Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) is Georgia’s Early Intervention Program for infants and toddlers from birth to 36 months who have an established risk of a developmental delay due to a diagnosed physical or mental condition. A qualified team of professionals provides an initial evaluation and assessment, to determine eligibility and services and support needed. Service coordination is also provided to assist families in finding services and identifying resources in their local communities. Evaluation, assessment and service coordination is provided at no cost to families.
Babies Can’t Wait Brochure Spanish
Who Is Eligible for Babies Can’t Wait?
Children from birth to 36 months, regardless of income, who meet one of the following criteria:
- Have a diagnosed physical or mental condition which leads to a developmental delay.
- Have a significant developmental delay identified by BCW’s qualified team of professionals.
What Services Does BCW Provide?
- Evaluation and assessments to determine eligibility and services needed.
- Service coordination to develop/monitor the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), which helps the family and other professionals in developing a plan to enhance the child’s development. Coordination also connects the family with other community resources, and help moving the child to other programs/resources after the age of three.
- The following services and supports may also be available to children and families enrolled in BCW:
- Assistive Technology
- Family Training and Counseling
- Physical Therapy
- Special Instruction
- Psychological Services
- Nutrition Services
- Transportation to Services Audiology
- Occupational Therapy
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Social Work services
- Nursing services
- Vision services
Services provided through BCW are in places where children live, learn, and play, to help them practice new skills within the family’s normal routines and daily activities.
Developmental Signs
Here are some signs to look for at each stage of your baby’s early growth. All babies are different, but if your baby is far behind for his or her age, your child may need special help. Early intervention in key.
At 3 months does your baby:
- turn head toward bright colors and lights
- follow moving object with eyes
- respond to loud sounds
- wiggle and kick with legs and arms
- smile
- make sounds
- lift head while on stomach
At 6 months does your baby:
- reach for toys and pick them up
- move toys from one hand to another
- roll over (both ways)
- play with feet
- babble
- help hold bottle while feeding
At 9 months does your baby:
- sit up with back straight
- say “mama” and “dada”
- pick up things with fingers
- crawl and try to stand up
At 12 months does your baby:
- pull self to standing position
- crawl on hands and knees
- drink from cup
- wave bye-bye
- lay peek-a-boo and patty cake
- say 1 or 2 words
At 18 months does your baby:
- pull off shoes and mittens
- feed self some
- walk without help
- like to look around
- use 8-10 words that are understood
- turn pages in a book
At 24 months does your baby:
- use sentences
- say names of toys
- run
- know where eyes and nose are
- play alone
- stack blocks
- take clothes off
At 36 months does your baby:
- walk up steps
- know name
- wash hands
- play with other children
- use toilet
- hop on one foot
- use 3-5 word sentences
- open door
- name colors
Related Links
Born Learning
Parent to Parent
Contact Us
Babies Can’t Wait
5601 Veterans Parkway
Lower Level
Columbus, GA 31904
Phone: 706-327-0189
Toll Free: 888-568-7777
Fax: 706-327-1355
Or scan the QR code to be contacted about our program!
