When to bring up developmental concerns

Every child develops at their own pace, but a handful of patterns warrant an early conversation. Bring these up at the next well-visit rather than waiting: no eye contact by 3 months, no social smile by 8 weeks, no babbling by 9 months, no words by 15 months, no walking by 18 months, or loss of skills previously mastered. Also worth mentioning: persistent stiffness or floppiness, a strongly preferred hand before 18 months (may signal weakness on the other side), and a lack of response to their own name. Early intervention programs are free through most public health systems and effective. Waiting rarely helps; early evaluation is much easier than late catch-up. Trust your gut — parents often notice patterns before pediatricians do.