Delayed Developmental Milestones: Understanding What Can Go Wrong
Introduction
Growth is a natural part of life. You expect your child, siblings, cousins, nieces—or any child you care about—to reach important milestones: babbling sounds, grasping objects, bringing them to their mouth, or reacting when you touch the soles of their feet.
But life doesn’t always follow the same script for every child. Why? Some children face complications before, during, or after birth that affect the brain. These challenges can lead to delays in reaching developmental milestones.
Let’s talk about how a child’s brain develops–and what can sometimes go wrong.
Understanding the Brain of a Child
The brain of a child starts to form during pregnancy, and this continues to develop rapidly through infancy and early childhood–until age 3 where 80% of the brain is formed. As an adult, there have been instances you hit your head against something and everything is fine. But for an infant though, in some cases, everything might not be fine. This isn't to put fear in you because it is almost unavoidable for some children to fall and not hit their heads against a railing.
During the time these infants are growing, their brain keeps building millions of connections called synapses–which are essential for learning, movement, and social interaction. Any injury however to the developing brain will cause a delay in the normal development of the child; which is called delayed developmental milestone (DDM). Some of the causes of developmental delay includes:
Complications during pregnancy or birth such as prematurity, lack of oxygen (birth asphyxia), or trauma during delivery can injure the developing brain
Genetic or chromosomal conditions like Down syndrome
Infections like meningitis or encephalitis in early life–that damage brain structures
Head trauma
Extreme poverty or neglect
How Can You As A Parent or Caregiver Know That Your Child May Be Experiencing DDM?
Every child develops at their own pace. However, there are signs that may suggest a delay. If your child shows any of the following, contact your pediatrician or reach out to us at The Physio Diary: +2348126973878.
If by:
3–4 months: Your child doesn’t give a social smile or visually follow objects.
6 months: Your child cannot properly hold or control their head or reach for objects.
9 months: Your child cannot sit without support, doesn’t babble, or shows no interest in peek-a-boo.
12 months: Your child cannot stand with support, does not perform gestures like waving or pointing, or doesn’t utter single words (like “mama” or “dada”).
Also note: a child can lose previously gained skills due to any of the causes listed above. As a parent, it’s important to be aware of these signs and seek professional help early.
Can A Child Who Has Lost Milestones Regain Them?
Yes. In many cases, children who lose previously gained skills can regain them—especially when the cause of the delay is identified early and treated promptly. This is because the brain in infancy and early childhood is remarkably adaptable, a quality known as neuroplasticity. With timely interventions such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medication, or surgery (depending on the cause), children can relearn and build new connections to recover lost abilities.
Final Thoughts
Delayed developmental milestones can often be avoided or managed effectively if detected early. If you have concerns or questions, don’t hesitate to reach out at +2348126973878. Early guidance can make all the difference.
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