Developmental Milestones: When to Ask About Early Intervention

Every child grows at their own pace. Milestones are not a test a baby passes or fails — they are a general map of skills most children show within a range of ages. When a child is consistently outside that range, early support can make a real difference, because the first three years are when the brain is building connections fastest.

Milestones are ranges, not deadlines

Pediatric guidance groups milestones into movement, communication, social-emotional, and thinking skills. A child who walks a few weeks later than a cousin is usually fine. What matters more is the overall pattern: is the child steadily gaining new skills, and are any skills being lost?

Signs worth mentioning to your pediatrician

• Not responding to their name or to familiar voices by around 9–12 months.
• Few or no gestures (pointing, waving, reaching to be picked up) by around 12 months.
• Not sitting, crawling, pulling to stand, or walking within the typical windows.
• Very limited words or sounds by 18 months, or not combining words by age two.
• Difficulty with feeding, swallowing, or tolerating textures.
• Losing a skill they used to have — at any age.

Trust your instincts. You know your child best, and you do not need a diagnosis to ask questions.

How to ask for an evaluation in California

In California, children under three are evaluated through Early Start, coordinated by your local regional center. Anyone — a parent, pediatrician, or child-care provider — can make a referral, and the evaluation is at no cost to the family. If your child qualifies, a service plan is written with you and services begin in your child's everyday environment.

Every Child Achieves does not take direct family requests; services are authorized by the regional center. Start with your regional center, and if Every Child Achieves is assigned as your provider, we will reach out to you.