bit worried about LO

[SquidgyBrain]

My LO is now 15 weeks old, he was 7 weeks early so we are looking at an adjusted age of around 8 weeks, his behaviour is really not any different to how it was when he was 5 weeks old which is when he came to stay here, he doesn't make eye contact, and he isn't socially smiling, physically he seems to be moving forwards but he seems almost oblivious to his surroundings, if you rattle a toy he never looks for it, if you click your fingers near his ear he show no response.

His parents report that he smiles at his mum, and I have seen him smile, but it was very short lasting and wasn't at anything or anyone but his Dad seems slightly delusional, as today he claimed he took 2 steps, and swears he said Mamma - where LO rarely makes a noise, occasionally he will coo.

Anyone got any experience/advice?

I have spoken to the children's nurse at the surgery, and have now spoke to his health visitor (she was on holiday hence speaking to the nurse) so she is going to come do a home visit next week, she have referred him to the GP and he is being seen there next week, and I have spoken to his social worker so everyone that should know does.

[bonnieslilsister]

i know for 8 weeks check they look for smiling, eye contact and eyes following people/things....2 yrs ago i had twin babies that had been 8 weeks early and they were about 10 weeks behind their age ifswim so hopefully nothing is wrong with the little one. did his mum misuse during pregnancy?

love dad's comments!! made my day actually!!! x

[bottersnike]

Where was he before he came to you at 5 weeks - in hospital or with the birth parents? Have his medicals been normal so far?

[threeandcounting]

Hello

My lo is now 19 weeks and I have had him since he was born, although he spent nearly four weeks in hospital and he was on meds for withdrawal. He is my first placement so I do not have lots of experience but wanted to answer your post!

I have found that there was a time around eight or nine weeks that I was worried as lo did not seem to be smiling or interacting. Over a couple of weeks though he seemed to come on leaps and bounds over a short period of time, although I am aware of things he maybe should be doing but isn't yet.

My health visitor comes every fortnight to see lo-mainly to weigh him, see his progress and record in his books. I use this for my records too and to pass onto parents.

Did lo pass his hearing test that he would of (I think!) had in hospital? This was sent through to me from hospital to go into his red book.

And yes..have had experience of mum and dad claiming he has been doing amazing things....

Sorry if that's not been much help! Hope everything is ok with lo

[SquidgyBrain]

Bonnie - she claims to have only used cannabis on rare occasion, but she did take methadone, and she was on anti epilepsy medication too (which there seems to be a link with autism - his paternal cousin has some developmental issue but I don't know what (the cousin attended the same nursery as my kids)

Botter - he was in the special care baby unit for 2.5 weeks (they wanted to discharge him at 2 weeks but the SWD were not ready for him at that point!) He went to respite carers as we were on holiday and then he came here. He has been seen at the neonatal clinic where at that point everything seemed fine for his adjusted age. The HV has been visiting him at his parents and he is always asleep and there for going on what they are telling her

Three - I am assuming that he had a hearing test and it was normal, I don't have his red book - his parents have this.

I am still holding out hope that like the LO's that Bonnie looked after

[shaz298]

No exprerience I'm afraid but you've done all the right things, which I'm sure you already know :)

Hope everything works out well for LO xxx

[scarlet5tyger]

Hi Squidgy, your post could have been written by me! My current LO didn't smile until 3 months old, and still has trouble making eye contact now - he's 1. He was drug addicted which plays a huge part. I spent ages worrying about it and having all the tests I could get, but now wish I'd just seen it as part of him and worried less.

I too had parents who claimed he was a wonder baby - crawling at 6 weeks (when in fact he was simply writhing in the pain of withdrawing) and talking at 4 months.

[SquidgyBrain]

HV's been round and she agrees that there is some sort of communication issue there - he will engage briefly but then disengages really quickly

His parents had him at the GP for a check today and although I haven't spoken directly with them I believe that they have found a heart murmur too.

I guess we wait and see how things progress

[bonnieslilsister]

awww so sorry for poor little one