Sydney Shindler

ISM – Period 7

DuMond, Sara. “What Doctors Look for at Well-Baby Visits.” Parents, Meredith Corporation,

14 Aug. 2006, www.parents.com/baby/care/pediatricians-medicine/what-doctors-look-for-

at-well-baby-visits/.

• Doctors check infant growth by measuring height, weight, and head circumference
o Data is then placed on growth charts based on age and gender in order to find
baby’s percentile
• The 5 to 95th percentile is the normal range for infants
th

o Outliers may also be considered normal depending on family traits and birth
prematurity
• Normal development is determined by doctors asking questions about the infant’s
milestones and possibly getting them to perform these tasks
o A developmental delay can suggest neurological or muscular disorders; however,
most of the time babies are not delayed, just taking their time
• Head Physical = checks for post-delivery swelling as well as infant’s soft spots; doctors
also look for normal head shape in order to avoid disorders like SIDS
• Eyes = doctors use an ophthalmoscope to check for normalcy in pupils, corneas, and
overall vision; eye alignment is also checked
• Ear, Nose, and Throat = look for redness and fluid in the ears
o Some doctors may check infants for irregularly narrow nostrils
o Check the appearance of gums, tonsils, and teeth
• Chest = doctors listen for heart murmurs as well as wheezing and congestion in the lungs
• Stomach = feel for masses or swollen organs
o Abnormalities are rare but lumps are usually caused by swollen kidneys
• Groin = checks for regular pulses on both sides of the body to ensure working vessels
• Hips = doctors rotate hips to check for dislocations
o This is more common in girls than boys; undiagnosed dislocations can cause
permanent deformities and motor delays
• Back = doctors make sure infants backs are straight with no unusually deep dimples;
spina bifida is also checked for
• Skin = look for any abnormal conditions such as diaper rash, eczema, baby acne, etc.
• Diet = doctors question parents to make sure that baby is eating enough of the correct
foods; also makes suggestions for big changes like trying solid foods and whole milk
• Sleep = asks about infant’s sleep cycles and warn against bed/room sharing

This source was perfect for my project as it was written by a pediatrician and leads you step-by-
step through the process of an infant check-up as well as what doctors are testing for.
 Sydney Shindler
ISM – Period 7
“Baby Milestones | 0-12 Month Milestones.” Pathways, Pathways.org, pathways.org/growth-

development/baby/milestones/.

• 0-3 Month Milestones:

o Motor = Infant holds head up and pushes up with arms while on stomach
▪ Can open/close fist and brings hand to mouth
o Sensory = Reaches for toys and visually tracks their movement
▪ Can be calmed by rocking/touching/gentle noises
o Communication = Makes eye contact and appears interested in people’s faces
▪ Has different cries for different needs (ex. hungry v. lonely)
▪ Turns head towards sounds and coos/smiles
• 4-6 Month Milestones:
o Motor = Supports self with hands while sitting
▪ Rolls for stomach to back and vice versa
▪ Reaches hands towards feet and moves toys between hands while on back
o Sensory = Brings hands/objects to mouth and uses both hands to explore toys
▪ Not upset by everyday sounds; happy when not hungry/tired
o Communication = reacts to noises and “responds” when spoken to
▪ Starts babbling and makes different sounds to express feelings
• 7-9 Month Milestones:
o Motor = Sits without support and can reach for toys without falling
▪ Can move from stomach/back to sitting
▪ Turns head to track objects and begins to crawl
o Sensory = Explores toys/surroundings and their shapes/textures
▪ Experiments with the force needed to pick up different objects
▪ Focuses on objects both near and far
▪ Observes surroundings from different positions
o Communication = Increased babbling and sound varieties
▪ Recognizes own name and some names of objects
▪ Imitates sounds and takes part in two-way communication
▪ Begins using simple gestures (ex. shaking head for “no”)
• 10-12 Month Milestones:
o Motor = Pulls on objects to stand and walks along furniture
▪ Uses fingers to pick up small objects and can clap hands
▪ Begins to stand/walk alone
o Sensory = Crawls to and away from objects seen in distance
▪ Enjoys listening to music
o Communication = Responds to simple directions
▪ Says some words and long phrases of gibberish that mimic speech
▪ Attentive to where people point and look

This resource was extremely informative as it provided numerous milestones that an infant
should be reaching as well as how to detect developmental delay within a child.
 Sydney Shindler
ISM – Period 7
Pietrangelo, Ann. “Developmental Delay: Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis.” Healthline,

Healthline Media, 28 Apr. 2016, www.healthline.com/symptom/developmental-delay.

• Having minor/temporary delays is no problem ongoing delays can cause later issues
• Causes of delay are not always known but can include heredity, problematic pregnancy,
and premature birth
• Delays can indicate other medical conditions, but early intervention drastically helps a
child’s progression into adulthood
• Motor Delay = Fine motor deals with small movement while gross deals with large
o Symptoms: loose trunk/limbs, stiff limbs, limited limb movement, failure to sit
without support at nine months, involuntary reflexes dominate voluntary ones,
and failure to stand/bear weight on legs by about one year old
• Speech and Language Delay
o NIDCD claims the first 3 years of life are most active for speech/language
learning due to the brain developing and maturing
o Language expectations = communication begins when infants cry when hungry
▪ 6 months = recognize basic sounds of language
▪ 12-15 months = say simple words
▪ 18 months = understanding words/commands
▪ 3 years = speak simple sentences
o Speech coordinates between the vocal tract, tongue, lips and jaw to make sound;
delays include stuttering and issues creating correct sounds
▪ Ex. Apraxia = “difficulty putting syllables together to form words”
o Language delays = issues understanding what others say and difficulty with
expression (speech/gestures/signing/writing)
o Poor hearing can cause speech/language delays; patients often referred to a
speech-language pathologist
• Autism Spectrum Disorders = neurodevelopmental disorder that causes issues with
communication and interaction with others
o Classic Autism = language delay and intellectual disabilities
o Symptoms = no response to name, resists close interaction, lack facial expression,
speech difficulties, performs repetitive movements/specific routines, etc.
o Autism has no cure, but early intervention is extremely helpful for progression
• CDC claims that 15% of people between 3-17 have developmental disabilities
• Most disabilities occur pre-birth, but some are caused after by injury, infection, etc.
• Developmental delay can be a sign of autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, fetal
alcohol disorders, myopathies, Landau-Kleffner syndrome, and genetic disorders
• Children with developmental delay are eligible for special services and early intervention,
which can occur through physicians or the school
• Treatments vary (ex. physical therapy for motor delays or behavioral/educational therapy
for autism)

Heathline is an extremely reliable source that expertly explains the differences between various
forms of developmental delay.