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Infant 3 6
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Signs & concerns
Early Signs of Down Syndrome at 3 to 6 Months
Down syndrome (ICD-11 LD40.0) is usually identified at or near birth and confirmed by a chromosome test, so by 3–6 months most families already know. Gentle pointers at this age include low muscle tone, slower feeding and growth, and physical features present from birth — none diagnostic alone. The priority now is early heart, hearing and vision checks plus strength-based early intervention.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Dyscalculia in a 3-to-6-Month-Old
Dyscalculia cannot be identified in a 3-to-6-month-old, because number sense and arithmetic develop years later — there are no infant 'signs' to look for. It usually becomes recognisable around 6 to 8 years. At this age, focus on general milestones: tracking faces, responding to sounds, reaching for objects and social smiling. Only a clinician can assess dyscalculia, and only at school age.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Dysgraphia in a 3-to-6-Month-Old
Dysgraphia is a difficulty with writing — a skill that only emerges years later — so it cannot be identified or screened for in a 3-to-6-month-old. There are no early signs to look for at this age. Instead, enjoy your baby's broad motor and social milestones, keep routine developmental checks, and raise any handwriting concerns in the school years (around 6–8). Only a clinician assesses learning skills, and only when developmentally meaningful.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Dyslexia in a 3-to-6-Month-Old
There are no reliable signs of dyslexia in a 3-to-6-month-old — reading difficulty can only be recognised once a child is learning to read, usually around ages 6 to 8. At this age, simply enjoy and observe your baby's hearing, cooing, babbling and bonding. Raise any hearing concern promptly with your paediatrician, and only a qualified clinician can ever confirm a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Emotional & Behavioural Difficulties at 3–6 Months
At 3–6 months, Emotional & Behavioural Difficulties is not a meaningful label — babies this age are only beginning to connect, soothe and share feelings. Focus on watching social smiling, eye contact, cooing and settling, and raise any persistent worry at a routine developmental check. Only a clinician can interpret concerns in context.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Feeding & Eating Difficulties at 3–6 Months
Between 3 and 6 months, early signs of feeding difficulty include trouble latching or sucking, coughing or gagging during feeds, very long or distressing feeds, arching away, and poor weight gain. Some fussiness is normal, but any coughing, choking or wet breathing during a feed, or faltering growth, needs a prompt check. Only a clinician can confirm.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of FASD in a 3-to-6-Month-Old
In a 3-to-6-month-old, possible early signs of FASD are subtle and physical: slower growth, feeding and sleep difficulties, irritability, unusual muscle tone, and sometimes distinctive facial features. None alone confirms FASD. If prenatal alcohol exposure is known, an early developmental check is always worthwhile. Only a clinician can assess.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Fine Motor Delay in a 3-to-6-Month-Old
Between 3 and 6 months, possible early signs of fine motor delay include hands that stay tightly fisted, little reaching or batting at toys, not bringing hands together at the midline or to the mouth, and not holding a rattle placed in the palm. At this age these are signs to observe and discuss, not to diagnose at home, and a general developmental check is the sensible first step.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Genetic or Chromosomal Syndromes at 3–6 Months
In a 3-to-6-month-old, early signs that may point to a genetic or chromosomal syndrome include low or high muscle tone, poor head control, feeding difficulty, slow weight gain, limited eye contact or social smiling, and distinctive physical features a paediatrician may note. A single feature rarely means a syndrome — a cluster or steady delay is worth a calm, professional check. These are signs to observe and discuss, not to diagnose at home.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of Global Developmental Delay in a 3-to-6-month-old
At 3–6 months it is too early to diagnose Global Developmental Delay, as babies develop at different rates. Watch over time for poor head control, stiffness or floppiness, not reaching by ~5–6 months, no social smile by ~3 months, little response to sound or faces, or minimal cooing — and bring any persistent concern, or any loss of a skill, to a routine developmental check for reassurance or an early start.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Gross Motor Delay in a 3-to-6-Month-Old
Between 3 and 6 months, possible early signs of gross motor delay include poor head control, not pushing up on the forearms in tummy time, stiff or very floppy limbs, tightly fisted hands, and not rolling or weight-bearing as 6 months nears. These are signs to observe and discuss, not to diagnose at home, since babies vary widely. If a pattern persists, a developmental and paediatric check is the sensible first step.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Hearing Impairment at 3-6 Months
By 3 to 6 months, watch for a baby who doesn't startle at loud sounds, doesn't turn to a familiar voice, or coos and babbles little. These are reasons for a prompt, painless hearing check — not panic. Early hearing support protects later speech and listening, and clear answers come quickly from a simple screen.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of hypotonia (low muscle tone) at 3–6 months
