Real Milestones: Daniel

Daniel turned 6 months old on February 28; he’s growing up so fast! He’s up to 14 pounds 10 ounces and is a little over 25 inches long. He’s getting more and more interactive and likes to make his family laugh by blowing raspberries. He’s beginning to play social games by pretending to be shy and then smiling - a precursor to peek-a-boo. Daniel thinks it’s funny to see himself in the mirror, and he’s stringing together chains of vowel sounds when he “talks.” He’s not using consonant sounds yet. He’s sitting up with a little support and is rolling over both ways. He’s beginning to position himself to crawl.

Just born! Good lungs! 2 months. One of Daniel's first smiles.

He’s copying sounds his mom makes and can tell strangers from family members; he doesn’t smile at strangers right away. Daniel responds to his name by looking up. He tries to get things that are out of reach and almost made a big mess recently by pulling on the tablecloth of a set table. He brings things to his mouth, so his family has to be very aware of what he’s holding.

Check our next installment of Campaign Connections to follow Daniel’s developmental progress. What milestones should he reach next?

Delaware: Taking the “Learn the signs. Act early.” Messages Statewide

The Delaware Act Early State Team has been very busy spreading the message to “Learn the Signs.” and “Act Early.”

New Resource: Milestones Moments Booklet

New Resource: Track Your Child's Developmental Milestones Brochure

Age-specific milestones and warning signs of potential problems are paired with tips and suggestions for how parents can help their child learn and grow in the “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” Milestones Moments Booklet. The milestone lists in this booklet are adapted to match the age of well-child visits, as well as to use more parent-friendly language. Parents can use the booklet to track their child’s developmental milestones, to learn more about things they can do to encourage their child’s development, and to facilitate discussions with their child’s doctor. The booklet is available for downloading and printing.

New feature: Champions for Families

For many families, the process of learning that their child has a developmental problem and then getting the help they need can be overwhelming. “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” would like to honor those who have made special efforts to assist families in recognizing a delay or getting the help they need to ensure a child reaches his or her full potential. If you know someone who fits this description―another parent, a professional, a friend, a family member, or someone else―please nominate him or her! Champions will be selected from the nominations received, and “winners” will be featured on the “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” website.

Question Corner:

Question:
I think a child I know (for example, one my students or the child of a neighbor or friend) might have autism. How do I find out if it’s autism so I can tell his or her parents?

Answer:
This is a question we hear a lot. The truth is you don’t need to know what a child has in order to talk to his or her parents about your concerns. For many parents, hearing the name of a disorder linked to their child can cause them to become too upset to talk about it. Often, it is more helpful to look at the age appropriate developmental milestones for the child to see if your concerns might be valid. If you do, have a copy of the milestones with you when you talk with the parents. Be gentle, be ready to listen, and be aware that, at first, the parents might be upset with you. Suggest that the parents talk to their child’s doctor and ask that their child have a developmental screening. If the child does have a developmental problem, eventually they will be grateful that you showed your care and concern by bringing it up.

Autism Awareness Month

CDC, along with partners, will be hosting two events in April to commemorate Autism Awareness Month.

CDC, in partnership with Autism Speaks and the Autism Society, will host an event in Brunswick, New Jersey, en titled “Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs): Understanding an Urgent Public Health Concern.” This event also commemorates the 10th anniversary of the establishment of CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. Details will be posted when they are final.
CDC will host its annual National Autism Awareness Month Event on April 21 for CDC employees, local Atlanta partners, and the general public at CDC’s Roybal Campus in Atlanta, Georgia. For details and to register for this free event, click here.
- Keynote speaker: Randy Lewis, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain and Logistics, Walgreens
- Topic: Transition to Adulthood and Employment
- Partners: Autism Speaks Georgia Chapter, Autism Society -Greater Georgia Chapter, CADEF: The Childhood Autism Foundation

"Learn the Signs. Act Early."
Paints the Country Purple
Click on the map for the full story.

"Learn the Signs" of healthy development and warning signs of delay.
"Act Early" when there's a concern.
Don't wait! Acting early can make a real difference!

"Learn the Signs. Act Early." is a campaign of
CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities