Global Developmental Delay (3 Months–3 Years): Early Warning Signs & Parenting Support

Reviewed by Public Health Expert (MPH), with experience in maternal and child health programs.

Medical Disclaimer : This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. For personalized guidance, consult a qualified healthcare provider. This article was reviewed by a Public Health Expert (MPH) with experience in maternal, infant and child health programs aligned with WHO and UNICEF frameworks.

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Global Developmental Delay: Early in their development process babies undergo extensive learning phases and massive growth stages. Baby is just starting to interact with the world, see people he knows, respond to voices and practice those gross motor skills.  Learning to talk and smile is a sign that your baby is progressing. Of course, parents can’t help but worry when their child does not meet certain developmental milestones.

Every child develops in their own way, but beginning to notice development problems gives us a chance to provide necessary help and healthcare for them. Thanks to this article, you will be able to find any ‘red flag’ problems early, see warning signs and support your baby’s growth using love and patience.

Possible Early warning signs of baby for Global developmental delay

• No Smile in Social Situations
• Tries not to look in your face while you speak, feed or cuddle
• After two months, persistent squinting
• Stays calm and is not woken or shocked by unexpected loud sounds.
• Stiff arms and legs and a pushed-back head
• Keep your hands open or fisted and keep your thumb inside your palm.

Parenting Tips (by 2 to 3 months of age of a baby):

• Give your baby a relaxing massage to help exercise all their limbs.
• Try to give your baby some time every day to lie face down on their stomach.
• Every day, play and cuddle with infants. Babies are not spoiled by cuddling or by being rushed to respond to every scream.
• You should engage in daily speech with infants through your native language.
• All babies should be able to follow a bright and moving toy kept 30 cm (1 foot) directly in front of them.
• Keep children away from using digital media.

B. 06 months:

• A lack of control over one’s head.
• They are not able to hold the person upright for sitting by themselves.
• Is unable to hold objects that are within reach
• S/he may not speak the sound ah, eh or oo etc.
• You do not move your eyes or head around to look at moving objects.

Parenting Tips by 4 to 6 months of age of a baby:

• Parents may talk with their newborns by mimicking different sounds & rewarding them in-turn when they mimic you
• Newborns need their parents to copy their sounds and receive positive feedback when they reflect back sounds.
• Making interesting items accessible to infants, placed on the floor within their reach, lets them explore more easily.
• Introducing children to different parts of the world requires taking them into outdoor environments.
• Sucking on fingers tends to relax kids. The condition is harmless. Don’t give up on it too early. (Global Developmental Delay)

C. 09 months:

1. Unable to roll over
2. Requires assistance to sit
3. Does not look in the direction of a sound (out of sight)
4. Speaking problem with words like pa.. pa..pa, ma.. ma, ba.. ba..ba etc.
5. Always tilts the head to one side when examining stuff.

Parenting Tips by 7 to 9 months of age of a baby:

• Kid should be allowed regular object-dropping together with banging and tossing to learn. Noisy children should be treated through gentle and good interaction as this is the only proper way to react to such children.
• Home tools that pose no health risks should be available to children for their playing and exploration.
• Peek-a-boo is an excellent activity to be done with the infants as a bonding activity. Children should have a box or cloth placed over their most cherished toys. (Global Developmental Delay)

D. At 12 months:

1. Unable to use fingers and thumbs to pick up little objects
2. Does not extend their hands to be lifted
3. Does not react to one’s own name
4. Avoid looking for toys that are partially hidden so the youngster can see you hiding them.
5. Does not engage in social games such as peek-a-boo (anakh michauli/jhalak).

Parenting Tips by 10 to12 months of age of a baby:

• Place the toys you give your child in convenient positions, but out-of-reach so that they can be encouraged to stand with assistance.
• Demonstrate children the ways of using a gentle touch.
• Children occasionally hurt others by their natural exploration of their environment.

E. 18 months:

• Could not get on without support.
• Small objects cannot be placed inside a container.
• Does not blame an item when it is named
• Autism Spectrum Disorder characterizes the way this individual disconnects from interactions with their mother while focusing on their own thoughts.
• They enjoy completing their day-to-day activities using either their right hand or left hand without any hindrances.
• It doesn’t state “single.”
• Phrases like “dada” or “mama”

Parenting Tips by 18 months of age of a baby:

1. Infants benefit from push toys because they promote their walking abilities.
2. Give kids some toys, fruits, etc. Request that they identify the items, place them within containers, and remove them.
3. Present basic inquiries to your children. Urge them to speak. (Global Developmental Delay)

F. 24 months:

1. When tugging a toy, does not walk steadily
2. Unable to scribble
3. While baby is not able to express two words viz. give milk, mama milk etc.
4. The child gives a bad reaction to sign language signals whether namaste or salute gestures are given.
5. Does not indicate bodily parts
6. The child is unable to do simple things as instructed by others.

Parenting Tips by 24 months of age of a baby:

• Children should have access to secure environments for their running, climbing and walking activities.
• Let children see you do the different skills for them to learn and apply them on their own. When your child makes a mess be composed and put things in an orderly manner.
• Making a regular sleep-wake schedule for children is important for parents.
• Books should be joined by paper, chalk, colors and other writing tools for scribbling. The development of your baby comes largely from having love for them, being patient and sticking to your duties.

G. 03 years:

1. Services are needed because Developmental Delays cannot climb up or down stairs
2. Cannot eat without help
3. Has difficulty communicating without errors & keeps repeating others speech
4. Does not play “Pretend” games
5. Continuous drooling, unclear speech
6. Not able to speak small simple & three word sentences viz. mama give milk

Parenting Tips by 03 years of age of a baby:

• Outdoor games may be played with children to enhance the motor skill & physical activity.
• You may give different types of TLM (teaching learning materials) viz. blocks, puzzles, rings, etc. to children
• Skill of children can be improved by move the hands of children by self which will improve their skill

Parenting tips:

• Follow how you feel, but let others help if you need it, because all your successes together matter. Your child is an exceptional person with many chances in life.
• Use your intuition, but it’s good to ask for help now and then, as every little step forward is a success.
• Your child is a special person who can embrace many chances in life.
• Continue with your belief and affection toward your children while you fulfill their needs.

FAQs:

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Trusted References and Research Sources:

1. WHO Sri Lanka – Caring for Children with Developmental Delay
   Learn how WHO Sri Lanka is addressing the needs of children with developmental delays, ensuring inclusion and early intervention for vulnerable families.
2. PMC – Early Identification and Management of Developmental Delays
   A research-based study exploring early detection methods and management strategies for children at risk of developmental challenges.
3. International Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics – Study on Developmental Delays
   Peer-reviewed research discussing the clinical characteristics and prevalence of global developmental delay among children.
4. ClinicalGate – Global Developmental Delay and Intellectual Disability
   A comprehensive medical overview on intellectual disability and developmental delay, including causes, diagnosis, and treatment protocols.
5. IJMR International – Research on Developmental Milestones
   Evidence-based findings on developmental milestones, early screening tools, and intervention techniques for improved outcomes.
6. SAGE Encyclopedia – Global Developmental Delay Overview
   A scholarly encyclopedia entry offering detailed insight into global developmental delay, its etiology, and intervention strategies.
7. PubMed – Recent Studies on Developmental Disorders
   The latest PubMed-indexed research highlighting advancements in diagnosis and care for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

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