Children develop at different rates, but most follow a general timeline (though premature babies may be off schedule by a few weeks or months). If your child doesn't seem to be meeting milestones within several weeks of the average, ask his pediatrician about it. It may be nothing, but if your child does have a delay, you'll want to catch it early so you can get a diagnosis and begin treatment.

As a general rule, trust your instincts. If something seems odd or wrong to you about the way your baby moves, ask about it. After all, you know your child best. The following are possible warning signs of a problem; print this out and use it as a checklist to measure your baby's development.

Call the pediatrician if your child:

• after 2 months, doesn't hold his head up when you pick him up from lying on his back


• after 2 months, still feels particularly stiff or floppy


• after 2 months, overextends his back and neck (acts as if he's pushing away from you) when held cradled in your arms


• after 2 or 3 months, stiffens, crosses, or "scissors" his legs when you pick him up by the trunk


• by 3 or 4 months, doesn't grasp or reach for toys


• by 3 or 4 months, can't support his head well


• by 4 months, isn't bringing objects to his mouth


• by 4 months, doesn't push down with his legs when his feet are placed on a firm surface


• after 4 months, still has Moro reflex (when he falls backward or is startled, he throws out his arms and legs, extends his neck, and then quickly brings his arms back together and begins to cry)


• after 5 or 6 months, still has the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (when his head turns to one side, his arm on that side will straighten, with the opposite arm bent up as if he's holding a fencing sword)


• by 6 months, can't sit with help


• after 6 months, reaches out with only one hand while keeping the other fisted


• at 7 months, has poor head control when pulled to a sitting position


• at 7 months, is unable to get objects into his mouth


• at 7 months, is not reaching for objects


• by 7 months, doesn't bear some weight on his legs


• by 8 months, can't sit independently


• after 10 months, crawls in a lopsided manner, pushing off with one hand and leg while dragging the opposite hand and leg


• at 12 months, is not crawling


• at 12 months, can't stand with support


• by 18 months, can't walk


• after several months of walking, doesn't walk confidently or consistently walks on toes


• after his second birthday, is growing less than 2 inches per year


• After age 3 falls frequently or is unable to use the stairs


• After age 3 drools persistently


• After age 3 can't manipulate small objects