10 Developmental Red Flags in Infants Under 12 Months

1. Lack of Head Control by 4 Months
By 4 months, most infants should be able to hold their head steady without support. If your baby struggles with head control, it may indicate delays in motor development. Poor head control can impact feeding, sitting, and other milestones.

2. Limited Eye Contact
By 2-3 months, babies typically start making eye contact and tracking objects with their eyes. Limited eye contact or a lack of interest in following moving objects could be an early sign of visual or social development issues.

3. Not Responding to Sounds
Babies should respond to loud noises and start recognizing familiar voices by 3-4 months. If your baby doesn’t react to sounds or appears uninterested in auditory stimuli, it might indicate hearing problems or auditory processing issues.

4. Minimal Smiling or Interaction
By 2-3 months, babies usually begin to smile socially and show interest in interacting with others. A lack of smiling or social engagement can be a red flag for developmental delays, including early signs of autism spectrum disorder.

5. No Babbling by 6 Months
Babbling is an essential precursor to speech development. Most babies start babbling by 6 months. If your baby isn’t making vowel sounds or experimenting with consonant sounds, it could signal a delay in language development.

6. Inability to Sit Unsupported by 9 Months
Sitting without support is a crucial milestone typically reached by around 9 months. If your baby cannot sit independently by this age, it may indicate delays in gross motor development or muscle weakness.

7. Limited Interest in Grasping or Holding Objects
By 6 months, babies should be reaching for, grasping, and holding objects. A lack of interest or difficulty in grasping toys could signal fine motor skill delays or developmental coordination disorders.

8. Not Crawling by 10 Months
Crawling usually begins between 7 and 10 months. While some babies may skip crawling and go straight to walking, not showing any signs of attempting to crawl by 10 months can be a red flag for motor development issues.

9. No Response to Name by 7-9 Months
By 7-9 months, babies typically start to respond to their names. If your baby doesn’t turn their head or show recognition when called, it could indicate hearing issues or social communication delays.

10. Lack of Interest in Play
Infants usually show curiosity and interest in their environment through play by 4-6 months. A baby who isn’t interested in toys, doesn’t explore objects with their hands or mouth, or seems unusually passive may need further evaluation.