Growth & Development

Rough anchors: smiling by 2 months, rolling over by 6 months, sitting without support by 9 months, first words by 12-15 months, walking by 15 months, two-word phrases by 24 months. Some variation is normal — but a child who's clearly and consistently behind, or has lost a skill they once had, needs a paediatric assessment. Early intervention makes a real difference for many developmental delays.

Short stature is defined by growth charts and trajectory, not comparison at the school gate. If your child is tracking consistently along their own curve, they're likely fine. Concerns: crossing down two percentile bands, height significantly below both parents' expected range, or short stature with other symptoms (fatigue, delayed puberty, weight issues). A paediatric endocrinologist can investigate if the growth pattern isn't right.

General signals: no babbling by 12 months, no single words by 16 months, no two-word phrases by 24 months, or a child who's stopped using words they had. A hearing test is usually the first step — undetected hearing loss is a common cause. Beyond that, a paediatrician or speech therapist can assess whether it's a delay that catches up on its own or one that needs therapy.

Fussy eating is very common between ages 1-5 and usually settles with time. What's normal: preferring familiar foods, refusing vegetables, appetite that varies day to day. What's worth checking: extreme distress at meals, refusing entire food groups, weight loss or poor growth, gagging or choking on textures. If growth stays on track, patience and repeated non-pressured exposure usually work better than food battles.

Some late walkers and late talkers turn out completely typical. The concern isn't a single missed milestone — it's a pattern of delays across areas (motor, language, social), or a child who was progressing and stopped. If in doubt, ask your paediatrician for a developmental screening; early intervention services in India are still developing, but many cities now have good therapists and centres.