Physio says DD has a 'high guard'

[MedicalEd]

DD is 6 months and holds her hands up at shoulder level almost all the time, sitting, being carried ect.
It means she doesn't play with toys when propped up sitting or eat on her own.
She will bring her hands down if wedged into the corner of the sofa or bath so it must be a balance/feeling secure thing.
The physio said she needs more tummy time to improve her strength ect and this will help her roll (DD did it a few times at 15 weeks and not since).
Has anyone had any experience of this? Will it mean she will have other physical problems?

[Galena]

DD does it when walking - she has mild Cerebral Palsy and I guess it helps a little with her balance and also means that if she topples her hands are ready to go out to save herself.

I'm certainly not saying your DD has CP by the way! Just something we've noticed with our DD - she only does it when walking - not when sitting or being carried etc.

[survivingsummer]

Yes my dd does this too and like Galena's dd does it for balance - especially when running. She has very slight CP but at 6 months old our physio was not worried about it - more like when she was still doing it aged 2 + when it became more of a concern.

Tummy time will help her strength in her upper body and great she is having physio - has done wonders for my dd's mobility.

[Chundle]

My dd does it when running she has a very strange run - arms up with one arm flapping- and sometimes holds arms up when walking. She doesn't have CP x

[MedicalEd]

DD wasn't breathing when born, had apgar scores of 3 and 7. Had never considered CP...
Galena and Summer, do you mind me asking what other signs of CP your babies had at six months please?

[Galena]

At 6 months? Nothing really. She was born 3 months premature so whilst she was a bit slow sitting, etc it was expected. It was only when she was older (16 months or so) that it was even thought about, and pretty much dismissed until she was just 2. One of the main signs for her is that when trying to walk pushing something or holding our hands her legs would cross, like a pair of scissors. She was diagnosed at 2yrs and 6 weeks (3 months ago)

[survivingsummer]

MedicalEd - she was slow to bring her hands together (midline) but mainly the issue was low muscle tone in her trunk which affected her sitting up unaided. We were aware there would be physical problems due to lack of oxygen at birth so she was already seeing a physio. I'm sure your physio would have discussed any signs of CP with you if it was apparent at this stage. I have noticed a lot of 'NT' babies fisting or holding their arms 'teddy bear' fashion who just grow out of it!