To be worried about my babies development?

@flappybits any update on your DC? How are they now?x

@DogLover24 that's good to know 😊

Have you been offered a 1 year review or spoke to the HV or GP today OP? Looking at the pictures, the one with his foot stuck under is common in trying to crawl, suddenly they work it out and they’re off.

in the others it looks like he is ‘w sitting’. It’s not a problem in itself and most children do it in some form and amount.

Your worrying is going to make you stressed and anxious, he needs to be reviewed either to identify and problem through observation and physical exam or to find no issues and put your mind at ease

We were told to wait until 18 months for a physio referral in similar circumstances even though DD was marked low for gross motor skills in the 1 year HV visitor review. It only warranted a follow up phone call a few months later where I was told to call back at 18 months if still worried. The GP has told us not to worry and she might just be in the slow range of normal. She still can’t pull to stand, cruise or go from lying to sitting by herself at 18 months and never crawled but eventually started bum shuffling at 13 months.

He absolutely sounds more like a 35 weeker to me (I’ve spent time working with prem babies) so if you correct him back 5 weeks he’s 10.3 months not 12.

Your eldest sounds very advanced, and of course you will compare we all do. But I work in child development and nothing you say it concerning me. Triggers for referral are no words by 18 months and not walking by two, both of which you have months to go before then. My ds is 17 months, not walking and not talking. He is under OT due to health concerns as a baby and they are not concerned about his development whatsoever!

My daughter crawled like that! Not until 15 months though and she was also teeny and 7 weeks early. She walked at 18 months. Does he bounce on your knee standing up? If he's using the walker, that's some weight bearing, and they only cause issues if used for extended periods of time.

Have you not had a one year review yet? DC1 was red flagged at his as he wasn’t pulling up to standing, and not bearing weight on his legs was of concern. Naturally, he started doing it the week after! He didn’t walk until 15 months but was crawling at one. I would also be concerned in your shoes - he does look bendy, for want of a better word. Keep pushing.

Sounds a lot like my DD who is now 18m. She didn't roll until 10m, didn't crawl until 12m or get from lying down to sitting. She isn't walking yet and it took her ages to cruise like other babies. She's only just in the last few days, started to take a few independent steps.

It's very easy for people to say "don't worry" and "enjoy it while it lasts" etc, however, it can be worrying and it's hard not to compare. DD is my first, so I only had the other NCT babies to compare to who all seemed to be budding adventurers compared my little potato baby 😂. It is most likely that there's nothing wrong, but I would ask to be seen again in a couple of months and go from there.

Strange reply. I would expect a health professional to do a fair bit if parents are concerned about their child's development, especially since it is clear that he is delayed in meeting milestones.

OP. I have been here with my first two children. I remember the worry and trying to fight to be listened to well. So many well-meaning people telling me not to worry, they all develop in their own time etc. It just made me feel that no one wanted to listen to me.

I would definitely see your GP.

My daughter was born at 8 months and her body was covered in blond hair, it came out with time.

All this saying he is fine. I think the OP is mentioning some aspects that should be investigated. My daughter didn´t crawl hardly at all, she went from commando crawling to, when she was 1, standing up holding on to a chair. She did a lot of kicking though, in preparation for the standing phase I guess. The fact that he can´t pull himself up from lying to sitting I would find concerning. My daughter didn´t say mum until she was 2 years old. But when she started the floodgates opened and she was a chatterbox. I would suggest you go to the GP and voice your concerns, unemotionally, as facts and don´t be fobbed off.

Newborn covered in hair is called Lanugo and is nothing to worry about. 🙏

Take your baby to see a children's physiotherapist.

She could give you some games to play to strengthen his legs, encourage him to sit up etc and could give you another informed decision about your baby's gross motor skill development.
Seek a second opinion from a different maternal child health nurse.
Why won't your GP write a referral to the physio?
That was the first thing I thought of.
A mother is usually right.

Just to say, we don't all hate HVs :) Mine was lovely and a huge reassurance on many occasions. I enjoyed her company and her advice.

She was also quite skittish and overly apologetic in such a way that I could tell she'd had many parents be hostile towards her. I felt very sorry for her for that. I miss her now, years later!

Bloody hell. I'd be going back to that original GP who said he was fine and informing them of how fucking wrong they were. These idiots will never learn from their mistakes if they're never notified of them

Not sure, it would be unusual for him to be (for example) a full 3 weeks behind the scan dates, could it have been IUGR? I don’t know if that affects future development though, hopefully someone else will know.

It wouldn’t hurt to set up a little play area in the house - spread a nice soft blanket out, put some toys on it to encourage him to move, read stories and sing nursery rhymes while doing the actions. There will be loads of ideas online about how to use play to encourage milestones.

It might.

Trust your instincts OP.

Things you can do to help him : Does he have lots of time on the floor on a blanket just wriggling and rolling about? Along with with a little play with baby with fine motor skill toys and a little song. All very short interactions but regular you don't have to spend long each time.

When he lays on his back do his legs move as you would expect? I would go to the GP and ask for them to check his hips have developed normally. If hips looking normal that's show those ASQ scores you've put on here and be ready to be pretty persistent to keep asking for referrals - call GP call HV and keep calling until you feel the care is right. If you can afford it a private physio or private specialist might speed things up.

Don't worry OP but do trust your instincts and don't be fobbed off.

I’m sorry, please try not to worry. Call your HV and ask for a 1 year review appointment and then go from there. There is every chance you’ll see rapid development in the next few months. There is also the chance he might need a bit of extra support and then you’ll see changes. In the meantime look at your local children’s centres and see if there’s groups you can go to that might help.