This page covers your child’s development, in stages, 0–3 years old, in the areas of communication, cognition (knowledge and understanding) and learning, and motor skills (moving the muscles to perform specific tasks).
Routines
Having seizures in early life may have an impact on your baby’s development, but this doesn’t have to be the inevitable result.
Just like any other baby or young child, you should encourage your child’s development through play and stimulation.
Often, parents of young children with epilepsy are anxious about triggering seizures through excitement or distress. This is a very natural concern, but it’s highly unlikely to happen.
We don’t always know why seizures occur at one time and not another. So, you should have as normal a routine as possible, encouraging your baby to enjoy as many day-to-day experiences as you can.
It’s also important to develop and stick to daily routines as your child develops.
Communication, learning and motor skills
If you’re concerned about your baby’s development, talk to your health visitor, and tell your child’s paediatric (child healthcare) consultant when you see them.
They’ll be watching how your baby develops and assessing their progress at clinic appointments.
They’ll also want to know how your child’s communication, learning and motor skills are developing.
Below, you’ll find information showing the ages, in stages between 0 and three years old, that babies and young children develop skills.
Not all children develop at the same rate, but you can use this information to encourage your child’s skills by looking at what is usual for their age.
A child’s development
In stages 0-3 years
Cognition/learning
- Turns head towards lights
- Startled by sudden noises
- Cries when hungry
Communication
• Focuses on a speaker’s face
• Begins to make pleasure sounds
Social
- Begins to smile
- Shows preference for being encouraged socially
Motor
- Lifts head and shoulders when lying on tummy
- Developing head control in supported sitting
Cognition/learning
- Follows dangling toy
- Reaches to grasp with both hands
Communication
- Turns to familiar voices
- Begins to make babbling sounds
Social
• Enjoys bathing and caring routines
• Shows recognition of carer’s facial expression
Cognition/learning
- Reaches for rattle when it’s offered and deliberately shakes it to make sound
- Shows understanding of cause and effect
Communication
- Babbling becoming established
- Pauses in response to ‘No’
- Reacts to ‘Where’s mummy?’ by looking
Social
- Follows with their eyes an adult pointing to an object or person
- Enjoys rough and tumble play
Motor
- While lying on their back, raises their head up and moves their arms up to be lifted
- Rolls from their back to front, then front to back a little later
Cognition/learning
- Grasps string to pull toy
- Watches while toy is partially hidden, then finds it
Communication
- Vocalises with meaning
- Follows commands in context, e.g. ‘Clap hands’
Social
- Plays peek-a-boo
- Offers or shows objects to get others to interact
Motor
- Sits on the floor and manipulates toys
- Attempts to crawl
- Pulls up to a standing position
Cognition/learning
- Points with index finger at objects of interest
- Builds tower of two blocks after being shown how to do it
- Begins to search for hidden objects
Communication
- Points to pictures in familiar books when named
- Uses first words
Social
- Waves ‘bye-bye’ on request
- Enjoys joint play with adult, actively switching attention between object and adult
Motor
- Can rise from lying to sitting with ease
- Walks around furniture
- Walks with one hand being held
Cognition/learning
• Spontaneous ‘to and fro’ scribble with pencil
• Builds tower of three blocks
• Begins to show preference for using either right or left hand
Communication
• Follows two-part commands, e.g. ‘Where’s the dog’s nose?’
• Uses two-word phrases
• Chatters to self during play
Social
• Acts out familiar routines in play
• Recognises self in mirror
• Dependent on a familiar adult
Motor
• Walks well, carrying toy
• Enjoys climbing and can climb on to a chair and turn around to sit
• Runs fairly carefully but rarely falls
Cognition/learning
• Can match shapes in a simple puzzle
• Engages in situational make-believe activities
Communication
• Uses 50+ recognisable words correctly
• Listens with interest to more general conversation
• Carries out simple instructions
Social
• Joins in nursery rhymes
• Constantly demands parents’ attention
Motor
• Runs safely
• Good fine manipulation skills – picks up tiny objects
• Throws and kicks a ball
This information is based on Mary Sheridan’s From Birth to Five Years, 4th Edition, by A Sharma & H Cockerill (Routledge, 2014)
