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Observation Tools Used to Observe Infants & Toddlers

Infants and toddlers require almost constant observation, as they grow up very rapidly. However, there are also tools and systems that have been developed to help observe and evaluate children to ensure their safety, as well as to mark progress as the children grow and develop.

  1. Cameras and Monitors

    • It's important that you keep an eye on your little ones, even when they're supposed to be sleeping. Baby monitors, a one-way walkie-talkie, allow parents to keep an ear out for crying children throughout the night. Cameras can help parents watch what happens in the house and record actions by children. They have the added benefit keeping nannies and housekeepers on the level at the same time.

    Medical Tools

    • Because infants and toddlers are still in the fastest stages of growth and change, it's important that their health is monitored regularly. Doctors have a variety of tools and monitors, ranging from the simple stethoscope to MRI machines and X-rays. These tools are used to check on a child's progress physically and to investigate any areas where the child appears to be developing differently than expected inside and out.

    Developmental Scales

    • A developmental scale is meant to show a child's progress. For instance, a mark on the scale might be forming cogent thoughts into complete sentences, and the scale could list that a child should be able to do this by age 3 to 4. There are a multitude of these scales, and different scales are endorsed by different practitioners or systems. However, they are meant to represent the average for children, and they are not the final word on development.

    Watching

    • Perhaps the easiest tool to use for observing children is your own eyes. Parents watch their children every day. This allows them to see the children's behavior on a regular timeline so they can judge what's normal and what's not. Doctors and professionals may therefore call on parents for their observations about children's behavior to get a more accurate picture, since the professionals may not be able to observe children in the same way.

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