What are Red Flags? The term is used by professionals in the child development and medical fields to refer to a behavior that is not typical for a child of the same age and peer group. Red Flags are warning signs that something may not be right or that an intervention may be needed.  Typically, when a child has a developmental or physical concern, the earlier the concern is identified and treated, the better the outcome.

When a child development or medical professional sees a 'red flag' behavior or physical characteristic, they are likely to make a referral for a developmental screening or assessment by a specialist.  

Call Child and Family Connections at 217-222-9592 or 1-888-222-9592 for a free developmental screening or further specialized assessments. 

Some examples of  "red flag" areas are:

At 4 months:
Poor head control, unable to lift head or push up with arms
Stiff legs or consistent stiff body postures
Floppy or limp body posture
Does not smile
Does not respond to loud noises, does not follow movement with eyes

At 6 months:
Can not sit with gentle support, unable to lift head, rounded back, stiff arms
When held under his/ her arms, stiffens and crosses legs, holds arms back
Pushes away, does not like to be held by anybody
Tongue pushes soft food out of the mouth
Does not turn head and: 1) watch as people move through the room, 2) respond to your voice using normal speaking tone, 3) respond to his/ her own name.

At 8 months:
Can not sit up without support
Has difficulty outstretching arms, arches back, stiff legs
Poor ability to lift head and back, will not take weight on legs
When sitting, rounded back, poor use of arms for play

At 12 months:
Has difficulty getting up to a stand, stiff legs, pointed toes
Can not crawl on hands and knees, uses one side of the body to move from one place to another
Does not say any single words
Does not use gestures such as waving, pointing, or shaking head

At 15 months:
Walks on toes on one side of the body
Excessive tip-toeing when walking
Sits with weight on one side of the body
Uses predominately one hand for play

At 18 months:
Can not walk across a room unassisted
Does not use 15 words consistently
Does not understand the use of common household items such as spoon/ fork, cup, telephone, ball

At 2 years:
Does not use two word sentences
Fails to develop a mature heal to toe walking pattern or walks consistently on toes
Does not follow simple one or two step instructions
Can not push a wheeled toy

Parents are their children's first teacher and advocate. They often may be the first to see that their baby is not lifting his/ her head, or reaching for objects, or looking around the room when the parent moves from one place to another. Parents may instinctively understand that these subtle behaviors are not typical, but not know what to do.  Early diagnosis and treatment is important, as it can help children reach their full potential.  

Developmental screenings provides parents with the knowledge that their child is developing in a typical manner or alert them to the possibility that there is a problem that needs to be addressed. This information can enable a parent to seek the help and treatment that their child needs to succeed in life. Help is available to parents who know where to go.