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Motor
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Signs & concerns
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Signs & concerns
When should I worry about Cerebral Palsy at 12–18 months?
Worry between 12 and 18 months is reasonable, but worry is not a diagnosis. Persistent stiffness or floppiness, very early hand preference, fisted hands, or not sitting/standing on time are patterns worth checking. Early therapy works beautifully with the infant brain — only a Pinnacle clinician can confirm anything.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to Worry About DCD in a 12–18 Month Old
Developmental Coordination Disorder (ICD-11 6A04) cannot be diagnosed in a 12-to-18-month-old — motor skills vary enormously at this age and DCD is only meaningfully assessed around age 5. At this stage, observe broad milestones like walking and pincer grasp. Seek a general developmental check if your child isn't bearing weight by 12 months, isn't walking by 18 months, shows marked stiffness or floppiness, or loses a skill. Only a Pinnacle clinician can assess, never an online form.
Read the answer AnswerFine Motor Delay at 12–18 Months: When to Worry
Between 12 and 18 months, most toddlers use a pincer grasp, bang and stack objects, scribble and finger-feed. Fine motor delay is worth a check — not alarm — if by around 18 months your child shows no pincer grasp, little interest in handling small objects, a strong fixed hand preference, or loses a hand skill. One late skill alone rarely matters; a cluster or a loss does.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about Gross Motor Delay at 12–18 months
By 12–18 months most toddlers pull to stand, cruise and begin walking, but the normal range is wide and walking can arrive up to about 18 months. Ask a clinician if your child isn't sitting or weight-bearing by 12 months, isn't walking by 18 months, has lost a motor skill, or always favours one side. Early checks bring reassurance and, where useful, a head start.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about hypotonia at 12–18 months?
Between 12 and 18 months, low muscle tone is worth a prompt check if your toddler isn't pulling to stand or cruising by ~12–14 months, isn't walking by 18 months, feels limp or slips through your hands when lifted, or tires quickly and sits with a very rounded back. Hypotonia is a finding, not a diagnosis — a clinician assesses the whole picture, finds any cause, and supports movement with gentle therapy.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about motor planning at 12–18 months?
At 12–18 months motor planning is still developing, so there is wide normal variation. Worth a relaxed developmental check — not panic — if a toddler isn't walking by ~18 months, rarely tries new movements, seems markedly clumsy, or loses a motor skill they had. These are signals to observe and ask, never to diagnose at home; a true diagnosis comes later when more complex movement is expected.
Read the answer AnswerToe-Walking at 12–18 Months: When to Worry
Between 12 and 18 months, occasional toe-walking is very common and usually harmless as new walkers find their balance — it is too early to call it persistent. Worry only if your child can never put their heels flat, the calves feel tight, it is one-sided, or there are other developmental delays. A clinician can gently rule out any underlying cause.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about Stereotyped Movement Disorder at 12–18 months?
Rocking, hand-flapping and rhythmic movements are common and usually harmless in 12-to-18-month-olds. Stereotyped Movement Disorder (ICD-11 6A06) is considered only when movements are persistent, purposeless, hard to interrupt, cause self-injury, or come with other developmental concerns. At this age the right stance is watchful observation, not diagnosis — and only a Pinnacle clinician can assess.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about Tourette Syndrome in a 12–18-month-old?
Tourette Syndrome cannot be meaningfully identified at 12–18 months — it is recognised only when motor and vocal tics persist beyond a year, typically from age 4–8. Toddlers' repetitive blinks, sounds and movements are almost always normal exploration, not tics. The right step now is a warm general developmental check, and only a Pinnacle clinician can assess, never an online form.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 18-to-24-month-old might have Cerebral Palsy?
Worry is reasonable, but worry is not a diagnosis. By 18–24 months, persistent patterns — not walking, stiff or floppy tone, strongly favouring one hand, or poor balance — are worth a prompt check. Only a clinician can confirm Cerebral Palsy, and early support works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about DCD in my 18–24-month-old?
At 18–24 months, Developmental Coordination Disorder (ICD-11 6A04) cannot yet be diagnosed — toddler motor skills vary hugely and DCD is recognised from around age 5. For now, track broad motor milestones, support active play, and raise persistent concerns at a general developmental check rather than seeking a label. Only a Pinnacle clinician can assess, never an online form.
Read the answer AnswerFine Motor Delay at 18-24 Months: When to Worry
Between 18 and 24 months, fine motor skills are still emerging and vary widely. It's worth a gentle clinician check — not panic — if your toddler isn't using a thumb-finger pinch, can't stack two blocks, shows no interest in scribbling or self-feeding, or a skill has faded. A cluster of lags, or delay alongside slow walking or few words, deserves prompt review.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about Gross Motor Delay at 18–24 months?
