Growth and development: developmental red flags: practice question

A Pediatrics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pediatrics · Growth and development: developmental red flags

Sample item

A 10-month-old cannot sit without support. Which statement describes the red flag cut-offs correctly?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. No sitting by 9 months is a red flag requiring evaluation

Red flags include no social smile by 3 months, no sitting by 9 months and no walking by 18 months. A 10-month-old who cannot sit is beyond the cut-off and needs evaluation.

Option by option

  • A. Sitting is not a red flag milestone

    Sitting is an important gross motor red flag.

  • B. No sitting by 9 months is a red flag requiring evaluation (correct)

    Correct. Failure to sit by 9 months is a red flag.

  • C. Sitting is expected only by 15 months

    Sitting is expected by 6 to 8 months, not 15 months.

  • D. No red flag until 24 months

    Waiting till 24 months would delay intervention.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is B, No sitting by 9 months is a red flag requiring evaluation. Red flags include no social smile by 3 months, no sitting by 9 months and no walking by 18 months.

Why is "Sitting is not a red flag milestone" not the answer?

Sitting is an important gross motor red flag.

Why is "Sitting is expected only by 15 months" not the answer?

Sitting is expected by 6 to 8 months, not 15 months.

Why is "No red flag until 24 months" not the answer?

Waiting till 24 months would delay intervention.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Growth and development: developmental red flags in Pediatrics. A 10-month-old who cannot sit is beyond the cut-off and needs evaluation.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Growth and development: developmental red flags?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.