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Concern
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Signs & concerns
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Signs & concerns
Should I worry about not responding to name in a 1-year-old?
By around 12 months, most babies turn or pause when their name is called at least some of the time — occasional 'not listening' when busy is normal. Seek a check if a one-year-old rarely or never responds, especially alongside little eye contact, no babbling or pointing, or no shared smiles. Begin with a hearing test, then a developmental review. This is a reason to look early, not a diagnosis — support at this age works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about not responding to name in a 2-year-old?
By age two, most children turn to their name most of the time, so a child who rarely responds is worth a gentle check. The first step is always a hearing test, since mild or fluctuating hearing loss can look identical. If hearing is fine and your child still rarely responds — especially alongside few words, little eye contact or no pointing — arrange a calm developmental review now. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis, because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerBaby Not Responding to Name
Most babies don't reliably respond to their own name until around 9–12 months, so in a young baby this alone is rarely a worry. A clear response is expected closer to the first birthday. Seek a gentle developmental and hearing check if there's no response to name by 12 months, or if it comes with little eye contact, no babble, no shared smiling or not following a point. This is a reason to look early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about overstuffing the mouth in a 1-year-old?
At 12–24 months, stuffing too much food into the mouth is very common and usually harmless — children are still learning how much the mouth can hold and how to chew. Seek a developmental check if it comes with frequent gagging or choking, very little chewing, refusal of textures, or delays in talking and play. These are reasons to assess early, not a diagnosis, because oral skills respond well to early support.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about overstuffing the mouth in a 2-year-old?
Overstuffing the mouth at two is very common and usually a normal part of learning to chew, swallow and judge how much food fits. It reflects still-developing oral awareness plus toddler eagerness. Seek a gentle developmental and feeding check if it comes with gagging, choking, food pocketing, or speech, feeding or sensory differences — this is a reason to look early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerMouth Stuffing at Three
Overstuffing the mouth at three is usually typical — children are still learning bite size, oral awareness and pacing, and it settles with gentle coaching. Seek a calm developmental check if it comes with frequent gagging or choking, very limited or fussy eating, drooling, food pocketing or unclear speech, which may point to chewing, swallowing or sensory support. This is a reason to assess, not a diagnosis, and early help works well.
Read the answer AnswerShould I Worry About Picky Eating in a 1-Year-Old?
Picky eating in a 1-year-old is very common and usually normal — growth slows, appetite dips, and toddlers assert independence at the table. It is not a reason to worry on its own. Seek a check only if there is poor growth or weight loss, gagging or choking on textures, an extremely narrow food range, or difficulty chewing or swallowing. None of this is a diagnosis; it simply means an early, gentle clinician's look is wise.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about picky eating in a 2-year-old?
Picky eating at 2 is very common and usually a normal, expected phase — toddlers grow more slowly, crave independence and are naturally wary of new foods. It settles for most children with patience and repeated, no-pressure exposure. Seek a gentle clinician's check only if your child is not growing well, gags or chokes on textures, accepts only a very narrow range of foods, or shows speech, social or motor delays alongside the fussiness. This is a reason to observe and reassure, not to alarm.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about picky eating in a 3-year-old?
Picky eating is very common and developmentally normal in three-year-olds, who naturally become cautious of new foods as they grow more independent. Seek a check only if the diet is steadily shrinking, growth or energy are affected, or eating comes with gagging, choking or sensory distress. This is a reason to observe calmly and screen if needed — not a diagnosis — because early support, when warranted, works best.
Read the answer AnswerPicky Eating in a 4-Year-Old
Picky eating in a 4-year-old is extremely common and usually a normal stage that eases with calm, pressure-free mealtimes. Seek a check if eating is so restricted it affects growth, weight or energy, if there is gagging, choking or texture distress, or if it comes with delays in talking, social connection or strong sensory sensitivities. This is reassurance and early observation, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about picky eating in a 5-year-old?
Picky eating at five is usually a typical developmental phase that improves with calm, repeated, pressure-free offering — not a cause for worry. Seek a check if your child eats very few foods, refuses whole food groups, shows faltering growth or low energy, has strong sensory distress around textures, or if food refusal travels with delays in speech, social or self-help skills. This isn't a diagnosis — it simply signals when a gentle developmental or paediatric review is wise.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about picky eating in a 6-year-old?
For most six-year-olds, picky eating is a normal phase of growing independence, not a problem — it usually eases with calm, no-pressure mealtimes. Seek a check only if eating is so restricted that growth, energy or nutrition suffers, or if fussiness comes with strong sensory distress, gagging, choking fears or developmental differences. This is not a diagnosis — just guidance on when a gentle clinical look is wise.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about repeating words (echolalia) in a 2-year-old?
