EPS 304 Final Project Presented by: Jackie Jill Kristin

Question: Tina, who has 3 children, volunteers to baby-sit for her friend Natalie’s 5 month old boy, Dylan, so that Natalie can go on a job interview. As Tina is undressing Dylan, she thinks its odd that he doesn’t seem to be able to turn over in his crib. When she cradles him in her arm to bathe him, he feels “floppy” and appears to lack muscle strength. Is Dylan evidencing any motor development delays?

What milestones should have Dylan reached? Is Dylan in danger of developmental delay or is he still at normal development? Should Dylan’s parents worry? What should Dylan’s parents do?

What Milestones should have Dylan reached? At about 3 months: –mini push up –lifts head and uses arms to lift shoulders (this helps strengthen muscles to help child roll over)

What Milestones should have Dylan reached? By 5 months, Dylan should be able to: –Prone, lift head –Prone, chest up, use arms for support –Roll over –Support some weight with legs –Kick legs –Begin to sit up –Swim with arms

Is Dylan in danger of developmental delays or is he still at normal development? Developmental milestones are determined by the average age at which children attain each skill, therefore, statistically, about 3% of children will not meet them on time. Only about 15-20% of these children will actually have abnormal development. The rest will eventually develop normally over time, although a little later than expected.

Keep in Mind For each milestone there is a range of ages during which a child will normally meet it. A developmental delay occurs when a child has the delayed achievement of one or more of his milestones, it is not when a child is temporarily lagging behind. Mild delays in motor development can be normal. Some babies never roll over-they skip the milestone and move on to sitting, lunging, and crawling. The muscles babies use for rolling over they also use for sitting up and crawling. An infant may not be meeting his/her motor milestones if they are not rolling over by 6 months and have a head lag when pulled to a sitting position after 6 months.

Should Dylan’s parents worry? It may be of concern if by 5 months an infant: -Cannot lift head when placed on his stomach or is unable, in this position, to push up on arms lifting head and chest. -Always holds legs in a rigid, stiff, extended position. -Stays in the same position all the time (and if you position differently, manages to quickly get back to strongly favored position). -Refuses to be placed on stomach and when placed on back moves by arching his back and inching backwards with the use of head. -If he hasn’t figured out how to flip one way or the other by the time he’s about 6 months old and isn’t showing any interest in getting around by any other means.

By these statements, it seems as though Dylan may be experiencing some delays. He does not seem to have obtained the muscles in order to be at the level he should be. Because of this delay, Dylan may have problems later: He may miss the next milestones and may not sit by the age of 8 months He may not crawl by the age of 12 months He may not be walking by the age of 15 months He may continue to be behind in his gross motor development May later be behind with his gross motor skills

What should Dylan’s parents do? If they think that Dylan may be delayed, they should take him to their primary care provider, or to a developmental and behavioral pediatrician or pediatric neurologist to be checked and evaluated.

Resources “Developmental Delays.” Keep Kids Healthy.com. 25 Nov “Developmental Delays: What Parents Should Know.” All About Baby & Child. 30 Nov “Effects of Sleep Position on Infant Motor Development.” Pediatrics. 25 Nov Fiorentino, Mary R. Normal and Abnormal Development: The Influence of Primitive Reflexes on Motor Development. Springfield: Thomas Books, Santrock, John W. Child Development. Boston: McGraw Hill, Pp Snell, Rita. “ Gross Motor Development in Infants with Multiple Impairments.” California State University. 30 Nov “Your Child: Development & Behavior Resources.” University of Michigan Health System. 1 Dec. 2003