Parenting Troubles - Helping your baby reach key milestones

I attended a get-together of young mothers where most mothers were feeling very competitive and under pressure about their child’s achievements as compared to other children. A mother of a 9 month old bragged that her child had already started crawling, while her sister-in-law’s kid was so content sitting in one place.

Their conversation convinced me that most mothers felt the pressure of their children reaching the milestones like eating solids at 7 months, crawling at 9 months, walking at 13 months, being potty trained at 3, using knife and fork at 4 ½ years, and riding a bike or tying one’s own shoe laces at the age of 5.

It was also found that every 6 out of 10 mothers were very vigilant that their children give up the dummy at the age of 2 ½, drink from a beaker at 11 months and catch a ball at the age of 3, with 8 out of 10 mums feeling they should allow children to develop at their own pace. Most mothers that are very vigilant of their children’s progress tend to place too much pressure on themselves.

Some of the early child’s milestones include the first laugh at 4 months, solids at 7 months, sitting up unaided and holding the bottle themselves  at 8 months, crawling at 9 months, feeding oneself at 11 months, drinking from a beaker and saying the 1st word at 11 months, learning to walk at 13 months, drinking from a cup at 14 months, counting to ten at 21 months, and kicking a ball at 18 months.  

Most children give up the dummy at 2 ½ years and start using the toilet at 2 years 9 months. They can catch a ball at 3 years and is able to learn colors by the age of 3 ½ years. They are able to ride a bike with stabilizers at 3 years and 9 months, read their first word and dress themselves by 4 years. At 4 ½ years a child knows the days of the week and is able to use the knife and fork. At the age of 5 a child knows how to tie shoe laces, tell the time, ride a bike without stabilizers and the months of the year. Your child could safely cross the road and make oneself a drink at 5 ½ years.

Mothers expectations from their children are very strongly influenced by comparisons with other children, with some mothers taking their children to doctors or speaking to teachers if they do not developing the skill fast enough. The competition has also made many parents defensive when it comes to certain skills, with some pretending their child could do something that he/she hadn’t yet done. 

Know that there is no right or wrong time to achieve things as most milestones occur within a similar timeframe; parents need to be provided with the tools to help their children in developing in their own pace. It would help to make small changes like not worrying about the mess and encourage children to try eating by him/her.

To conclude, it is best for mothers to try to enjoy all the milestones along the way and share each with the child, for there is nothing more fulfilling than watching your little one develop and grow. 

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