Did you know that nearly 1 in 6 children in the U.S. have a developmental delay or disability? As a parent, you eagerly anticipate each new skill your child masters—their first smile, first steps, first words. These developmental milestones are more than just exciting moments; they provide crucial insight into your child’s growth and well-being.
But what happens when a milestone is missed? Parents often notice delays in skills like walking, talking, or interacting with others. You may have a gut feeling that something isn’t quite right but are met with a “wait and see” approach from your child’s doctor.
At PX Docs, we believe every missed milestone deserves a closer look. Developmental delays, even subtle ones, can be indicators of an underlying imbalance in your child’s most critical system—their nervous system.
In this article, we’ll dive into what milestones measure, why tracking them is essential, and what to do if your child is not meeting them. Most importantly, we’ll explore the often-overlooked neurological roots of developmental delays and how PX Docs’ revolutionary approach is helping children get back on track and unlock their full potential.
What are Developmental Milestones?
Developmental milestones are specific skills most children can perform by a certain age. These skills fall into four main categories:
- Cognitive Milestones: How your child thinks, learns, and solves problems. This includes skills like following instructions, identifying colors, and understanding the concept of time.
- Social/Emotional Milestones: Your child’s ability to express and manage emotions and build relationships with others. Skills in this domain include smiling, showing affection, playing with others, and expressing empathy.
- Speech/Language Milestones: Skills related to understanding and using language. These include babbling, saying first words, following directions, and putting words together into phrases and sentences.
- Fine/Gross Motor Milestones: Fine motor skills involve precise hand movements, like grasping a toy or using a crayon. Gross motor skills involve bigger movements of the arms, legs, and body, such as rolling over, crawling, and walking.
Baby milestones provide a general idea of when most children master specific skills. For example, most babies start walking between 9 and 18 months. However, it’s important to remember that each child develops at their own unique pace. Achieving a milestone a few months earlier or later than average can still be typical.
Think of pediatric milestones as checkpoints along your child’s developmental journey, not rigid deadlines they must meet by a specific age. Some children may speed through certain milestones while taking their time with others. Milestone charts show a range of ages to account for this normal variation in development.
While individual differences are expected, milestones remain valuable tools for tracking your child’s progress. They help you understand what to look for as your child grows and when to seek support.
Why “Sequencing” Matters More Than Timing
Going through developmental milestones in the appropriate sequence is crucial for long-term brain and neurodevelopment because each milestone builds the foundation for subsequent cognitive, motor, emotional, and social skills. When milestones are skipped or delayed, the brain’s ability to integrate sensory information and coordinate body movements may be disrupted, which can have significant consequences on learning, behavior, and overall health.
Simply put, the brain and nervous system cannot “move on” to the next phase or stage of development until it completely finishes (integrates) the prior stage and milestone. Think of it like an advanced project management software installed into your child’s brain (operating system). It knows not to begin working on the next major project or milestone, until the previous one is fully completed.
For example, if a child skips crawling then even if they do end up walking (often through compensatory measures and therapy, or some combination of those) they quite likely will struggle with various sensory processing functions, speech and communication, and various cognitive functions like reading, focus, and concentration.
This is why so often when we begin to address developmental delays at their root neurological dysfunction and cause, we see children go through a “retracing” or “reorganizational” healing sequence where certain behaviors and milestones that they missed begin to appear and integrate once again. When this occurs, it’s a fantastic sign of neurological healing and restoration!
Here’s more detailed reasons why this sequential process is so essential:
1. Foundation for Brain Architecture
- Neuroplasticity: In the early years of life, the brain is highly plastic, meaning it is especially adaptable and forms neural connections based on experiences and stimuli. Developmental milestones like crawling, walking, and speaking activate different regions of the brain, helping to create a network of connections that are crucial for more complex cognitive processes later on.
- Each milestone reinforces neural pathways in key areas such as motor coordination, sensory processing, and language development, which form the basis of higher-order functions like problem-solving and emotional regulation.
2. Sensorimotor Integration
- Sequential developmental milestones help ensure that the sensory and motor systems are working together effectively. For example, crawling isn’t just about movement—it helps coordinate vision, touch, and proprioception (awareness of the body in space). This process is vital for organizing the brain’s sensory input, allowing the child to interact effectively with their environment.
- Missing or skipping milestones like crawling may affect later abilities in balance, coordination, and even reading (through the relationship between vision and body movement).
3. Impact on Cognitive Development
- Milestones like sitting, standing, and walking encourage exploration and interaction with the environment, which is essential for cognitive growth. These physical milestones also trigger important changes in how a child understands cause and effect, object permanence, and spatial relationships. Without going through these stages properly, there can be gaps in cognitive development, making tasks that rely on spatial reasoning or planning more difficult later on.
4. Emotional and Social Development
- Each milestone also supports emotional and social skills. For instance, early cooing and babbling not only set the stage for language acquisition but also help infants connect socially with their caregivers, laying the groundwork for communication skills and emotional bonding.
