Your baby’s first developmental screening is an exciting milestone, offering a chance to ensure they’re growing and developing as expected. At Northeast Pediatric Associates PA, our pediatric team conducts these screenings at your child’s routine wellness visits, starting around nine months. During your child’s appointment, we assess their development in several areas, including motor skills, language, social interaction, and problem-solving abilities.
A developmental screening is a short, standardized test that helps identify if your child is meeting typical milestones for their age. Though every child grows at their own pace, these screenings provide an early opportunity to detect potential developmental delays, so we can offer any necessary support or provide early intervention.
During your child’s developmental screening, we ask you questions about your baby’s behavior and habits. We might ask questions like:
Your answers help us get a clearer picture of your baby’s cognitive, emotional, and social development.
We may also perform simple observations to check your baby’s motor skills like how well they can grasp objects, crawl, or sit up. We’ll see if your baby makes eye contact, responds to sounds, or shows interest in their surroundings.
Depending on your baby's age, we might evaluate whether your child is starting to engage in early communication, like babbling or pointing.
All children develop at their own rate, so a concern during screening doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem. If the screening suggests that your baby may be delayed in one area of development, we’ll discuss potential next steps. This might include more in-depth evaluations, referrals to a specialist, or monitoring your baby’s progress more closely in the coming months.
Early detection is key to ensuring that your child receives any support they might need to thrive. We can often help manage developmental delays effectively when identified early. With the right interventions, which may include therapies or targeted activities that support your child’s growth, your child can thrive.
Developmental screenings don’t require any special preparation. However, it can be helpful to think about questions or concerns you have about your baby’s development beforehand. This is a great opportunity to discuss observations you’ve made about your baby’s behavior or milestones.
If you have questions about your baby’s first developmental screening, or if you’re ready to schedule an appointment for your child, contact the office nearest you in San Antonio, North Central San Antonio, Schertz, or Castroville, Texas.
