscles, gradually increasing the degree of lift until it begins to lift the upper torso.

You should also pay attention when the baby is 6-7 months old and not yet turning over. Turning over is an important motor skill which indicates the strengthening of the child’s musculoskeletal system and the development of its nervous system structures. The first step to mastering this skill is the child’s desire to reach for the toy or object of interest. From 4 months, let the baby down on the floor, arrange a play area for him/her, alternately put him/her on his/her belly and back. The baby plays with toys, reaches for them. And he turns over on his side, then on his stomach, at first it happens accidentally, and then the child does it on purpose.

If at 8-10 months the child is not sitting up independently, or is not sitting up, even if the baby is planted. I would like to point out that forcing a baby to sit down, put him on pillows, it will not teach him to sit, if you do it early (4-5 months), you could even harm him. The skill of sitting, comes gradually with the maturation of the musculoskeletal system and nervous system. First, the baby learns to turn over on his stomach, back. Then he lies on his side, supports one arm, first leaning on his elbow, and then the palm, then he takes his hand off the floor and takes the sitting position. Another way to learn to sit is from a four limb position.

More indirect signs that something is wrong: one arm (leg) is more active than the other, the child has a “favorite” (he cannot do otherwise) position, increased muscle tone in the arms and legs (in ordinary terms, the child has difficulty bending an arm or leg, for example, when he is dressed).

WALKING begins with the baby grasping the edge of his bed with his hands (more often) and pulling himself up to stand, this happens normally at 9 months, then the baby starts to move with a treadmill, holding on to a support. Gradually he/she stops holding on and takes a few independent steps. The maximum age for learning the walking skill is 16 months (1 year 4 months).

  • 18-24 months (1.5-2 years) – child starts to run.
  • 3 years old – can jump, ride a bike, stand on one leg.
  • 4-5 years old – walks in a narrow line, jumps on one leg.

If your child is at risk of cerebral palsy, it is very important to do massage courses, special physical exercises, physical therapy and medication support (as prescribed by the doctor). Swimming and dynamic gymnastics (if there are no contraindications) are very good results for babies.

Pay attention! Every child is individual and has its own standards of development, but if you have doubts about his physical health, consult your doctor. It is very important not to miss the time, because it is in the first year of a child’s life, the brain continues to grow and it is possible to restore the lost functions.