When to seek help from my paediatrician for my 18 month old?

It is never too early to seek advice from your paediatrician about a concern you have in relation to your child.

You know your child best and should always trust your own judgment.

Seek advice from your paediatrician if you are concerned about your child’s development. The best action is to act early.

A developmental delay is typically diagnosed when a child does not reach a developmental milestone.

You, as parents are often the first to notice their baby is not behaving the same as other children or has not reached a developmental milestone.

Most developmental delays are not serious. The best action to take is acting early as this can make a real difference for your child and you.

Things to look out for in an 18 month old

If you are concerned about your child’s development, don’t wait and make a call to your paediatrician if your 18 month old is displaying any of the below delays.

Your 18 month old:

Cannot walk
Does not point
Does not try to copy others
Is not learning new words
Cannot say at least six words
Does not notice when a parent leaves or returns
Loses skills once had

The first step is always to discuss your concerns with your health care practitioner or call our Child Health Line dedicated phone number 02 – 4194 987 for immediate answers.

Early intervention helps children to improve their abilities and learn new skills.

When problems are identified, an assessment is usually performed by your health care practitioner.

Clear evidence shows that acting early is the best approach for the child and family and drastically reduces the long term risk of secondary health and psychosocial complications for both the child and family.

It is important to remember, having a loving, stable and responsive relationship is fundamental to your toddler’s development.

The more experiences your toddler has with you there to support them, the more your child grows and thrives.

If you have any concerns with your child’s development, you can find out more by accessing the Early Childhood Authority’s website at www.eca.gov.ae or contact the Child Health Line on 024194983. Operated by Mubadala Health (available 10:00 am -18:00 pm).

This initiative is a collaboration between the Early Childhood Authority, Mubadala and Mubadala Health