7 month old (5 month adjusted) not reaching / playing with toys

[IndiaBound]

Hi,

I'm beginning to get a little worried about our DD who turned 7 months last week but as she was 2 months premature, has a corrected age of 5 months.

It is only in the last few weeks that she has gained good head control but she has it quite mastered now. She is even trying to sit when on our laps, although after a few seconds we need to catch her ;-)

She developed a squint after about 3 months real age and after waiting for an NHS appointment and then being extremely underwhelmed by it all, we went private and were told she is very long-sighted and is now wearing baby glasses (so cute). She's had these about a week now.

We can easily see that she is seeing more things - noticing things that she didn't before, etc.

In terms of interaction she seems to be on track from what we can gather - babbling away, smiles at us (isn't it the greatest feeling!), if we bounce her, and at other things that she finds funny (my partner's sneezing fit for example).

We saw a consultant neurologist last week who said she was not that worried, diagnosed that she had a very large head and also joint hyper mobility, and out these two as the reason why DD was slow to be able to control her head and said she would be behind in all motor skills requiring muscle control.

We saw a physio today who said she was pleased with what she saw and the only worry was that DD was not reaching for toys or playing with them.

I guess this may be down to myself and my partner in some way; since she has been able to lift her head, she has then received the glasses, but as she likes sitting on our laps, that is where she spends a lot of time.

We have been told to have plenty of time on the floor, to guide DD's hand to toys with different textures, etc. - something we intend to do as much as possible.


However, this is our first baby and underlying all this is a worry that something more serious is happening here (luckily the neurologist suggested an MRI to rule out bad reasons for the macrocrania DD has).

Has anyone else had a child that was not reaching / playing with toys at 5 months corrected age who then went on to grow normally?

Sorry for the long post - wanted to get all the info in and looking forward to hearing your views (even if you think something may be up with DD).

G

[PrincessScrumpy]

I really wouldn't worry at this stage. I noticed that the prem side of things stopped being overly noticable by a year my twins had mostly caught up although they didn't sit until 8.5months. They didn't walk until 16months and at 2yo one wasn't talking except for mama and dada... 3 months on I cannot stop her talking and she has amazing vocab.

My friend's ds has hypermobility and he can walk but was over 2 when he did it unaided and still prefers for move a bit like a chimp. She was told by school age he will have evened out.

I find I forget the prem thing with dtd until I notice they aren't doing something others are and then I remember. 5mo like looking at stuff, some shove everything in their mouth, some like touch and other just watch. dd1 barely played with baby toys at all and just liked observing things (she wasn't prem).

I would relax but keep an eye on it. But honestly, at our twin club we asked mums of younger ones if they wanted more/different toys for the babies and the feedback was no, babies were happy watching bigger ones run around and mums just wanted a coffee! :)

[PrincessScrumpy]

oh just dawned on me, I was 2 months prem - went to grammar school, got straight As for gcse etc and a good job. Just mild asthma and eczema really. So yes I went on to grow normally. No one would guess from looking at me, but also noone would guess from looking at my 2yo dtds. A friend had a baby at 28weeks and she is now 7. Seems fine in every way but she is very petite - all in proportion though, I just don't think she'll ever be tall or tubby.

[Parsnipcake]

I am currently fostering a prem 5 month old and she is a real Velcro baby, never off my lap, and she isn't interested in toys either, but I find if I weAr a necklace or scarf she will reach for it, so maybe try a bright scarf or something on you for her to reach. Tbh, every time I worry about something, it then seems to resolve itself quite quickly :)

[IndiaBound]

Thanks for the feedback.

I know what Parsnipcake means - we were so worried about her not holding her head up at 6 months (4 adjusted) ... roll forward a month and she's a pro who we can carry round under our arm as she looks at the world.

She seems to have rediscovered rolling today and we intend to spend good time each day trying to play with her and toys, guiding, etc. and hopefully soon she will be reaching.

Anyone else with good or not so stories welcome of course - the more I read "dont worry" the less worried I get (so as a parent that means 98/100 on the worry scale instead of 99!!).

[IndiaBound]

Thought I would comment back for future reference that at almost 10mo, DD now thrashes the living daylights out of most toys but obviously knows the difference between teddy and a squish toy.

Also, some get mouthed.

So, although she is still overall delayed, and things have been found in her brain that could explain the delay, she progressed just as some of you suggested.

[deakymom]

when she is on your lap encourage her to stroke your face and hair rub noses etc my daughter was a bit lazy (with everything but talking) she is fine now

[nirishma]

I have some hypermobility and, while it's a pretty cool party trick, when I was a baby I was slow to do everything and other mums told my mum I was 'lazy'. Took me til my second birthday to walk and even then I used to fall flat on my face after every few steps. As a baby, if something was put in front of me and I couldn't reach for it whilst sitting I'd just not bother and put my thumb in my mouth. I'm sure your baby will grow up into a successful young person as it hasn't stopped me!

My daughter is similar in age to yours - six months, born at term - and I fear she has inherited this 'lazy' genetic trait. Suspicions further confirmed as hv is convinced one of her legs is longer than the other despite me explaining she's just got my dodgy legs.

You mention your babba is babbling away and they do say fast talker/ slow walker for a reason. My daughter can say dadda mamma babba but her companions, whilst more mobile, are still at the grunting at everything like they're constipated stage. I guess she is just focusing her energy on articulating herself. Are you a chatty person? Perhaps your lo just has alot to say, like her mother!

Plus remember - she's only just five months! She will walk one day, talk one day. We all do it in our own time. :)

[CouthyMow]

Hypermobility is a spectrum - it ranges from a little bendy to full on inability to support oneself without LOTS of Physio to permanent disablement.

It sounds like your DD is at the less severe end of that spectrum!

My DD was 5+2 prem, has hypermobility, learnt to sit at just over 10 months corrected, 11 months actual.

My DS2 was overdue by 2 days, has hypermobility, learnt to sit at 2y7mo...

In my DC's case, it is a genetic hypermobility unconnected with prematurity.

It sounds like your DD is more like my DD than my DS2.

[CouthyMow]

If she can support her head at 4months adjusted, 6 months actual then the hypermobility isn't too severe and she will probably sit soon.

DD wasn't supporting her head till 6mo adjusted, 7mo actual, and she still sat at 11mo, and walked at 18mo. So a little slow, but nothing drastic.

DS2, so you put into perspective rather than letting his story scare you, was unable to support his head AT ALL until he was 2yo. So your DD is doing MASSES better than that, and he was walking by 3y7mo...