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Signs & concerns
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Signs & concerns
What are the signs of communication delay in a newborn?
In a newborn (0–3 months) it is too early to identify a true communication delay — language develops much later. What we can watch are early building blocks: startling or settling to sounds, brief eye contact, cooing from around 6 weeks, and varied crying. Speak to your paediatrician if your baby does not respond to any loud sound, makes no eye contact by 2–3 months, feeds poorly, or did not pass the newborn hearing screen. These are reasons for a calm check, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of Emotional Delay in a 12-to-18-Month-Old
At 12–18 months, big feelings, clinginess and stranger shyness are all typical signs of healthy emotional development. Seek a gentle developmental check if your toddler rarely seeks or accepts comfort, shows little shared joy or warmth, doesn't look to you to 'check in', or seems flat and hard to soothe — especially alongside delays in talking, eye contact or play. These are reasons to assess early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of emotional delay in an 18-to-24-month-old
Between 18 and 24 months, toddlers are learning to share smiles, seek comfort, show affection and handle big feelings, and the normal range is wide. Seek a developmental check if your child rarely seeks comfort, shows little shared joy or warmth, doesn't seem to notice your emotions, or has feelings that cannot be soothed at all. These are reasons to assess early, not a diagnosis, because emotional skills respond beautifully to early support.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of emotional delay in a 2-year-old
At two, big feelings, tantrums and clinginess are normal — emotional skills are only just developing. Gentle signs worth a developmental check include little eye contact or shared smiling, not seeking comfort when upset, not sharing emotions, little interest in other children, or no pretend play. These are reasons to assess early, not a diagnosis, because early support works best at this age.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of emotional delay in a 3-to-6-month-old
Between 3 and 6 months there is no formal emotional-delay diagnosis — babies are only beginning to share emotion through smiles, eye contact, cooing and calming when comforted. Expect frequent social smiles, gaze, turn-taking sounds and settling with comfort by about 6 months. If these are consistently absent, a reassurance-first developmental check is wise — not a diagnosis, simply early support that works best when started young.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the signs of emotional delay in a 3-year-old?
At three, frequent tantrums and clinginess are usually normal as children learn to manage big feelings. Seek a developmental check if your child shows little interest in other children, no pretend play, emotions that are very flat or impossible to settle, or doesn't seek comfort from you. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because early emotional support works best at this age.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of emotional delay in a 4-year-old
At four, big feelings, meltdowns and learning to share are still normal — most 4-year-olds are still mastering emotional skills. Seek a gentle developmental check if your child shows very flat or limited emotion, extreme or very long meltdowns for their age, little interest in other children, is hard to comfort, or rarely shares feelings. These are reasons to assess early, not a diagnosis, because emotional skills grow beautifully with early support.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the signs of emotional delay in a 5-year-old?
By five, most children name simple feelings, recover from upsets with comfort, share and take turns, and show empathy. Occasional tantrums are typical. Seek a developmental check if your child struggles to calm long after peers do, shows very few or very intense feelings, finds it hard to connect with other children, or shows several of these together. This is a reason to assess early — not a diagnosis — because support works best when started young.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of emotional delay in a 6-to-9-month-old
Between 6 and 9 months, healthy emotional development shows as shared smiles, laughter, comfort-seeking and a preference for familiar faces. There is no emotional-delay diagnosis at this age, but a gentle developmental check is wise if a baby rarely smiles back, is very hard to soothe or seems flat, doesn't enjoy back-and-forth play, or shows little interest in your face and voice. These are reasons to observe early — not a diagnosis — because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the signs of emotional delay in a 6-year-old?
At six, occasional meltdowns, shyness and big feelings are normal as children are still learning to manage emotions. Seek a gentle developmental check if your child struggles far more than peers to calm down, rarely shows empathy or shared joy, cannot name basic feelings, or if emotional outbursts persist over months and get in the way of school and friendships. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because support at this age works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of Emotional Delay in a 9-to-12-Month-Old
By 9–12 months, healthy emotional development looks like shared smiles, calming when held, attachment to familiar people and enjoying back-and-forth play like peekaboo. There is no 'emotional delay' diagnosis at this age — instead a clinician watches whether your baby connects, responds and is soothed. Gentle reasons to seek a developmental check include rarely smiling back, little eye contact, being very hard to comfort, seeming flat, or losing warmth and skills once present. These are reasons to look early, not a diagnosis, because warm support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat Are the Signs of Emotional Delay in a Newborn?
