The Myth of the Perfect Baby Timeline When I first became a mom, I truly believed I had it all figured out. I had read every baby book, joined all the forums, downloaded the tracker apps, and knew the baby milestone timeline. I thought I could follow a clear roadmap: tummy time by three months, crawling by eight, walking by twelve. It felt reassuring to have that structure, like I could somehow stay one step ahead. But then reality arrived, and my baby had her own plan. Low muscle tone meant she hated tummy time. She skipped crawling entirely, and she didn’t take her first steps until she was two. Every time we went to a check-up, I held my breath waiting to hear if she was “on track.” When she wasn’t, I felt like I had failed her. I worried constantly, wondering if I was doing something wrong, or…