Keeping Your Baby on Track

As every parent knows, babies tend to do things in their own time and own way. And, as many parents also know, a mother's—or father’s—instinct that something is off with their child, is often spot on. Fortunately for parents questioning their child’s development, Children’s Integrated Services (CIS) Early Intervention can help.

Located in downtown Bennington, CIS provides resources for families of children from birth to age 3 who have questions about their child’s development. The family-centered program helps families meet their child’s special health needs and address developmental delays in a way that works for their schedule and resources.

In a typical day, the CIS team meets with 35 families, either in their homes, at the CIS offices in downtown Bennington, or even at local coffee shops. In many cases, parents reach out directly to CIS while in other instances a family doctor may ask for an assessment.

As specialists in childhood development, CIS looks at how a child is doing in all aspects of development. An initial hour-or-so long assessment covers speech, visual engagement, play skills, hearing, and even lactation. From that assessment, the team makes recommendations on what kind of intervention or services might help the child progress. These include assistive technology, audiology, family training/home visits, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language services, specialized instruction, and service coordination. In many instances, the recommended services are available at no cost to the family.

With the aim of giving every child the best start possible and supporting their families, CIS makes it easy to access services. The team often fills out necessary paperwork, coordinates rides, assists with contacting local resources for safety gates, cabinet locks, and more.

If you have questions about your child's development, trust your instincts—you know your child best. Talk to your pediatrician or reach out to CIS. Getting the help your child needs is easier than you probably realize and can make a world of difference for the rest of their life.

TIP: Milestones matter!

Track your child’s milestones from age 2 months to 5 years with this free and easy-to-use app from the CDC. It includes tips for encouraging your child’s development and advice on what to do if you are ever concerned about how your child is developing.

Jennie Moon is program coordinator of Children’s Integrated Services Early Intervention in Bennington, VT.