Should I be concerned at 9.5 month old's physical development?

[Gurraun]

Ds2 is 9.5 months. He is and always has been quite big and tall for his age (around 90th percentile). He can only roll onto his tummy ie can't roll back. He can sit up but still quite regularly topples over and often slumps in highchairs. He cannot get to a sitting position from lying down, makes no attempt to crawl and has only tried to pull himself up a couple of times (but loves standing on your lap etc). He doesn't really try to hold his bottle and is not great at putting food in his mouth and chokes quite a bit on food he needs to chew.

On the plus side (!) he can wave and clap and pass objects from one hand to the other. I also have no concerns about his mental development (if that's the right word) ie responds to his name, lots of eye contact, babbling etc.

His older brother didn't do stuff particularly quickly and at 4 is now a well coordinated little boy, but I 'think' (hard to remember) that his sitting up, crawling efforts etc were well ahead of ds2.

80% of me thinks he's just a big chap with a lot of bulk to balance, but as he seems well behind his peers physically some worry is creeping in. He was due his 8 month check up today so I'd planned to ask the HV but he has chickenpox so asking for MN wisdom instead! Thanks

[wheresthelight]

I have a daughter but in my experience of other people's kids I would say the fact he is a fairly big chap would probably slow down his movement etc - my cousin was a chunky baby and he never crawled, bum shuffled a bit but went straight to walking.

Can you ring your hv?

[wheresthelight]

Should point out he is now in his late 30's, runs half marathons and is 6ft and a lanky bean pole!

Boys tend to "stretch" a bit later than girls. In my dd's swimming class there is a bit who is 6 months and he is in bigger sized clothes than 8.5 month dd but she is about half his length again.

They do even out but if worries are creeping in ring the hv

[NeverendingPotato]

If you are starting to be concerned then you should definitely talk to someone about it. It does seem there are some things which would warrant a check.

As to the size thing, ds1 was 99th centile and hit all his physical milestones.

[DeWee]

I would agree with the big baby experience-not all babies, but the little tiny ones are often the first to move.

For crawling I think about 10 months is considered average, so no worries. Dd1 only rolled when she saw a point to it-ie to roll onto her front to crawl, before that she didn't bother, once it mattered she did it within days. She crawled at about 10 months, so wasn't an early crawler, and didn't really show any signs of trying to crawl until she did.

[codandchipstwice]

ALl three of mine failed their 9 month checks due to not sitting unaided or weight bearing. All mine had caught up by 18 months - turns out they bide their time until they can do things properly - Ie not walking til 18 months but being steady - boys not potty training til over 3 but then no accidents etc.

Both DSs were over 100% centile, but DD was 9% and things came more naturally to her and earlier (sentences by 2etc) so in my very unscientific opinion gender does seem to play a part too.

Unless a HCP is worried I wouldn't be - if my 12 months these things are still an issue then perhaps start investigating

[naty1]

Just ensuring he has plenty of time to practice the cuising etc. i imagine if hes not steady sitting this impacts on core strength for standing and walking etc.
So restricting time in bouncers pushchairs walkers etc may help. Which im sure you do already
My hv did say boys are slower physically.
My DN 6lb baby rolled within about a week. Biggest baby i know didnt roll till about 8-9m i think big back etc
My 23m old never sits up from lying always rolls.

[Charlotteamanda1]

The best thing to do is have a chat with your health visitor. Children develop between ranges and she can see if he's within those ranges. It will put your mind at rest.

[Gurraun]

Thanks all