By 18 months most toddlers walk independently; by 24 months they should walk steadily, begin running, squat and climb low furniture. Seek a developmental check if your child is not walking by 18 months, is unsteady or behind by 24 months, strongly favours one side, or loses a skill. A single late milestone in a thriving child is usually fine — a pattern of delays signals the time for a friendly assessment.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about hypotonia at 18–24 months?
At 18–24 months, seek a developmental check if your toddler is not walking by 18 months, feels floppy when lifted, tires very quickly, has weak trunk control, or lags clearly on movement milestones. Low muscle tone is a sign a clinician investigates, not a diagnosis — and early support helps. A single soft moment is not a worry; a persistent pattern is.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about Motor Planning Difficulties at 18–24 months?
At 18–24 months, motor planning is still developing, so clumsiness and spills are expected. Worry is rarely warranted from a single skill lagging. The signal to seek a check is a persistent pattern — over weeks and clearly behind peers — of struggling to learn or sequence everyday actions like climbing, feeding or copying gestures. A clinician assesses how, not just whether, your child moves.
Read the answer AnswerPersistent Toe-Walking at 18–24 Months: When to Worry
Occasional toe-walking is common and usually harmless between 18 and 24 months. Worry — and seek a check — if your toddler walks mostly on toes most of the time, has tight or stiff calves, toe-walks on only one side, or shows other delays in talking, play or balance. By around age 2, persistent toe-walking warrants a developmental and gait review.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about Stereotyped Movement Disorder at 18–24 months?
At 18–24 months, repetitive movements like rocking, flapping or head-rolling are usually typical self-soothing or excitement, and fade as play and language grow. Seek a developmental check if the movements cause self-injury, are very hard to interrupt, get in the way of play and learning, or come with delays in talking, social connection or motor skills. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about Tourette Syndrome at 18–24 months
Tourette Syndrome is not diagnosed in 18-to-24-month-olds: it requires multiple motor tics plus a vocal tic over more than a year, and is usually recognised around ages 4–6. Toddler blinks, sniffs and repeated sounds are nearly always normal, passing habits. The right step now is gentle observation and a general developmental check — not a tic checklist. Seek prompt medical review only if a movement is rhythmic, sustained and uninterruptible, comes with staring or stiffening, or with loss of skills.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 2-year-old might have Cerebral Palsy?
By age two, persistent stiffness or floppiness, strong early hand preference, unsteady or absent walking, or one-sided weakness are worth a check — not a single off day. These signal a reason to assess, not a diagnosis. Only a Pinnacle clinician can confirm Cerebral Palsy.
Read the answer AnswerWhen to worry about DCD in a 2-year-old
At two, it is too early to diagnose Developmental Coordination Disorder — toddler motor skills vary widely and clumsiness is usually normal. DCD is typically confirmed only from around 5 years, once everyday skills can be fairly judged. The right stance now is gentle observation, with a routine developmental check if your instinct nags or if there are general red flags like not walking by 18 months or loss of skills.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 2-year-old might have Fine Motor Delay?
At two, there is a wide normal range in hand skills, so worry less about exact timing and more about clusters of signs: no pincer grasp, no scribbling, can't stack two or three blocks, little interest in using hands, or losing a skill once held. Most toddlers simply need time and play, but a prompt developmental check brings clarity and, where needed, gentle early support.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about Gross Motor Delay at 2?
By around two years, most children walk well and are starting to run and climb. Seek a developmental check if your child is not walking at all by 24 months, has lost a movement skill, or shows very stiff or floppy limbs or favours one side. Most toddlers vary in pace — a check brings clarity, not alarm, and only a clinician can assess what's underneath.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry that my 2-year-old might have hypotonia?
Low muscle tone is a finding, not a diagnosis. At two, seek a developmental check if your child is not yet walking or is very wobbly, tires quickly, feels floppy when lifted, slumps or W-sits persistently, or has fallen behind on gross-motor milestones. A cluster of these, or a clear gap from peers, warrants prompt clinician review — and tone responds well to early, playful support.
Read the answer AnswerWhen should I worry about Motor Planning Difficulties at 2?
At two, occasional clumsiness is normal — children are still learning to plan and sequence movement. Worry is warranted when a child consistently struggles to work out *how* to do new movements across many everyday tasks, especially alongside speech or play delays. This is a reason for a gentle clinician check, not panic.
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