- Similarly, motor milestones like walking allow children to engage socially with peers, explore new environments, and develop independence. Skipping these stages can affect a child’s confidence, emotional regulation, and ability to form relationships.
5. Long-Term Neurological Impact
- Delays or abnormal sequencing in reaching developmental milestones can signal underlying neurological issues, such as poor myelination (the process by which neural pathways are insulated for faster communication) or sensory processing problems. These issues, if not addressed early, can increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities.
- Early intervention, especially when developmental delays are detected, can help retrain the nervous system, improving outcomes by reinforcing proper neurological development and helping children catch up on missed milestones.
In summary, the appropriate sequence of milestones is critical because each stage supports not only the development of specific skills but also the overall organization of the brain’s sensory, motor, and cognitive systems. Skipping or delaying milestones can lead to gaps in these interconnected systems, potentially affecting a child’s neurodevelopment and health over the long term.
Why Tracking Pediatric Milestones Matters
As a parent, you are your child’s first and best advocate. Tracking developmental milestones empowers you to celebrate your child’s progress, identify potential concerns, and seek support when needed.
Early detection is key when it comes to developmental delays. The sooner a delay is identified, the sooner your child can receive targeted interventions to help them build the necessary skills. Research shows early intervention can significantly improve outcomes for children with developmental delays or disabilities.
Milestones also provide a roadmap for what to expect as your child grows. When you know what skills are typically mastered at each age, you can create an environment rich in opportunities for your child to practice and develop those skills. You might introduce more songs and rhymes to encourage language development, for example, or provide safe climbing structures to promote gross motor skills.
Tracking milestones helps you have more meaningful conversations with your child’s healthcare providers. Instead of vague concerns, you can point to specific milestones your child struggles with. This partnership allows you to make informed decisions about screenings, evaluations, and services to support your child best.
Factors that Influence Child Development
While pediatric milestones provide a general timeline for skill development, many factors can influence when a child reaches these key markers.
Every child is born with a unique temperament and preferences. Some babies are naturally more cautious and may take longer to warm up to new experiences, like trying solid foods or climbing on a playground. Others are more adventurous and may achieve fine motor skills faster than average.
A child’s environment also plays a significant role in their milestone achievement. Children need ample opportunities to practice and master new skills. A child with access to a variety of toys, books, and social experiences may progress more quickly than one with fewer resources.
Cultural differences can also impact which developmental milestones are emphasized and celebrated. In some cultures, for example, independence in self-care is highly valued, while in others, children may rely on adult assistance for more extended periods.
It’s essential to consider these individual factors when tracking your child’s milestones. A slower pace doesn’t always indicate a problem, especially if your child progresses steadily.
Red Flags: When to Be Concerned About Your Baby’s Development
While some variation in milestone achievement is expected, certain red flags warrant a conversation with your child’s doctor. These include:
- Missing multiple milestones in a specific age range
- Losing skills they previously had (regression)
- Showing significant delays in one area of development compared to others
- Not engaging socially or responding to their name
- Not using gestures like waving or pointing by 12 months
- Not walking by 18 months
- Not putting words together by 24 months
- Having a minimal vocabulary compared to peers
If you notice these signs, trust your instincts and bring them up with your child’s healthcare provider. They can help you determine if further evaluation is needed.
The Conventional Approach to Developmental Delays
The conventional medical approach often follows a “wait and see” model when developmental concerns arise. Parents may be told that their child will likely “catch up” on their own or that it’s too early to intervene.
If delays persist, children are typically referred to specialists based on the area of concern. A child with motor delays may see a physical therapist, while a child with language delays may work with a speech therapist. While these targeted therapies can be helpful, they often fail to address the underlying neurological root of the delays.
At PX Docs, we believe that this fragmented approach misses a crucial piece of the developmental puzzle—the health and function of the child’s nervous system.
PX Docs’ Perspective: “The Perfect Storm”
From our experience caring for thousands of children, we’ve identified a common pattern behind many developmental delays—a “Perfect Storm” of factors that disrupt the delicate balance of the nervous system, leading to a cascade of challenges.
This “Perfect Storm” often begins before a child is even born. Prenatal stress, maternal health issues, and environmental toxins can all impact the developing fetal nervous system.
Birth interventions and trauma, such as forceps delivery, vacuum extraction, or prolonged labor, can cause physical injury to the baby’s neck and spine. This trauma can impact the brainstem, spinal cord, and vagus nerve—all critical components for healthy development.
Factors like antibiotic overuse, poor gut health, and nutrient deficiencies can further compound the problem in the early months and years. These stressors can lead to subluxation, a condition where the nervous system is stuck in a state of dysfunction and imbalance.
When the nervous system is stuck in this state, known as dysautonomia, a child’s development can be significantly impacted. Milestones in all areas—motor, language, social, and cognitive—may be delayed as the brain struggles to efficiently process and integrate sensory information from the body and environment.
