Cerebral palsy is often suspected when a child does not achieve normal growth milestones, such as rolling over, sitting, crawling, smiling, or walking. However more severe symptoms may also appear at birth. If you are concerned about your baby's development, you should check with your doctor. He or she can help you distinguish between normal developmental variation among children and a more significant developmental disorder.

Here are some things to look for in your child:

At birth:

• Difficult breathing
• Trouble eating
• Trouble eliminating
• Lack of certain reflexes

At three months:

• Doesn't respond to your voice
• Doesn't follow toys with her eyes
• Doesn't use facial expressions
• Has unusually stiff or floppy muscles
• Consistently uses one side of his body more often than the other
• Doesn't enjoy being around people

At four to five months:

• Has difficulty getting objects to his mouth
• Doesn't turn his head to locate sounds
• Doesn't smile spontaneously

At six months:

• Cannot sit without help
• Does not laugh or make sounds
• Does not actively reach for toys

At seven to eight months:

• Doesn't follow toys with both eyes at both near and far ranges
• Doesn't actively reach for toys
• Doesn't bear some weight on her legs
• Doesn't try to attract attention through actions
• Doesn't babble
• Won't play games