Developmental Red Flags at 7 Months Old

By the time your baby reaches seven months of age, he has likely already reached many of the most important milestones in transitioning from the helplessness of a newborn to the relative independence of a toddler. Most seven-month-olds have attained some limited mobility, have begun eating solid foods, and have begun "talking" with coos and babbles. All babies develop at their own pace, with many reaching certain milestones well before their peers and others taking longer. In some cases, though, lagging development in a seven-month-old baby can be a sign of a serious problem that needs to be addressed by a pediatrician.

Here are some of the developmental red flags that signify that your seven-month-old baby needs to be evaluated for a clinical delay.

Motor Problems

An average seven-month-old is capable of rolling over in both directions, sitting with support, and use her hands with increasing dexterity. It's not always cause for concern if your baby can't do these things by seven months, but more serious delays should be evaluated. Contact your pediatrician if your seven-month-old baby can't roll over in either direction, reach for objects, sit with help, and support weight on her legs. Other red flags include feeling generally stiff or rigid, or feeling very floppy and limp. These signs and symptoms may indicate a problem with your baby's muscular or neurological development.

Speech Delays

It can be hard to identify language delays in seven-month-old babies, since the overwhelming majority of them have not uttered their first "real" word yet. However, some clues can indicate that your baby's speech development is delayed. Contact your pediatrician if your baby can't coo, laugh, or squeal to communicate by seven months of age-- or if he can't babble by the end of this month in his development. He should also consistently respond to sounds around him and appear to pay attention when people speak to him.

Social and Emotional Delays

Some developmental delays in seven-month-old babies are hard to identify because they don't directly involve speech or motor development. Parents may dismiss these as being inherent to the baby's personality, when they actually indicate a significant problem. If your baby doesn't enjoy cuddling and games like "peekaboo" by seven months, it may be a sign of a developmental problem. A seven-month-old should also show affection for his caregivers and generally enjoy the presence of other people. A baby who consistently fails to show affection isn't expressing a normal personality variation; he needs attention to correct a possible developmental disorder.

Even babies who show these developmental red flags at seven months can go on to experience normal development, especially if they receive prompt evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of any underlying problems. If you believe that your baby is showing any signs of a developmental delay, contact his pediatrician promptly. An expert evaluation can either put your mind at ease or refer your baby for further treatment.