During your child’s first three years, he or she will have regular appointments with his or her doctor. At every visit, your child will be weighed and measured, and his or her growth will be charted. These well visits are also when your doctor will screen your child for developmental problems and check your child’s development.

Screenings are a quick and simple way for the doctor to see a child’s development. Doctors use developmental screening to tell if children are learning basic skills when they should or if they might have problems. Your child’s doctor may ask you questions or talk and play with your child to see how he or she learns, speaks, behaves, and moves.

A developmental delay is when your child does not reach certain milestones (smiling for the first time, crawling, walking, etc.) at the same time as other children who are the same age. When a developmental delay is seen early, children can get the help they need to reach their full potential.

If you have concerns about your child’s development, talk to your doctor. If there is a problem, it is important to get your child help as soon as possible.