01/25/2026
Are my kids meeting their motor milestones? 🧐
This is one of the most common worries I hear from parents — and the answer is rarely as simple as yes or no.
🧠 First, a reminder:
Milestones are guides, not deadlines. Kids develop skills along a range, not a rigid timetable.
🚼 What are motor milestones?
Motor milestones are skills that involve:
• Gross motor (big movements): rolling, sitting, crawling, walking, climbing
• Fine motor (small movements): grasping, stacking blocks, using cutlery, drawing
⏳ What’s normal?
Many milestones have a wide normal window.
For example:
• Walking can be normal anywhere from 9–18 months - sometimes even later - my daughter walked at 20 months!!
• Some kids skip crawling altogether
• Some focus on language first
🚩 When to pause and check in
It’s worth chatting to a professional if you notice:
• Loss of previously learned skills
• Very stiff or very floppy movements
• One side of the body always doing the work
• Little interest in movement or play over time
(Trust your gut — you know your child best.)
Make sure you attend baby and toddler checks with your family doctor and discuss how they are progressing - this is your chance to ask questions!
🧩 What actually helps motor development?
• Tummy time as a baby
• Floor play with toys
• Playing with blocks, practicing pincer grip
• Outdoor play, climbing, running, jumping
• Limiting time spent restrained (car seats, bouncers, screens)
• Good nutrition to support muscle, bone & brain development 🦴🧠
