4 mo development check

[Pandasandmonkeys]

I had my HV come and check my 4 mo DS development today as he's been quite poorly and a couple of drs suggested I get him checked out. DS is my first baby so I didn't know what to expect. But the HV said his fine motor skills were poor because he couldn't pick up a raisin. Should a baby so young be able to do this? He can hold and pick up rattles and soft toys no problem. But something as small (and Uninteresting!) as a raisin?

[RedKites]

I thought developing a pincer grip was normally around seven or eight months?

[Flisspaps]

Pincer grip is around 8 months, yes.

Your HV sounds barmy.

[Pandasandmonkeys]

I thought it would be alot later than 4 months. I've just been reading online that the skill starts developing around 6 months but isn't perfected till around 8 months

[JollyYellowGiant]

Strange. I agree 8 months ish. Most, if not all, babies starting Baby Led Weaning at 6mos dont have pincer grip.

[Pandasandmonkeys]

She is abit! Her bag of toys was the dullest set of stuff I have ever seen. She wondered why he didn't respond to a tiny plain white rattle that hardly made any sound then was surprised by his delight when we used one of his own toys instead!

[Pandasandmonkeys]

I requested the check up as he has been very poorly in and off since birth and a couple of drs suggested I should get him checked out. Thankfully he was on track in all other areas :) I'm glad to see you all thing her expectation of a 4 mo is bonkers too!

[mamapants]

My HV said pincer grip is one of the checks at the 8mth check and not a big deal if they can't do it at that point.

[mummy2benji]

Hi I'm a GP and I certainly wouldn't expect a 4mo baby to be able to pick up a raisin! The comments above are right re pincer grip coming later. My dd2 is 18 weeks and certainly couldn't pick up a raisin. And why would I give her one to try to pick up when she'd put it in her mouth and choke on it! Don't worry at all. Lots of illnesses may set him back a little in terms of feeding and weight but shouldn't cause him problems in the long run. Poor dd has had bronchiolitis (in hospital for a week over Christmas), norovirus and several colds thanks to ds1 bringing bugs home from school. I am trying to think of it all as just building up her immune system!

[CommanderShepard]

Where do they get these people?!

I had took it upon myself to teach one basic statistics regarding the sodding growth charts. I think I am That Woman now but I hate the way they talk to me, like I'm a child myself. Ugh.

DD hasn't quite got a pincer grip yet and she's 9 months. Actually, your DS sounds a bit more advanced than she was :)

[Pandasandmonkeys]

Thanks everyone. I spoke to some other mums at baby groups this week and they all said the same - a ridiculous expectation of a 4 mo. she's coming back to check him again at the end of April so I will challenge it with her then. I was also a bit shocked that she expected him to respond to his name at this age? A sound, yes, but his name? I'm sure that's much older than four months?!

[Pandasandmonkeys]

Thanks everyone. I spoke to some other mums at baby groups this week and they all said the same - a ridiculous expectation of a 4 mo. she's coming back to check him again at the end of April so I will challenge it with her then. I was also a bit shocked that she expected him to respond to his name at this age? A sound, yes, but his name? I'm sure that's much older than four months?!

[WhispersOfWickedness]

Wow, she must have been using the 8 month development checklist, that's madness for a 4 month old!
DD was pretty advanced at her pincer grip and could pick up a raisin at about 6 months, not 4! Think DD was about 7 or 8 months for responding to her name as well