Between 3 and 6 months, possible early signs of hypotonia (low muscle tone) include a baby who feels floppy or 'rag-doll' when held, poor head control, slipping through your hands when lifted under the arms, and lying with limbs loose and splayed. These are signs to observe and discuss, not to diagnose at home — a prompt paediatric and physiotherapy check is the sensible first step.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Intellectual Disability in a 3-to-6-Month-Old
Intellectual disability cannot be identified in a 3-to-6-month-old — it is a diagnosis about learning and reasoning that only becomes meaningful in the toddler and preschool years. At this age, track general milestones like social smiling, following with the eyes, head control and cooing, and book a routine developmental check if milestones are clearly delayed or a skill is lost.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Motor Planning Difficulties in a 3-to-6-Month-Old
In a 3-to-6-month-old, motor planning difficulties cannot be diagnosed — babies are still building the foundations of movement. Watch instead for steady head control, hands to midline, reaching, and using both sides equally. Persistent stiffness, floppiness, strong one-sidedness or movement that doesn't build over months warrants a gentle developmental and physiotherapy check, not home diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Non-Verbal / Minimally Verbal Presentation at 3–6 Months
At 3 to 6 months it is too early to identify a non-verbal or minimally verbal presentation, as spoken words aren't yet expected. What matters now is early communication: cooing, smiling back, turning to your voice and enjoying face-to-face play. Seek a check — including a hearing screen — only if your baby doesn't respond to sound, never makes eye contact, or rarely smiles or vocalises. Only a clinician can interpret these signs.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of ODD in a 3-to-6-Month-Old
Oppositional Defiant Disorder cannot be identified in a 3-to-6-month-old and has no early signs at this age — defiance requires intent and social understanding a baby hasn't developed. A crying or hard-to-soothe baby is communicating a need, not being oppositional. At 3–6 months, simply enjoy social smiles, cooing and comforting. Only a clinician forms any assessment.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of Persistent Toe-Walking at 3–6 months
True toe-walking cannot be identified in a 3-to-6-month-old because babies this age do not yet stand or walk. There is no signs list to fear. What helps now is observing comfortable, symmetrical movement and good muscle tone, and sharing any stiffness at a routine developmental check. Persistent toe-walking is assessed only once a child has been walking, usually beyond about 2 years.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Prematurity-Related Developmental Risk at 3–6 Months
In a 3-to-6-month-old born preterm, read milestones using corrected age (from the due date). Watch head control, hands to the middle, social smiling, eye tracking and response to sound. Persistent stiffness or floppiness, eyes that don't track, no response to sound, or feeding difficulty warrant a check. Many preterm babies catch up — only a clinician can tell.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Rett Syndrome in a 3-to-6-Month-Old
Between 3 and 6 months, Rett Syndrome is usually very hard to detect, as most babies develop seemingly typically until 6–18 months. Subtle early signs some parents recall include reduced eye contact, lower muscle tone, feeding difficulty and slowing head growth — none diagnostic alone. The recognisable features emerge later, so the right step is a prompt, calm developmental check. Only a clinician can confirm.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of School Readiness Gap in a 3-to-6-month-old
"School Readiness Gap" cannot be identified in a 3-to-6-month-old — it describes pre-school skills meaningful only around ages 3 to 6. At this age, simply enjoy and support your baby's early foundations: social smiles, cooing, following objects and reaching. Use routine well-baby visits for any general worry. Only a clinician can judge development.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Selective Mutism in a 3-to-6-Month-Old
Selective Mutism cannot be identified in a 3-to-6-month-old — it is an anxiety-based condition seen in children aged about 3–6 who can speak at home but not in certain social settings. A young baby has no spoken language yet, so there is nothing to worry about. Instead, enjoy healthy early signs like cooing, social smiling and turning to your voice. Only a clinician confirms any concern.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Self-Regulation Difficulties at 3–6 Months
At 3–6 months, self-regulation is just beginning and babies rely on you to be soothed — so there's no 'disorder' to diagnose yet. Gently watch whether your baby can be calmed when held or fed, is starting to bring hands to mouth, and is settling into rough rhythms. Frequent fussiness is normal; only persistent, hard-to-console distress across weeks warrants a check, and only a clinician can confirm.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of Sensory-Based Feeding Selectivity at 3–6 Months
At 3 to 6 months, sensory-based feeding selectivity is not yet a meaningful label — your baby is still on milk and has not met solid textures. What you can watch are feeding-comfort cues: arching or turning away, frequent gagging, mouth-touch distress, or effortful feeds. Any coughing, gagging or poor weight gain warrants a prompt check. Genuine selectivity is watched from around 6 months as solids begin, and only a clinician can confirm.
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