What is considered a red flag for gross motor development in infants?

Head lag after three months is indeed a significant red flag for gross motor development in infants. By this age, infants are expected to have developed enough muscle tone and strength to hold their heads up while being pulled to a sitting position. Continued head lag can indicate issues with muscle tone or neurological development. Monitoring this aspect of an infant's development is crucial because it helps identify potential developmental delays or disorders at an early stage, allowing for timely interventions.

While not crawling by eight months, experiencing gait irregularities by twelve months, and not balancing on one foot by three years can also be concerning signs of gross motor delays, they are generally recognized as less urgent in terms of immediate developmental milestones. For instance, many infants may take longer to crawl, and variations in the timing of walking and other skills are common among toddlers. In contrast, the expectation for head control by three months is more stringent, making head lag a more reliable indicator of potential gross motor issues during that early developmental period.