Early Life Development Brain Optimization

Chances are, you have already begun to consciously consider ways you can support your child’s development! Maybe you have intentionally reduced toxins in your home, bought toys that support age appropriate learning, or gathered books for your child’s home library. 

With the brain rapidly growing from conception through age 5, these 5 years represent a critical time period to support your child in reaching their potential. While not every milestone delay warrants alarm, it is a great way to keep track of your child’s development and offer insight into areas where they may benefit from additional support.

The various specialists in neurodevelopment all agree that early intervention is the key to success! During these 5 years, the brain is most malleable and greater gains can be made in a quicker time period. 

Over the last 30 years, the rates of Autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders have exponentially risen. Based on 2020 data, 1 in 30 children in the United States have Autism, while 1 in 6 children in the United States has a neurodevelopmental disorder. More than ever before, we believe that proactive neurodevelopment support should be part of every child’s health care plan. 

Developmental Milestones 6 months: 

• Knows familiar people
• Likes to look at self in a mirror
• Laughs
• Takes turns making sounds with you
• Blows “raspberries” (sticks tongue out and blows)
• Makes squealing noises
• Puts things in her mouth to explore them
• Reaches to grab a toy he wants
• Closes lips to show she doesn’t want more food
• Rolls from tummy to back
• Pushes up with straight arms when on tummy
• Leans on hands to support himself when sitting

Developmental Milestones 9 months: 

• Is shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers
• Shows several facial expressions, like happy, sad, angry, and surprised
• Looks when you call her name
• Reacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you, or cries)
• Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo
• Makes a lot of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababababa”
• Lifts arms up to be picked up
• Looks for objects when dropped out of sight (like his spoon or toy)
• Bangs two things together
• Gets to a sitting position by herself
• Moves things from one hand to her other hand
• Uses fingers to “rake” food towards himself
• Sits without support

Developmental Milestones 12 months:

• Plays games with you, like pat-a-cake
• Waves “bye-bye”
• Calls a parent “mama” or “dada” or another special name
• Understands “no” (pauses briefly or stops when you say it)
• Puts something in a container, like a block in a cup
• Looks for things he sees you hide, like a toy under a blanket
• Pulls up to stand
• Walks, holding on to furniture
• Drinks from a cup without a lid, as you hold it
• Picks things up between thumb and pointer finger, like small bits of food

Developmental Milestones 15 months: 

• Copies other children while playing, like taking toys out of a container when another child does
• Shows you an object she likes
• Claps when excited
• Hugs stuffed doll or other toy
• Shows you affection (hugs, cuddles, or kisses you)
• Tries to say one or two words besides “mama” or “dada,” like “ba” for ball or “da” for dog
• Looks at a familiar object when you name it
• Follows directions given with both a gesture and words. For example, he gives you a toy when you hold out your hand and say, “Give me the toy.”
• Points to ask for something or to get help

Developmental Milestones 18 months:

• Moves away from you, but looks to make sure you are close by
• Points to show you something interesting
• Puts hands out for you to wash them
• Looks at a few pages in a book with you
• Helps you dress him by pushing arm through sleeve or lifting up foot
• Tries to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada”
• Follows one-step directions without any gestures, like giving you the toy when you say, “Give it to me.”
• Copies you doing chores, like sweeping with a broom
• Plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car
• Walks without holding on to anyone or anything
• Scribbles
• Drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes
• Feeds herself with her fingers
• Tries to use a spoon
• Climbs on and off a couch or chair without help

Developmental Milestones 24 months: 

• Notices when others are hurt or upset, like pausing or looking sad when someone is crying
• Looks at your face to see how to react in a new situation
• Points to things in a book when you ask, like “Where is the bear?”
• Says at least two words together, like “More milk.”
• Points to at least two body parts when you ask him to show you
• Uses more gestures than just waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes
• Holds something in one hand while using the other hand; for example, holding a container and taking the lid off
• Tries to use switches, knobs, or buttons on a toy
• Plays with more than one toy at the same time, like putting toy food on a toy plate
• Kicks a ball
• Runs
• Walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help
• Eats with a spoon

Developmental Milestones 3 years: 

• Calms down within 10 minutes after you leave her, like at a childcare drop off
• Notices other children and joins them to play
• Talks with you in conversation using at least two back-and-forth exchanges
• Asks “who,” “what,” “where,” or “why” questions, like “Where is mommy/daddy?”
• Says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like “running,” “eating,” or “playing”
• Says first name, when asked
• Talks well enough for others to understand, most of the time
• Draws a circle, when you show him how
• Avoids touching hot objects, like a stove, when you warn her
• Strings items together, like large beads or macaroni
• Puts on some clothes by himself, like loose pants or a jacket
• Uses a fork

