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Stimulate Baby’s psychomotor development
If parents want to be reassured about the development of their child, they must not forget that each baby evolves at its own pace. These are only general benchmarks. For each step, it is essential that your child is ready in his head (he must want to), and in his body, because of a simple problem with bodybuilding. If you can stimulate him, it is important to respect his own progress.
- Baby holds his head
The acquisition of control of the head usually takes between 2 and 4 months. In fact, up to 6 months, your baby learns to straighten his head and chest. If your child is still unable to hold his or her head past this age, the delay is a concern. Do not hesitate to talk to your pediatrician who will check for any abnormalities.
If it is important not to rush your baby, you can nevertheless stimulate him in this acquisition. To do this, place your toddler on his stomach, on a blanket or small mattress, on the floor.
This position will encourage him to straighten his head, then his chest, resting on the forearms. He can even do “the glider”, legs and arms spread and raised.
- Baby turns around
To roll on yourself, from the position “on the stomach” to “on the back”, there is no need to help your child: from 4 months, he will do it on his own. Be careful, however: give it enough field so as not to hit a piece of furniture during the maneuver. For the reverse movement, you can give it reinforcement. Place him on his back, free his arm from the side where he wants to turn. Then bend his opposite leg into a gun dog and gently pull on the other arm. Your little gymnast will quickly memorize the technique!
- Baby is sitting
The acquisition of the sitting position is generally done around 7 months. When he is on his back, your child tries to sit up, straightens his head, extends his arms… To help him: hold his legs with one hand and pull him lightly by the arm. If between 9 and 12 months, this step is not yet taken, we speak of moderate delay. Beyond 12 months, the delay is worrying. It is good to consult your pediatrician for a specialist opinion.
- Baby crawl
It is around 9 months that the children push on their arms and… retreat! To help your little one, fold his two legs into a “frog”, place your hand against his feet and let him discover that it is enough to push to move forward!
- Baby stand up
From 11 months, your child can successfully pass this stage. Be careful, never force a child to stand up before he or she can stand up on their own. When you feel him ready, place a small stool at the height of his buttocks so that he can sit down, straighten up again, sit down, etc. Laughter and bodybuilding guaranteed!
- Baby walk
The acquisition of walking is generally done around 13 months. But if your child is slow to walk, it may simply be because he doesn’t want to or is currently trying very hard in another area, such as language or cleanliness. However, beyond 18 months, if Baby still does not walk, it is better to make an appointment with the pediatrician to check that there are no problems. He will then take stock of psychomotor development.
Psychomotor retardation: what to do in case of doubt?
If you think your child is suffering from a slight motor delay, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor. However, keep in mind that, often, some children take more time than others in their learning and that does not mean that they will be less intelligent. So be patient and vigilant. In addition, certain small motor delays can simply be linked to other complications (behavioral, sleep, communication disorders, etc.).