At age 2, repeating words and phrases (echolalia) is usually a normal, healthy part of learning to talk — children echo to practise sounds and join in conversation. A developmental check is wise only if echoing is almost the only speech with few self-made words, or if it comes with little response to name, limited eye contact, no pointing, or loss of skills. This is a reason to look early, never a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerEcholalia in a 3-Year-Old
At 3 years, repeating words and phrases (echolalia) is usually a normal part of learning to talk — many children rehearse language by echoing before remixing it into their own words. Seek a gentle check if echoing is almost the only way your child communicates, if there are very few original words, or if it travels with little eye contact, limited pretend play, not responding to their name, or loss of skills. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis, because support works best now.
Read the answer AnswerEcholalia in a 4-Year-Old
Repeating words or phrases (echolalia) is a normal part of language learning and is often still seen in four-year-olds, especially when tired, excited or learning new words. It is worth a calm developmental and speech check when repeating is the main way your child communicates, crowds out their own original sentences, or travels alongside social, eye-contact or play differences. This is a reason to look early — not a diagnosis — because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerEcholalia in a 5-Year-Old: Should I Worry?
At five, echolalia — repeating words or phrases — is often a normal part of learning language, especially when a child is excited, tired or rehearsing speech. Seek a developmental check if repetition replaces your child's own spontaneous sentences, blocks back-and-forth conversation, or comes with differences in social connection, play or understanding. This is a reason to look early, not a diagnosis — and support at five works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about running off in public in a 1-year-old?
Running off or wandering away is completely typical in a 1-year-old, because new walkers have a strong drive to explore but no brain maturity yet to understand danger or hold back impulses — that skill grows over the next two to three years. Your role now is gentle supervision and safe boundaries, not worry. Consider a developmental check only if running off comes with other differences such as not responding to their name, little eye contact, no pointing or very few words.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about running off in public in a 2-year-old?
Running off or bolting in public is very common and developmentally typical at two years, because toddlers are curious, impulsive and don't yet understand danger. It is mainly a safety matter to manage with hand-holding, clear rules and praise — not usually a sign of a problem. Seek a gentle developmental check only if it comes with delays in talking, not responding to their name, little eye contact, or running off that feels very hard to redirect with no checking back. This is a reason to look early, never a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about running off in public in a 3-year-old?
Running off in public is very common and usually typical in three-year-olds, whose curiosity and impulse control are still maturing. Seek a gentle developmental check if it never eases with practice, your child doesn't respond to their name or safety cues, or it comes with delays in talking, listening or connecting. This is a reason to observe early, not a diagnosis — and practical safety steps help right now.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about running off in public in a 4-year-old?
Running off is very common at four — impulse control is still forming and excitement often outruns the brain's brake. It is usually a normal phase that eases with practice and clear routines. Seek a calm developmental check if the running off comes with no sense of danger, little response to their name, very few words, little eye contact, or hard-to-interrupt behaviour. This is reason to observe, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerScreen-Time Meltdowns in a 2-Year-Old
A meltdown when screen-time ends is usually normal at two, not a sign of a problem — a young brain finds screens hugely rewarding and can't yet manage the disappointment of stopping. Predictable limits, warm warnings, a bridge activity and calm co-regulation help far more than surprise endings. A developmental check is only wise if meltdowns sit alongside delays in talking, pointing, responding to name or connecting with people.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about screen-time meltdowns in a 3-year-old?
Screen-time meltdowns in a 3-year-old are almost always typical, not a sign of disorder — a young brain enjoys screens before it can manage stopping them. They usually settle with consistent limits, warnings before transitions and screen-free play. Seek a developmental check only if big feelings are extreme across many situations, include self-injury, or come with delays in talking, playing or connecting. This is reassurance and guidance, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about screen-time meltdowns in a 4-year-old?
Meltdowns when screen time ends are very common and usually normal at four — the upset reflects a still-developing brain learning to switch gears, not a disorder. Screens give fast, intense rewards, so the abrupt "off" feels hard. Predictable routines, gentle warnings and a calm, consistent end usually help. Seek a gentle developmental check only if meltdowns are severe, very long, happen across many everyday transitions (not just screens), or come with delays in talking, play or connecting.
Read the answer AnswerScreen-Time Meltdowns at Five: Should You Worry?
Screen-time meltdowns in a five-year-old are very common and usually normal — they reflect a still-developing ability to manage big feelings and switch from a highly stimulating screen back to the slower real world, not a disorder. Calm routines (countdown warnings, ending on a natural stopping point, having the next activity ready, and staying consistent) help most children settle within weeks. Consider a developmental check only if meltdowns are severe, very frequent across many transitions, involve hurting self or others, or come with delays in speech, social connection or learning.
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