MILESTONE MYTHS

›› STUTTERING IS A PROBLEM. Not necessarily. It can be a part of normal development, particularly when children are learning communication skills fast, and get excited. If your child stutters for more than six months, is very frustrated about it and even makes faces and tenses up, then chat to a doctor.

›› BABIES WALK BY THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY. According to physical therapist and paediatric clinical specialist Kati Knudsen, this is nonsense. Average walking age is 13-anda-half months, while 15 months is perfectly normal. Remember to add two to three months to the average, either side, when assessing your own baby for normal development.

›› NOT TALKING? MUST BE HARD OF HEARING. You know your child better than anyone else. Check for common red flags (see our section on talking), and seek advice if you’re worried.

›› IF BABY STOPS WALKING, THIS MEANS TROUBLE. Not so! This simply means that he is tired or has attempted the milestone earlier than his mind and body were ready to process permanently.