There are no recognised signs of "emotional delay" in a newborn, because emotions like social smiling and shared joy are still emerging in the first weeks. What is appropriate to watch is whether your baby can be soothed, looks at faces, and responds to sound. The first social smile typically appears around 6 weeks to 2 months. See a paediatrician promptly if your baby cannot be soothed at all, never responds to sound, is very floppy or stiff, or feeds poorly — for general wellbeing, not an emotional label.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of motor delay in a 12-to-18-month-old
By 12–18 months most toddlers pull to stand, cruise, take first steps and use hands to point and feed themselves. Seek a developmental check if your child isn't standing with support by 15 months, isn't walking by 18 months, seems unusually stiff or floppy, isn't using hands to grasp small things, or has lost a skill. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of motor delay in an 18-to-24-month-old
By 18 months most toddlers walk well alone, and by 24 months many run and climb. Seek a developmental check if your child isn't walking by 18 months, walks only on tiptoe persistently, falls or wobbles far more than peers, isn't climbing or kicking a ball by 24 months, shows a strong hand preference before 18 months, or has lost a movement skill once gained. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the signs of motor delay in a 2-year-old?
By age two, most toddlers walk confidently, run a little, climb, kick a ball and scribble. Seek a developmental check if your child is not walking by 18 months, falls or wobbles far more than peers, has very stiff or floppy limbs, strongly favours one hand before 18 months, or has lost a movement skill. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the signs of motor delay in a 3-to-6-month-old?
Between 3 and 6 months, babies build head control, rolling, reaching and pushing up in tummy time. Seek a developmental check if your baby's head still flops when lifted, hands stay tightly fisted, the body feels stiff or floppy, there's no reaching by 5–6 months, or no rolling by 6 months. These are reasons to assess early, not a diagnosis — early support works best at this age.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the signs of motor delay in a 3-year-old?
By three, most children run, jump with both feet, climb stairs, kick a ball, scribble and stack blocks. Seek a developmental check if your child falls very often or walks unsteadily, cannot jump or climb stairs, isn't scribbling or holding a crayon, seems unusually stiff or floppy, or has lost a skill once had. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because motor support works best when started young.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of Motor Delay in a 4-Year-Old
By four, most children run smoothly, climb stairs with alternating feet, hop on one foot, throw overhand, and use a crayon, fork and scissors. Seek a developmental check if your child falls often, tires quickly, avoids running or climbing, can't hold a crayon or dress themselves, or shows stiff, floppy or one-sided movement. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the signs of motor delay in a 5-year-old?
By five, most children can hop on one foot, climb stairs one foot per step, catch a ball, and use crayons and scissors. Seek a developmental check if your child falls often or is very clumsy, cannot hop or balance, struggles to hold a pencil or use scissors, tires quickly, or needs lots of help to dress and feed. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of Motor Delay in a 6-to-9-Month-Old
By 6–9 months most babies gain head control, roll both ways, sit with growing steadiness and reach for toys. Seek a developmental check if your baby is persistently floppy or stiff, isn't rolling by 6 months, isn't sitting with support by 9 months, strongly favours one side, doesn't reach for objects, or loses a skill. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat Are the Signs of Motor Delay in a 6-Year-Old?
By six, most children run, hop, balance, draw and dress with growing ease. Watch for frequent tripping or clumsiness, trouble hopping or catching a ball, an awkward or tiring pencil grip, difficulty cutting or copying shapes, or needing lots of help to dress. These are reasons to seek a gentle developmental check — not a diagnosis — because targeted support at this age works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of Motor Delay in a 9-to-12-Month-Old
Between 9 and 12 months most babies sit without support, find a way to move across the floor, pull up to stand, take weight on their legs, and pick up small things with a thumb-and-finger pinch. Seek a developmental check if your baby isn't sitting, has no way of getting around, won't bear weight on the legs, strongly favours one side, has very stiff or very floppy limbs, or has lost a skill. These are reasons to assess early — not a diagnosis — because support at this age works best.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the signs of motor delay in a newborn?
In the newborn weeks, movement is reflex-led and jerky — that is normal, not delay. Clinicians watch for very floppy or very stiff muscle tone, a baby who barely moves, strong one-sidedness, weak reflexes, or feeding and breathing difficulty. These are reasons for a calm check, never a diagnosis, and early support works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerSigns of Sensory Delay in a 12-to-18-Month-Old
At 12–18 months, most differences in how a toddler responds to sound, touch, movement or texture are simply temperament. Seek a calm developmental check if your child consistently over-reacts or under-reacts to everyday sensations, if it gets in the way of play, feeding or sleep, or if it travels with delays in babbling, words, pointing or responding to their name. Hearing and vision should also be checked. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis.
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