Although I am interested in developmental stages of a child, I never obsess over the milestones. I figure, Jackson's his own little person, and he'll get there when he gets there (within some sort of reason of course . . . I mean, if he's mute at 3 then we should have noticed by that point).
Rolling into work late today, because Jackson had a drop off meltdown again, I settled at my desk and opened email. I had a message from the Baby Center, urging me to open it, by its desperate tag line - "10 red flags your baby is not developing properly." Their scare tactics worked, and I found myself clicking right through . . . after reading the nonsense, I ended up on a developmental milestone chart. I hesitated, but like a train wreck, I continued on . . .
Your 20 month old baby "should be able to understand 200 words by now" . . . he should?! Does he?? Does CHOO CHOO count for one of the TEN new words that he should be learning each day? Or, how about "uses a spoon and fork well." Hmmm. He uses a spoon and fork to comb his hair, throw pasta on the floor, and feed the cat, and paint the walls, but it doesn't say much about making it to his mouth. Please clarify Baby Center.
These things can make you crazy, and that my friend, is why I don't look at them as a rule. I don't need a chart to tell me that Jackson is "ready for a big bed" The little monkey will certainly let me know that he's ready by crawling out of the crib or base jumping to the floor below, so I'm not worried. Again, if he's still in a crib at 3 and mute, I should have noticed by that point and DSS will probably be involved by then anyway.
Of course, I exaggerate a bit like always, and truly have no need for alarm. Jack can jump, climb down stairs, sing, draw, kick a ball, and talk incessantly about trucks and trains. So, he's on target in my book . . . of course, as his mom, I think he's exceptional and incredibly advanced anyway :)
2 comments:
He's right on target and then some. Don't read too much "stuff". Just rely on yourself and your instincts. They know more than any baby center. :)
The baby center emails always are source of a good laugh. Sometimes my kids have been "off the charts" so to speak and other times BC's expectations would be better suited to a 7 year old. I think you have the right attitude. Jackson is awesome, thriving and you'll know if anything's up.
And, for what it's worth, both of my guys have been happy and comfy in their cribs for a long time. Q transitioned at 3 because of the move. C will be there until almost 3 or until the baby needs the crib. It's a nice, cozy, safe place! We have a good bedtime routine going, why ruin it? (Unless of course catapulting out becomes part of the daily equation then we'd switch for basic safety reasons.) :)
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