Expert: Dr. Sharon A. Mitchell - 10/2/2009

Question
My son was born 7 weeks early, now is 9 months old. He seems to be developing within the normal range for his corrected age. I have one concern, he has never mimicked us, never sticking out his tonge, never waving, other babies I know have been doing this since 2 weeks of age. Do we just have an independently minded baby or is this something we should be concerned about?

Answer
You've already been through a lot with this little guy but it's nice to hear that he's doing well for his corrected age.

By that, I take it you mean as a baby of seven months, instead of going by the date he was actually born and is likely able to roll over and sits up to some degree.

Although each child is an individual and being a preemie, he may not follow an exactly typical path, here are some things to watch for:

- Does your son make sounds? Does he coo and babble sounds?

- Does he reach for objects?

- If you moved a object slowly in front of his face, will his eyes follow the object?

- Will he drag an object to himself?

- Does he seem to recognize you?

- Is he showing any anxiety over strangers?

- Does he make eye contact with you?

- Does he enjoy being cuddled?

- Does he play peek a boo?

- Does he like to look in a mirror?

- Will he copy sounds that you make or stick out his tongue when you do?

- Will he turn in the direction of a voice?

I'm not sure you should be unduly alarmed if your physician feels your child is within the normal range for his corrected age. But it certainly does not hurt to keep a close watch on his development.

Here are a few websites that offer milestones on what your might expect of a baby at certain ages:

Developmental milestones at Early Intervention Canada http://www.earlyinterventioncanada.com/pdf/Developmental_Milestones.pdf

Canadian Association of Speech Language Pathologists communications chart http://www.caslpa.ca/PDF/milestones_brochure.pdf

Ontario government http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/documents/resources/beststart/speec...

Centres for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-7mo.html

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities http://www.nichcy.org/Disabilities/Milestones/Pages/Default.aspx

http://www.babycenter.com/0_milestone-chart-1-to-6-months_1496585.bc

http://www.babycenter.com/0_milestone-chart-7-to-12-months_1496587.bc

Best wishes,

Sharon A. Mitchell, B.A., B.Ed., M.A., Ph.D.. candidate
www.autismsite.ca