Look out!! Ready or not, here they come!  Your baby is now quite mobile, usually transitioning from crawling to walking.  Exploration is your baby’s mission!  Your child’s vision continues to develop.  It is important for your child to continue the development of eye/hand/body coordination, eye teaming and depth perception.

This section includes the developmental time frame from 12-18 months. Remember, your child should have already received their first vision assessment from a developmental optometrist!

12-18 months

By the end of 12 months (1 year), many children are able to:

• Use simple gestures (waving “bye-bye”)
• Make sounds such as “ma” and “da”
• Imitate actions in their play (clap when you clap)
• Respond when told “no”

By the end of 18 months (1 ½ years) many children are able to:

• Do simple pretend play (“talk” on a telephone)
• Point to interesting objects
• Look at an object when you point at it and tell them to “look”
• Use several single words unprompted
• Listen to books…often the same one over and over again!
• “Dance” with music
• Interested in ball play (rolling)

VISUAL OBSERVATIONS:

• Good tracking skills
• Judges distances more accurately when grasping & throwing objects (look out!)

OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES:

• Babbling increasing, with inflection of “sentences”
• Eye-hand coordination continues to improve
• May be shy with strangers
• Starting to use eating utensils
• Explores objects in many different ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping).
• Puts objects in and out of containers

For more pictures, videos and developmental milestones, click here

CONCERNS:

• Misalignment of the eyes (called strabismus) should not be present after 4-6 months.
• Your child does not seem interested in looking at objects or people
• Extreme sensitivity to lights
• Excessive tearing
• Red or encrusted eye lids
• White pupil

If you notice any of the concerns stated above, take your baby in for a professional eye examination from a developmental optometrist or ophthalmologist.

HOW TO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT:

• Baby-proof your house.  Bumps, bruises, eye injuries & other serious injuries can occur as your baby begins to physically explore the environment.  Keep cabinets that contain cleaning supplies or dangerous objects locked.  Put barriers in front of stairwells.
• Roll a ball back and forth to your child
• Provide plenty of SAFE objects and toys that can be pulled apart
• Use building blocks and balls of all shapes and sizes to play with to boost fine motor skills
• Read or tell stories to stimulate your child’s ability to visualize and pave the way for learning and reading

I don’t want any parents worrying about their baby because of certain developmental “cut-off” dates.  Development does not always progress in a smooth manner.  All children develop at their own rate.  Ask your doctor or nurse if you have concerns with the development or health of your baby.

I am blessed to be a part of my child’s and grandchild’s life.

This section includes 6 months of developmental time from 7-12 months. Some kids are walking by 9 months and some don’t walk until 18 months. Same thing with crawling. Four to nine months is the typical range of “normal” development for crawling. I don’t want any parents worrying about their baby because of certain developmental cut-off dates. Remember, each child develops at his or her own rate.  Ask your pediatrician if you have concerns with the development or health of your baby.

7-12 months – Let the real FUN begin!

VISUAL OBSERVATIONS:

• Good tracking skills
• Judges distance more accurately at grasping & throwing objects (look out!)
• Eye color may change.  Most babies are born with blue eyes.  More dark pigment is produced in the iris, which will often change your baby’s eye color from blue to brown, green, gray or a mixture.
• Your baby’s eyes should work together as a team.  Misalignment of the eyes (called strabismus) should not be present.  If your baby’s eyes do not seem to be straight, take him for a professional eye examination from a developmental optometrist or ophthalmologist who specializes in working with children.
• Loves looking at self in the mirror

OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES:

• Your baby is now mobile.  Crawling and scooting develop. Your baby now covers more distances.
• Pulls self to stand.
• Some babies start walking between 9-12 months.
• Responds to his/her name.
• Begins to respond to “no.”
• Babbles chains of words.
• Developing good eye-hand coordination. Reaches with one hand, transfers objects from hand to hand.
• May be shy with strangers.
• Loves imitating people.
• May begin to be fearful in some situations.
• Finger feeds.
• Explores objects in many different ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping).
• Uses pincer grasp.
• Puts objects into a container.
• Begins to use objects correctly (drinking from cup, brushing hair, listening to phone).
• Increasing attention to speech… says “dada” and “mama.”
• Imitates words.

For more pictures, videos and developmental milestones, click here

HOW TO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT:

• Allow your baby to get on the floor and encourage him to crawl to you or toys.
• Provide plenty of SAFE objects and toys that can be pulled apart.
• Baby-proof your house. Bumps, bruises, eye injuries & other serious injuries can occur as your baby begins to physically explore the environment.  Keep cabinets that contain cleaning supplies or dangerous objects locked. Put barriers in front of stairwells.

Development does not always progress in a smooth manner.  All children develop at their own rate.

I am blessed to be a part of my child’s and grandchild’s life.

April 2012 Newsletter will cover Edina’s development up to 18 months, including her trip to Puerto Vallarta, where she first discovers the beauty and mysteries of the ocean!

