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Signs of Developmental Delay in 2-Year-Olds

Developmental milestones are age-specific skills and tasks that a child usually completes during a certain age range. For 2-year-olds, major developmental milestones are reached in motor, cognitive, language, social and emotional skills, including walking and beginning to talk. Every child develops differently, and not all children will reach developmental milestones in the same order or at the same time. However, missed milestones may signal a developmental delay that requires professional diagnosis and intervention.

  1. Motor Skills

    • A major warning sign of delayed development is when a child has not walked by 18 months of age. By the age of 2, a toddler should have developed a mature heel-to-toe walking pattern and be able to stand and walk unassisted. Toddlers should also be able to push a wheeled toy by the age of 2.

    Cognitive and Language Skills

    • Developmental delays also commonly appear in the areas of cognitive and language skills. By age 2, a child should be able to name and identify common objects, such as toys, telephones or hairbrushes. Toddlers should also command a vocabulary of at least 15 words and be able to speak in two-word sentences that parents or caregivers can understand.

    Social and Emotional Skills

    • Toddlers learn many things from observing people and things in their environment, such as how to respond or behave in certain situations. By the age of 2, a child should begin to imitate the words or actions of others. Toddlers should also begin to gain interest in other children and exhibit a desire for greater independence from parents or caregivers.

    Possible Causes

    • Developmental delays and loss of previously mastered skills may result from a number of causes. Some common causes of developmental delays are hearing loss from chronic ear infections, autism, genetic conditions such as Down's syndrome, or complications that may have occurred during pregnancy. In some cases, a specific cause of developmental delays cannot be found. However, suspected developmental delays should be evaluated as soon as possible so that they can be reversed or treated.

    What to Do

    • Contact your child's doctor if you are concerned about developmental delays. Pediatricians use assessment tools to evaluate you child's development and can refer you to a development specialist or other local resources to help your child. The sooner your child's developmental delay is diagnosed, the sooner intervention programs can begin to help your child. You can also help to support your child's development by providing proper nutrition, exercise, rest and a safe and loving environment.

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