8 month old not rolling etc

[PurpleThistles84]

My baby boy is nearly 8 months old. He is very contented and social, but his physical skills are not good. He can roll from his back to his side only. He can’t sit up at all without support and doesn’t weight bear on his legs.

To make matters more complicated, he has quite a severe flat head so I have to try to keep him off his head as much as possible. This means he spends a lot of time in his jumperoo (which only in the last two days has begun to bounce a little), in his high chair or bumbo. I do give him time on his play mat but it does have to be limited because of his head and he won’t tolerate tummy time at all I think because of reflux.

I know all babies are different and I’m probably over worrying but it’s hard not to as he had a traumatic birth, where the cord was wrapped twice around his neck, so tight it bruised his neck and had to be cut before his body was born. He also got stuck and had to be pulled out by ventouse and was badly in shock when he was born.

I vaguely remember the registrar saying he hadn’t been deprived of oxygen, but with his slow physical development I can’t help worrying. Has anyone else been in this situation?

[surreygirl1987]

My son was also born in an aggressive ventouse birth and was (still is) delayed physically. He also didn't roll consistently until 8 or 9 months at least, which was actually when he figured out crawling. He has torticollis from the ventouse birth (worth googling in case you recognise the symptons) but also he was born with hypermobility, just like his dad. This was only diagnosed when he was a year old by a physiotherapist but wasn't a shock to me as his dad had the same issues (and it doesn't worry me much as his dad is an amazing athlete!). That might be worth looking into? In my area they do a 10 month ages and stages questionnaire (9-11 months) which my son 'failed' so we got an appointment with the health visitor. I imagine any issues would be picked up then, but if you're worried (understandably) why not see your HV now and request a referall to a physio?
Also to reassure you... My son didn't bear weight on his legs until he was a year old and didn't take a step with a walker until he was 14 months old. Now at 16 months he is finally taking steps independently (although only 4 or 5 max at a time!) and is able to walk for ages if I hold his hand! I anticipate him to walk properly any day now. He's also amazing at climbing and a super roller now. Even the delayed ones eventually get there :)

[ACJD]

My son is 10 months old and doesnt roll. He had a very traumatic birth also. We have been with a physio since 4mo as he was flat headed on 1 side and was referred incase he had tightening of his neck. This has all been resolved. He has sat independently since about 7mo but shows no signs of crawling but can weight bear on his legs very well. I honestly think he will walk before crawling. My biggest problem with my son is hes not taking solids. Just would not open his mouth. Hes been seen by feeding clinic and basically said he was just being lazy as they seen nothing physically wrong. My HV suggested cranial oesteopathy and after 1st session he was opening his mouth for solids albeit not taking alot but its progress. Just had 2nd session yesterday and for another next week. Oesteopath said babies with traumatic births benefit greatly from therapy. Who knows, willing to give anything ago!

[PurpleThistles84]

Thank you both. I think my son definitely had torticollis as his neck was badly bruised on one side from the cord and he would not turn his head in that direction for about a month, then because his head was misshapen, it took another month to be strong enough to turn it past the bump that had developed on the opposite of the flat side.

He is making progress all of a sudden, regularly rolling to the side now and pulling himself from lying sloped to forward. I’m probably just over worrying which I think is just a reaction from his birth.

[surreygirl1987]

Oh good! So.gpad you're seeing progress and are happier! Yeh that does sound like torticollis! Glad it resolved on its own though!