ORGANUM

Development in young children

Periods of development in young children

  • Newborn

  • Supine infant (6-8 weeks)

  • Sitting infant (6-9 months)

  • Mobile toddler (18-24 months)

  • Communicating child (3-4 years)

Check Hip, Hearts and Eyes initially

  • Retinoblastoma

  • DDH

  • Heart murmurs etc PDA


Gross motor

Moro/Startle reflex: Disappears after 4/12. Bilateral lack of reflex indicates brain damage. Unilateral indicates nerve injury or shoulder injury. Prolonged is due to spastic cerebral palsy. Electrolyte disturbances in children may cause the moro reflex to be increased, but only at a later time.

Newborn reflex: Tonic neck reflex, Grasp reflex, Step reflex, Crawl reflex. Seen between 2/52-5/12.

Gross motor 0-6 months

Motor control is a cephalo-caudal progression

Head control

  • absence of head lag 2/12

  • Lifts in anticipation 5/12

Ventral suspension

  • Head held horizontal - momentarily 6/52

  • Good head control 3/12

Prone

  • Chin off bed legs extended 6/52

  • On forearms 3/12

  • On hands 6/12

Rolling

  • From approx 3-4 months

  • Usually tummy to back first

  • Later back to prone

  • Wide variation

Sitting

  • With support around 6 months

  • Unsupported around 8 months

Sitting is very important as it is the base of the other gross motor milestones.

Crawling

  • 8 to 9 months

  • Not all childs crawl - some bottom shuffle

  • Crawling children will get onto their feet from crawling; they cruise around 10 months, using items to help them stand up