There was great interest in my lecture, “Chronic visual manifestations of traumatic brain injury.”  Optometrists from the military were part of my audience.  These miliary ODs as they are now charged with treating many of the returning soldiers who have suffered brain injuries.  Our optometric colleagues in the military are open for education, training,  and the opportunity to provide appropriate vision care, including vision therapy, to these soldiers.

I am committed to assisting with vision rehabilitation needs for our injured soldiers.

Dr. Steve, past extern at Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center

Preparing for SECO Lecture

By Dr Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, Denver, Colorado Optometrist in Vision Therapy

VISUAL OBSERVATIONS:

• Your baby is tracking more efficiently and for longer periods of time.
• Eyes are now straight and well-coordinated.
• Beginning to understand how to play “peek-a-boo.”
• Interested in mirrors.
• Explores more with hands and mouth.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES:

• Rolls over either direction
• Responds to own name
• Begins to respond to “no”
• Babbles more like words
• Sits with little support
• Reaches with one hand
• Transfers object from hand to hand
• Supports whole weight on legs

HOW TO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT:

• Allow your baby to get on the floor and encourage him to crawl to you or toys.
• Provide plenty of SAFE objects and toys that can be pulled apart.
• Play peek-a-boo.
• Talk to your baby.  Describe objects, colors, places, etc.

For earlier pictures, videos and developmental milestones, click here

If your baby’s eyes still look crossed from about 4-6 months of life, it is time to take your baby in for an eye examination with a developmental optometrist or ophthalmologist.  Sometimes you baby’s eyes might look crossed, but they really are not.  That is because your baby might have a flat nose bridge.  This creates what is called a “pseudo-strabismus.”  The nasal part of the eyelids partially cover some of the white part of the eye.  This gives the illusion of crossed eyes because you see less “white” (sclera) of your baby’s eyes.  Your eye doctor can tell for sure if your baby has crossed eyes that will require treatment, or pseudo-crossed eyes that does not require any treatment (this illusion goes away as your baby grows).

Note that American Optometric Association (AOA) has a program called Infant See ®.  Optometrists in your area will give your infant under 1 year old a FREE vision assessment.  This is a great place to start appropriate vision care for your baby.

March 2012 newsletter will take Edina up to 1 year old.  Amazing how quickly time passes!  Many thanks to my daughter and graphic designer, Annie, for capturing such special moments on film and video.

Development does not always progress in a smooth manner.  All children develop at their own rate.

Click here to continue on the vision journey, Vision Development through Edina’s Eyes.

I am blessed to be a part of my child’s and grandchild’s life.

Her mother commented: “I’d never seen anything like it,” Verno said. “Caley’s mom said it was one of the Top 10 events of her life. Hearing that, the parents talking about their daughters living out their dreams, just leaves me speechless.

Click here  to read the entire story.  Take a box of kleenex with you- it’s truly an inspiring story!

By Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, Metro-Denver Optometrist at Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center, PC

Stedman Graham, inspirational speaker and “boyfriend of Oprah”

James Malinchak, ABC Secret Millionaire and Big Money Speaker and

Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, author of See It. Say It Do It!

Those of you who don’t know me, I’m the one in the middle (vertically challenged, don’t you think?)

By Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, Colorado Optometrist in Vision Therapy

Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center, PC

]]> http://lynnhellerstein.com/2012/01/stedman-graham-photo/feed/ 1 http://lynnhellerstein.com/2011/12/happy-holidays-from-hellerstein-brenner-vision-center/ http://lynnhellerstein.com/2011/12/happy-holidays-from-hellerstein-brenner-vision-center/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:55:39 +0000 lhellerstein http://lynnhellerstein.com/?p=3128 May your holidays be filled with joy and laughter!  Start the buzz!

From the staff at Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center, P.C.

By Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, Colorado Optometrist in Vision Therapy & Visual Processing

Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center PC

A fun time for all!

By Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, a Colorado Optometrist in Vision Therapy

Thanks to Dr. Kristi Jensen and Dr. Dom Maino for their pix!  As you can see from the first picture, I could hardly see over the tall podium.  No worries.  The hotel staff came to my rescue and wrapped up a bucket for me to stand on.  Ok, no bucket jokes…I didn’t kick the bucket, but almost fell off!

Thanks to Dr. Dave Damari, new COVD President, for the opportunity to have a fun time!

Master of Ceremonies- COVD- no bucket- Where is she?

Master of Ceremonies COVD 10-11 with bucket

Drs Grant, Hinrich, Hellerstein, Torgerson

By Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, a Denver Optometrist in Vision Therapy & Visual Processing

CE credits are available for educators, OTs, PT, speech/language therapists and psychologists.

This seminar in Denver was fun, interactive and inspiring.  The picture below is a demonstrations/experience of vision’s impact on motor/balance performance.

Off to Boulder for the next seminar and then to Colorado Springs the next week.  Thanks to all of you for your interest and participation.  Please note that the DVD/CDs of the seminar are available for purchase, including CE credit.

By Dr. Lynn Hellerstein, a Denver Optometrist In Vision Therapy & Visual Process