Entering into the period of motherhood is a daunting task. There is so much information out there and it is hard to know what is relevant and what is not. You want the best for your child and to do everything you possibly can. However, you are also exhausted, sleep deprived, hungry, never have anytime for yourself, lonely, missing work…the list goes on.

So how do you know that your precious baby is developing properly and meeting their gross motor milestones? When do you start to worry and how do you get help? These are all questions that are frequently asked.

First, it is natural to freak out. It is your job as mother to protect your child. Second, every child is unique and will develop differently and at a different pace. Which brings me back to the question; How do you know when something is wrong?

As a physiotherapist, we don’t just look at whether a child is meeting their developmental milestones. We watch how your baby moves. A milestone is simply a symbolic eg. Rolling, sitting. But every child is different, and some children skip milestones. What is more important is your child is learning the motor skills eg. Moving legs separate to arms. When we assess movement, we look at whether a child is learning the key motor skills that will help them accomplish their milestones. This is why a child not walking at 16 months is not an issue if they are strong, and cruising around furniture as oppose to a 16 month old who is very unsteady in standing and weak through his trunk and legs. This makes it even more difficult for the untrained eye to guess what is happening.

Luckily, in this world of information overload, there are some trusted places you can go for information. Sites such as Raising Children network, ACECQA, Community health nurse, and Healthdirect line have health professionals, red flag indicators and charts to help guide your decisions. Likewise, the NSW blue book contains a checklist at every checkup that helps you know if there is an area that is behind the normal bell curve.

Finally, I will add that sometimes as a mother you just know something is wrong. Even though technically, what you see could be explained away. You can see something is not right. TRUST YOUR INSTINCT. You are with your child 24/7 and you know them better than anyone else. There are many times, I have had a baby come in and the mother states that other health professionals have brushed it off saying “It is probably nothing” but there was something beneath the surface. You are the person who knows your child better than anyone else!