Taller or Heavier Babies & Milestones
"Do taller or heavier babies tend to hit milestones later than others?"
Answer: Though this is a common thing to hear, there is actually no research to back this up! In my experience, height, weight, head size, etc really have no bearing on milestone acquisition. There are so many factors that contribute to milestone acquisition. Honestly, in my experience, personality plays WAY more of a role in a child's milestones than height or weight!
Some children on the heavier or taller side, or on the smaller/shorter side may be really motivated to move and figure it out in whatever way works for them, or may take a little more time! I've seen it go both ways. Again, I've never seen any definitive evidence to back up these common claims.
That being said, if you ever have concerns about your little one's milestones, regardless of size, know that you deserve to be heard and your concerns validated & assessed further.
Hope that helps!
WANT MORE?
For developmental questions, tips and guidance related to milestones about tummy time, rolling & sitting, crawling and walking, check out KC’s developmental Masterclasses linked here.
KC is a pediatric doctor of physical therapy, wife and mom of three! She has spent her career working with children and young adults of all ability levels, and currently specializes in birth to three years.