Developmental Milestones 4 years: 

• Pretends to be something else during play (teacher, superhero, dog)
• Asks to go play with children if none are around, like “Can I play with Alex?”
• Comforts others who are hurt or sad, like hugging a crying friend
• Avoids danger, like not jumping from tall heights at the playground
• Likes to be a “helper”
• Changes behavior based on where she is (place of worship, library, playground)
• Says sentences with four or more words
• Says some words from a song, story, or nursery rhyme
• Talks about at least one thing that happened during his day, like “I played soccer.”
• Answers simple questions like “What is a coat for?” or “What is a crayon for?”
• Names a few colors of items
• Tells what comes next in a well-known story
• Draws a person with three or more body parts
• Catches a large ball most of the time
• Serves himself food or pours water, with adult supervision
• Unbuttons some buttons
• Holds crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not a fist)

Developmental Milestones 5 years: 

• Follows rules or takes turns when playing games with other children
• Sings, dances, or acts for you
• Does simple chores at home, like matching socks or clearing the table after eating
• Tells a story she heard or made up with at least two events. For example, a cat was stuck in a tree and a firefighter saved it.
• Answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it to him
• Keeps a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchanges
• Uses or recognizes simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall)
• Counts to 10
• Names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to them
• Uses words about time, like “yesterday,” “tomorrow,” “morning,” or “night”
• Pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities. For example, during story time or making arts and crafts (screen time does not count)
• Writes some letters in her name
• Names some letters when you point to them
• Buttons some buttons
• Hops on one foot

While we do NOT conduct development evaluations. We focus on supporting you in the workup to identify how to optimize your child’s brain function by removing obstacles and supporting neurodevelopment with research proven nutritional strategies.

In our practice, we focus on prevention — aiming to optimize the environment and biochemistry of every child!

Food Introduction Strategies…

Around 4-6 months of age, most parents are given the go-ahead by their pediatrician to start solids, but aren’t offered much support beyond avoidance of honey and choking hazards. We focus on supporting parents through dietary introduction methods that both ensure they are attaining the proper amounts of brain building nutrients (Choline, DHA, Iodine, Iron, Lutein, Vitamin B12, Vitamin E, Selenium, Protein, Vitamin D, and Zinc), as well as, supporting optimal microbiome development (through intake of polyphenols, resistant starches, and fiber).

Optimizing Microbiome Development…

Have you heard about the importance of the gut microbiome in your child’s health? Beyond digestion related issues, certain alterations in the gut microbiome have been linked to allergies, asthma, eczema, mental health disorders, autoimmunity, liver disease, metabolic conditions, AND neurodevelopment disorders. Much like the brain, the gut microbiome is rapidly established during the first three years of life, and continues to be relatively malleable until age 5 years of age. After this time, it becomes much more difficult to alter the state of the microbiome. We utilize Tiny Health Microbiome Test to understand where your child’s microbiome could use support! 

Brain Supplementation Support…

We prioritize diet and lifestyle support first, but supplements offer additional support in cases where dietary patterns are hard to shift or the child could benefit from additional support. When diet isn’t enough, we fill in the gaps with targeted nutrient support, microbiome support, and certain herbal supplements to augment all the great lifestyle habits you are already doing! 

Environmental Toxicity Assessments…

Young children are more susceptible to environmental toxins compared to adults because they breathe more air, and consume more food relative to their body size. In addition, the common hand-to-mouth behavior among infants and young children increases their risk of exposure. Many of these environmental exposures have deleterious impacts on health and development.  We evaluate exposure to environmental pollutants, heavy metals, and mycotoxins (aka mold toxins) via a thorough environmental intake, as well as, a variety of lab tests. 

Supporting an Intelligent Immune Response…

One of the most important, yet underrecognized influencers of brain development is the immune system. Maternal immune activation (via infection, obesity, stress, and more)  in utero may be the most well researched etiologies of autism and other neuropsychiatric disorders. While less research has been done in early childhood, inflammation and infection in early childhood have both been shown to impair optimal neurodevelopment. Autism, ADHD, behavioral disorders, mental health disorders, seizures, and other neuropsychiatric disorders have all been found to be associated with increased inflammatory signature within the brain. Given that inflammation is a natural byproduct of any type of immune activation (from infection to vaccination), we can’t expect to simply avoid all potential triggers. Instead, we look to modulate the immune system’s response, so there is a regulated short lived inflammatory response rather than a chronic inflammatory state within the brain.