The Most Easily Overlooked Red Flags
Common conditions such as colic, reflux, torticollis, plagiocephaly, chronic ear infections, and constipation in infants and toddlers can contribute to developmental delays and may be linked to long-term neurological issues like autism and ADHD. Here’s how these seemingly common early-life health challenges connect to broader developmental concerns:
1. Colic and Reflux: Early Signs of Nervous System Imbalance
Colic and reflux are often seen as digestive or minor issues in babies, but they can be early indicators of nervous system dysregulation. These conditions are sometimes linked to an overactive sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight response), which can lead to chronic stress in the infant’s body. This chronic stress may interfere with brain development and increase the risk for conditions like ADHD or sensory processing disorders later on.
2. Torticollis and Plagiocephaly: Physical Restrictions Affecting Neural Development
Torticollis (tightening of neck muscles) and plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome) can cause physical constraints that interfere with sensory input and motor development. These conditions often require the brain to compensate for abnormal head and neck posture, which can lead to delays in motor skills, cognitive development, and even speech.
Over time, untreated torticollis and plagiocephaly may contribute to sensory processing disorders or learning difficulties. This physical restriction can disrupt normal patterns of brain development.
3. Chronic Ear Infections and Constipation: Indicators of Underlying Nervous System Issues
Repeated ear infections, often linked to Eustachian tube dysfunction, can affect hearing and language development. Chronic ear infections can also reflect underlying imbalances in the immune and autonomic nervous systems, leading to delays in speech, social interaction, and cognitive skills.
Constipation is not just a digestive issue; it may point to autonomic nervous system dysregulation, especially if it’s chronic and resistant to conventional treatments. Constipation can lead to gut-brain axis disturbances, further impairing the child’s cognitive and emotional regulation.
4. Autism and ADHD Links to Early Childhood Conditions
Conditions like colic, chronic ear infections, and reflux have been connected to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD. Research suggests that persistent inflammation, immune dysfunction, and disrupted sensory pathways during these early years can set the stage for developmental challenges. Children with recurrent infections and physical issues may be at a higher risk of sensory processing problems, delayed milestones, and even the development of autism.
Addressing these early conditions, especially through early intervention techniques like pediatric chiropractic care, may help correct underlying nervous system dysfunctions and reduce the risk of longer-term developmental issues.
PX Docs’ Approach: Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care
At PX Docs, our approach to developmental delays is grounded in the revolutionary science of Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care. Through precise adjustments, we work to identify and address areas of subluxation and nervous system dysfunction that may impede your child’s development.
Our care plans begin with an in-depth assessment using our cutting-edge INSiGHT scanning technology. This non-invasive diagnostic tool provides us with a detailed picture of your child’s nervous system function and overall development, including:
- Thermal scans to identify areas of autonomic nervous system imbalance
- Surface electromyography (sEMG) to measure patterns of neuromuscular tension, symmetry, coordination, potential weakness (low tone), and subluxation
- Heart rate variability (HRV) to assess overall nervous system adaptability and resilience
Armed with this objective data, we create a customized care plan to gently correct subluxations, stimulate optimal brain-body communication, and restore autonomic balance. By enhancing nervous system function through precise adjustments, we help children naturally regain their developmental milestones and be able to see more optimal results from other important interventions such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy as well.
As a result of our care, parents often report rapid improvements in their child’s:
- Motor coordination and strength
- Language and communication skills
- Emotional regulation and stress resilience
- Sensory processing and integration
- Focus, attention, and learning
- Sleep, digestion, and immune function
These transformations highlight the power of addressing developmental concerns at their neurological roots.
Empowering Parents as Partners
At PX Docs, we believe parents are the most important members of a child’s care team. You know your child best and are uniquely attuned to their needs and challenges.
If your pediatrician or healthcare provider continues to dismiss your concerns and not make the appropriate referrals for early intervention, it’s absolutely vital to get a second opinion and seek the care and support of someone more advanced and up to speed in their understanding of developmental delays and their root causes.
At PX Docs, we are here to partner with you, listen to your concerns, and provide the expert guidance you need to help your child thrive.
Your Child’s Brightest Future Starts Here
Developmental milestones are more than just items to be checked off a list. They are windows into your child’s rapidly growing brain and body. By tracking these milestones and seeking support at the first sign of delay, you can help your child build the sturdy neurological foundation they need for a lifetime of health and success.
At PX Docs, we are committed to providing cutting-edge, neurologically-focused care for children facing developmental challenges. Our drug-free approach has helped thousands of kids get back on track and achieve their fullest potential.
If you have concerns about your child’s development, we invite you to visit our directory and find a PX Docs provider near you. With our advanced scanning technology, customized care plans, and compassionate support, we’ll help you uncover the root cause of your child’s delays and unlock their unique potential.
