During the nine-month pregnancy period, both mother and father can’t wait to hold their child in their arms. After the birth, both difficult and pleasant moments are experienced together.
As the baby begins to grow, parents begin to explore what else they can do for the baby’s development besides meeting his basic needs.
They examine the toys they bought and the time they spend with their babies and try to determine their right and wrong.
It is at this stage that developmental follow-up for babies is important. This process, which can be started even before birth at the request of the parents, continues routinely after the birth.
So what is progress tracking, what does it include?
In the first meeting of the development follow-up, the development of the baby is evaluated. In this evaluation, standardized developmental screening tests are used. The developmental screening test is not repeated at every interview, it is beneficial to renew it every 6 months.
The developmental characteristics of the child are explained to the parents according to the month they are in. In this month, information is given about what skills he will gain, what behaviors or behavior problems he will have.
Games and toys are suggested for the development of the moon.
Suggestions are made about eating and sleeping patterns.
Information is given about how healthy parent-child communication will be, and how to react in problem situations.
Supportive activity suggestions are made in the areas of cognitive, language, social, motor and self-care development.
Questions about the problems experienced by the parents are answered.
According to the month or age of the baby, the date of the next meeting is determined and the interview is terminated.
If the progress test result is “Normal”, the test is not repeated in the second interview.
Home education programs are prepared for children with developmental delay or retardation and for premature and high-risk children. The family is informed about the activities that can be done at home and the materials they will use in this activity. Some activities are carried out with the family during the meeting and become a model for them.
It would be beneficial to talk to other people who take care of the child during the developmental follow-up process. (Grandma, grandmother, caregiver, etc.) It is important to share the development suggestions for the child with them and to include them in the process.
During the development follow-up process, sections of the life at home may also be requested from the family. Video footage is made for this.
Thanks to the routine follow-up of development during infancy;
The development of the child is closely monitored
If there is a developmental delay or developmental delay, it is detected in the early period.
Baby’s home environment is arranged.
Mother, father and other family members have accurate and healthy information about the baby’s development.
Behavioral problems that can be seen in the baby can be solved in the short term before they become chronic.
