Development checks

Similar examinations are carried out at 6-9 months, 18-24 months, and 3-3 ½ years of age, together with an assessment of vision. Some time between 6-8 months your Health Visitor tests your baby’s hearing. At the pre-school examination, 4½ - 5½ years, GPs checks most areas of physical development once again. The times of these standard assessment examinations vary in some parts of the country.

Try not to compare one child with another; there will be natural variations. If at any time you are concerned about your child’s development talk to your health visitor or doctor. They will always listen to your concerns, which are often more helpful to them than the observations they make themselves at formal assessments.